Top 10: best luxury hotels in Oman
10. ANANTARA AL JABAL AL AKHDAR RESORT, AL HAJAR MOUNTAINS
The new Anantara resort is opening in this summer, and it promises to be spectacular. The 5-star retreat will perche 2,000 metres (6560 ft) above sea level on the curving rim of a great canyon, in the rocky contours of the Saiq Plateau on Oman’s fabled Green Mountain. Elegant architecture will reflect the mountainous surrounds and Oman’s artistic culture, with contemporary design motifs depicting the region’s ancient forts. A striking infinity pool with a belvedere will offer an illustrious setting for relaxation. Anantara spa’s luxuriant hammam will pamper its guests with Arabian cleansing rituals, and helps you find your natural flow in hot yoga.
9. AL BALEED RESORT SALALAH BY ANANTARA, SALALAH
Later this year, Anantara will open another Omani luxury resort, which will be located in Salalah, the first of its kind along the south coast of Dhofar. Middle Eastern design will reflect Dhofar’s rich heritage and will be inspired by the region’s iconic coastal fortresses. Intricate, artistic details will complement the princely comforts. Walkways will be surrounded by towering palms, magnificent trees, tropical gardens and lush water features, creating tranquil journeys to new discoveries. Guests will be able to relax at the exotic infinity pool, or soak up the sea view from the resort’s private shore. The resort will have 30 luxurious rooms offering beach, sea or garden outlooks, in addition to 106 one, two and three bedroom villas that will be perfect for romance and shared escapes with family and friends.
8. JUMEIRAH AT SARAYA BANDAR JISSAH, MUSCAT
Jumeirah at Saraya Bandar Jissah is currently under development and is expected to open next year (2017). The resort will have two wings, one consisting of 206 rooms and the other of 112 rooms, located in the picturesque cove of Bandar Jissah, near Qantab, nestled between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman, close to Muscat. The overall development will include a 1,200 square metres Talise Spa, a dive centre, a wide range of sports and leisure facilities, a selection of restaurants, bars and cafes and a kids club. The resort forms part of a larger development that includes 300 high-end residential townhouses and villas, taking advantage of some of the most beautiful, unspoilt coastline in the Middle East.
7. INTERCONTINENTAL MUSCAT
Set on 35 acres of lush palm gardens between the Hajar Mountains and the sands of the Gulf Coast, the InterContinental Muscat is located in the heart of Oman’s capital. The hotel is old though with dated rooms (although the hotel is currently refurbishing some guestrooms). It’s located along the shore, but the beach here is public and unattractive. But despite the negatives, the hotel is big on amenities. It offers two floodlit tennis courts, a 25-metre (82 ft) olympic size pool, a leisure pool, a fully equipped gym, sauna, and a jacuzzi. Having a good array of leisure facilities and being close to the Muscat’s main commercial districts and only 15 minutes from the airport, the hotel is still a favorite amongst business travelers and leisure guests alike (although I would not rank it as luxurious).
6. DESERT NIGHTS CAMP, AL WASIL
Desert Nights Camp, the only luxury desert camp in Oman, is an ideal base for an Arabian desert adventure, with spectacular craggy mountains in the distance, endless dunes and crystalline wadis. It is only a two-hour drive away from Muscat. The camp is sprawled across 10-acres of silken sands within the vast isolation of the Omani desert. The 30 luxurious, fully air-conditioned Bedouin style tents feature Oman styled cosy sit-outs, luxurious beds under a linen canopy suffused with golden light, tiled rooms with, tasteful Arabian furnishings, and boutique bathrooms. Each night, guests feast on traditional Omani fare in the flickering glow of the campfire.
5. THE CHEDI MUSCAT – A GHM HOTEL, MUSCAT
The Chedi Muscat was one of the first stylish and ultra-sleek resorts to rise on the Gulf of Oman. Today, it remains a standard-bearer for quiet luxury, and with its minimalist design, it still ranks as Oman’s most elegant and exclusive resort. Its located on a long stretch of private beach and 21 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, although its setting is not nearly as dramatic as the hotels listed below (hence why I don’t rank it higher). Sparkling waters, vibrant gardens and dramatic mountains as seen through the grand windows in all 158 tasteful, well-appointed guest rooms and suites heighten the calming effect of the natural and timeless environment. Facilities at The Chedi Muscat are utterly comprehensive, with six distinct restaurants, a thirteen-suite Balinese spa, three swimming pools, including a stylish 103-mere (338 ft) long pool, a gorgeous health club plus two executive meeting rooms.
4. AL BUSTAN PALACE, A RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL, MUSCAT
Tucked away between the rugged Al Hajar mountain range and the Sea of Oman, Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a beachfront retreat set in exquisite gardens. The hotel was originally opened in 1985 to host visits by foreign heads of states at that year’s Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and at the celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Sultan Qaboos’s accession to power. Arab and art deco influences infuse the resort with an elegant ambiance, most notably in its majestic 38 metres (124 ft) high, domed atrium lobby. From each of the hotel’s 250 guest rooms and suites’ private balconies, guests can gaze upon magnificent mountain, sea or garden views. The hotel is located on the most beautiful stretch of beach in the vicinity of Muscat. Last year, a phenomenal Six Senses Spa was added to the hotel and built into the surrounding landscape of towering stone and rock cliffs.
3. SHANGRI-LA AL HUSN, MUSCAT
Exclusively located on the bay at Barr Al Jissah, the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa nestles against the dramatic backdrop of the rugged interior mountains and the spectacular waters of the Gulf of Oman. The resort consists of three separate hotels: Al Waha (Oman’s first dedicated family hotel), Al Bandar, and kids-free Al Husn. The latter offers Shangri-La’s highest level of service, amenities and privileges. Its 180 rooms and suites are amongst the largest and most luxurious in Oman, with an inviting décor inspired by royal Arabian palaces and accented by authentic Omani artworks. Guests can enjoy access to the private a 100-mere (328 ft) beach, as well as enjoy complimentary mini-bar, daily complimentary afternoon tea and pre-dinner cocktails and canapés service.
2. ALILA JABAL AKHDAR, AL HAJAR MOUNTAINS
Jabal Akhdar, meaning “The Green Mountain” in Arabic, is part of the Al Hajar mountains range, one of Oman’s most spectacular areas. Set 2000 metres (6560 ft) above sea level, Alila Jabal Akhdar provides access to this magnificent landscape of untouched beauty. Overlooking a dramatic gorge and with views of the Hajar mountains, the hotel is perfectly positioned to explore the region’s renowned rugged landscapes, a haven for adventure travellers, nature lovers and those seeking an escape from the desert heat. The resort’s 78 beautifully appointed suites and villas are located within the main hotel building or arranged in individual clusters of four to six suites, generously spaced out around the clifftop to maximise privacy and uninterrupted views over the mountains and down into the gorges.
Alila Hotels and Resorts also plans to open its second luxury resort development in Oman in Mirbat, east of Salalah, a coastal town in the Dhofar governate, in southwestern Oman.
1. SIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY, MUSANDAM PENINSULA
Six Senses Zighy Bay is an ultra-luxurious “hidden gem”, located on Oman’s northern Musandam Peninsula, only a scenic two-hour car journey (but a world apart) from Dubai. The setting of this beautiful indigenous village-style resort with its private marina is spectacular, with dramatic mountains on one side, and a 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) sandy beach on the other. The resort gives the feeling of exotic remoteness, yet offers every comfort, easy accessibility and barefoot luxury beyond imagination. The accommodations are inspired by traditional Omani houses and feature high indigenous-style ceilings, colorfully cushioned living area and cloudlike bed made with unbleached cotton sheets topped with your choice of ergonomic pillows. All villas have a private pool, where guests can refresh within the privacy of high cobblestone walls.