The Land of Frankincense

Our Highlights:

• Fascinating escape to a lesser-known corner of the Sultanate of Oman
• Long stretch of sandy beach on the Indian Ocean
• Explore the soukhs of Salalah
• Good 1st class Hilton with large comfortable rooms

Salalah, known as the 'perfume city' for its frankincense, is the main town in the Dhofar region of southern Oman, over 600miles from the capital, Muscat. Salalah has a special atmosphere, slightly 'other-worldly'. We think of it as being more akin to the Zanzibar of a few years ago, rather than its near neighbours, the UAE. In the town you will see men and women in traditional Omani dress, the former wearing bright embroidered hats, sometimes extended to a colourful turban. And expect coconut palms (rather than date palms), banana, mango and papaya trees. We include a short introductory orientation of the town of Salalah (about 5 minutes' drive from the Hilton) and would then recommend exploring independently: whether locally by taxi or by hiring a car. Car hire prices are reasonable (and can be booked at the hotel), fuel is cheap by European standards and, best of all, the hotel and its car hire concession have prepared a range of suggested routes to follow.

The long beach, some 20 miles in total, runs way past the hotel in both directions andis not simply a place to relax: try waking at dawn to watch a school of dolphins, which regularly swim from left to right. This is repeated at dusk for the not so early risers. For the active, the hotel has information on walking trails/routes.

In the early centuries AD, the Dhofar region became rich through its trading of frankincense, which grows in only 3 places in the world and was once at least as highly prized - and priced - as gold. As a country, Oman has been, intentionally, slower than others in the region to embrace tourism, keen as it is to protect its traditions, heritage, hospitality, environment and wildlife. And is a wonderful country to visit: there is a long history of links with the UK, Omanis are tolerant of and hospitable to foreign visitors and you can be sure of a warm and friendly welcome (away from the beach itself, we recommend that visitors dress conservatively).

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