Tucked away in a remote and tranquil setting, on the edge of the Omani Musandam Peninsula, lies Six Senses Zighy Bay. The property’s breathtaking landscape, excellent service, mouth-watering dining experiences and firm commitment to nature and environmental preservation makes it the ideal place to visit for a one-of-a-kind experience. As the name suggests, it certainly, stimulates your sixth sense.
We arrived at Six Senses Zighy Bay after a smooth drive from Dubai, which took no longer than two and a half hours. The resort gates are situated on one side of a mountain, meaning the last 15-minute drive is up a steep hill and off-road, making it somewhat bumpy.
It all added to the experience though and the anticipation of our first glimpse of the resort. The view from the peak down to the resort was breathtaking; low rise villas, blue private pools and the turquoise blue sea fringed with a sandy beach. You can opt to jump off the mountain, strapped to an instructor on a paraglider if you wish, but we chose to drive down the mountain in the comfort of a 4x4, which was exhilarating enough for me.
Once in the resort, we were checked in within five minutes, long enough to be offered a refreshing juice and to be introduced to our butler, Laksana. As she escorted us to our pool villa, Laksana informed us of a number of activities on offer at the resort. From paragliding, to playing petanque, attending a ‘Shua Shack’ (Bedouin traditional under-sand oven dining experience) to a morning hike in the mountains, there is an infinite amount on offer for those who wish to do anything other than relax.
Our pool villa, like the rest of the resort’s architecture, is gentle on the eye and blends perfectly with the hotel surroundings, including the neighbouring Omani village, which is home to some of the locals who work in the hotel.
The pool villa features several lounge areas surrounding the outdoor private pool, catering both to those who love the sun and for those who prefer to sit in the shade. The villa has everything you need to keep you thoroughly entertained: an outdoor shower, a large bathtub, lounge area, private pool, in-villa dining and a private butler. It is very tempting to shut yourself away, but make sure you leave time to explore the rest of the resort.
Spend an afternoon walking along the private beach and take a dip in the clear turquoise blue seawater before venturing back up the cliff for the ultimate dining experience.
Sense on the Edge is the resort’s signature fine dining restaurant. The adventure started with a five-minute drive up to the top of the mountain, as the restaurant hangs on a cliff edge 293 metres high, providing a truly unique setting. The helpful staff recommended we waited for dusk to set in and for the first star to shine before heading up there. The assistant food and beverage manager Daniel guided us to our table and we were soon toasting one of the best fine dining experiences we’ve had.
The quality and presentation of the food, and the know-how of the staff was flawless. The unrivalled view that takes in the resort below, the mountains on either side and the Arabian Gulf, which stretches out as far as the eye can see, makes this a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The next day, after another well executed à la carte breakfast, Laksana led us on a tour of the property. At the onsite organic garden, the resort grows a large variety of its own fruits, vegetables and herbs including lemongrass, pumpkin and chillies. Don’t forget to stop in and feed the Zighy goats.
The end of our stay came too soon and we were reluctant to leave, a task, which became a little easier once we saw the big smile on our driver’s face. As we were driven home, we looked back on the mountains and the ever-serene property that had been our home for two days and it looked just as inviting as it did on our arrival.
Six Senses Zighy Bay worked its magic on us with its enchanting recipe of luxurious service and a stunning natural setting. We departed saying to ourselves, “so long for now. We cannot wait to return”.
The importanat bit
What: Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
Where: Six Senses Zighy Bay, Zighy Bay, Musandam Peninsula Sultanate of Oman
Web: www.sixsenses.com
