Walk in the footprints of nomads, bedouins and explorers and discover the majesty of Oman with what promises to be an extraordinary journey into the mystical Rub’ al-Khali desert. Known as the Empty Quarter, with most of its land mass in Saudi Arabia, as well as Oman, Yemen and the UAE, it’s the largest area of uninterrupted sand in the world, making its beautiful golden and red dunes ripe for exploration.
However, if you like your intrepid adventures bookended with a little luxury, the 10-day Oman Expedition tour will tend to all your back to nature-cum-five-star service requirements. Founded by The Canvas Club, a team of desert explorers, the expedition takes guests on a heart-pounding 1,500 kilometre journey across the mountains, sand dunes and desert of The Empty Quarter, unravelling the mystical beauty of the landscape, as well uncovering the Earth’s ‘unfamiliar’.
The trip starts in Muscat, Oman’s capital city, with an overnight stay at The Chedi Muscat, followed by a drive into the rugged Jabal Akhdar Mountains for a high-altitude Via Ferrata experience. You’ll also hike the mountains, visit traditional clay villages and then check into the beautiful cliffside Alila Jabal Akhdar hotel, for an evening of astrology and Arabian mythology.
Then, your desert immersion begins, transitioning from the mountains to the Sharqiyah Desert and a visit to Wadi Hawer, before proceeding to the exclusive Canvas Club North Camp to learn how to drive and dune-bash across the desert. You’ll spend the next four days on a Rub’ al-Khali adventure, criss-crossing the dunes and camping at remote locations far from civilisation and light pollution, with the only the stars to light your night.
On day eight, you’ll arrive at Canvas Club South Camp, which is situated near one of the highest dunes in the entire region, with an evening of awe-inspiring views serving as the perfect conclusion to your desert expedition. The next two nights will be spent in luxury at your final destinations in the green southern region of Salalah at the picturesque Alila Hinu Bay - a serene retreat to unwind and relive all the captivating moments of your desert odyssey.
www.alilahinubayjourney.com
