For the past pandemic year and half people have been bored, mostly staying at home due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Add to the exhaustion is the rising summer temperatures (you may check here the lifehacks how to deal with it). A refreshing air is needed to clean lungs, relieve stress and anxiety, or purify the soul and mind.
Planning a cruise trip with friends and families exploring the coastal beauty of Oman in a boat or a yacht is one of the things one can do, Oman Observer suggests.
Boat trips are less expensive and convenient to explore the wonderful marine environment and beautiful coastline.
Oman is surrounded by seas and is known for building ships and there are many tour companies organising cruises with a variety of packages.
There are many centres for cruise trips, such as: Marina Bandar Al Rawda in Muscat. Among the activities that one can enjoy on these trips are: watching sunrise or Sunset, chasing dolphins, diving, surfing and sailing.
According to Saeed bin Habib al Rahbi, an employee at the Star of The Sea for Marine Tourism, the company organises twelve cruise trips each month, for families as well as special trips for men and women. “Right now we operate with only 50 per cent capacity following the Supreme Committee’s decision. We usually have 20 to 45 people on each trip depending on whether it is a boat, a yacht or a dhow,” Saeed said. He also mentioned that the trips to Sur and Dimaniyat Islands pass by all the landmarks on the way like Al Alam Palace and Sifah mountain.
“Having a trip with my friends in dhow was an amazing and beneficial experience. I felt relaxed and excited seeing the beautiful views I had not seen before in Oman,” Nusaiba al Zarafi, a tourist, said.
Natural beauty of Oman
Unlike their more land-bound neighbours, the Omanis are traditionally a seafaring people of fishermen, traders and shipbuilders. The coast and the sea is inherent to the Omani identity, The Telegraph states.
After all – according to Middle Eastern mythology – Sinbad the Sailor was born in Oman and it was from Sohar, the ancient capital and important maritime port in the north, that he set sail on his seven fantastical voyages.
Oman has some 3,000 kilometres of coastline, most of which are pristine, stunning and secluded beaches that face the Indian Ocean with soaring sand dunes or rugged rocks, flourishing coral reefs and unique wildlife. Muscat’s beaches and crystal-clear waters have long been a draw. Residents and tourists alike come to swim, snorkel, play waboba (balls that bounce on the water) or doze in the sun.
Omanis are traditionally a seafaring people. The coast and sea is inherent to their identity
You don’t have to travel far from the capital to find deserted beaches – magical by day and by night lit by a flickering lantern. On the wide sands of Khalouf Beach you have eagles and flamingos for company. At low tide on Tiwi you can paddle out to the coral and snorkel above grouper, rays, sea snakes and batfish. A sweeping coast road leads to Bandar Jissah, notable for its lagoon setting, incredible stillness and intense blue waters.
Those who prefer adventure and exploration will want to take a day trip by dhow, Oman’s traditional answer to the taxi or truck, depending on its size. On the water you see the coastline from a different perspective as a paradise for wildlife, a breeding ground for dolphins and a stopping-off point for migrating whales. Oman’s nutrient-rich waters offer some of the world’s most rewarding scuba diving. Some dhows offer live-aboard diving cruises so you can enjoy close-up encounters with a dazzling multi-coloured variety of tropical fish on tap.
Oman is indisputably green turtle heaven with five of the world’s seven species arriving each year to crawl up the beaches, dig holes in the sand and lay their eggs. There are few more poignant events to witness in the natural world than the hatchlings’ make-or-break dash for the safety of the ocean between September and November.
The first stop among beachcombers who venture beyond Muscat is the Musandam Peninsula in the north, which juts into the Strait of Hormuz like a rhino horn. The topography consists of soaring saw-toothed, blackish-yellow crags that tumble abruptly down onto white sandy beaches. Musandam has become fashionable thanks to its attractive quiet shores, low-key vibe and warm, dolphin-rich seas.
There are few more poignant events to witness in the natural world than the turtle hatchlings’ make-or-break dash for the safety of the ocean
The fjords of Khasab, the peninsula’s port, offer the best dolphin opportunities, three hours and two border crossings away by car, along a thrilling coastal road that contours the plunging mountains. Khasab boasts a small, handsome 17th-century fort built by the Portuguese in order to control the nearby Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Indian Ocean.
Coastal resorts offer an amazing range of water sport activities for all ages and abilities from the classic snorkelling, diving, sailing, parasailing, kayaking and paddle boarding to higher-octane options such as jet skiing, water skiing and wakeboarding. Donut riding (bouncing across the waves in a giant float, pulled by a powerboat) is good for all-round family fun.
If you haven’t tried kite surfing, Oman is the place to learn this thrilling combination of wakeboarding, surfing, windsurfing and paragliding. Kitecamp on Masirah Island is open year-round. Cooled by breezes from the Arabian Sea, it is reached via a 500km coastal drive from Muscat and a 90-minute ferry crossing. Like many of Oman’s beachfront resorts, it encapsulates natural beauty with watersport paradise, and a huge number of nesting turtles.
Oman is an exciting and welcoming year-round destination of rich history and diverse landscapes. It’s a land of towering desert dunes, palm-lined beaches and lush verdant mountains, where ancient character meets modern comfort.
Whether you’re seeking adventure, chasing staggering scenery or in need of a culture fix, Oman is sure to exceed expectations.
Omran Group had launched ‘Within Oman 2021’ staycation offers
Omran Group, the executive arm of the Sultanate for tourism development, launched its revamped ‘Within Oman 2021’ campaign with a selection of carefully curated offers and packages on thousands of hotel rooms at the Group’s diverse hospitality assets nationwide, Oman Observer reports.
For the third successive year, the campaign to promote domestic tourism aims to connect nationals and residents of Oman with the beauty of the country and offer new experiences at destinations across the country. Within Oman 2021 focuses on Families, Friends &, Couples and relaxing Retreats at 19 sensational properties spanning the length and breadth of the country.
Within Oman offers exciting adventure holidays surrounded by nature to the ultimate in luxury. The packages also feature unique experiences for guests at their chosen property to bond and help make special memories together this summer.
The 2021 edition is characterized by the provision of flexible and customised packages for various categories, providing an array of accommodation options, hospitality services, tourism and recreational activities for everyone, whether through in-house hospitality services or experiences provided in cooperation with small and medium enterprises outside the hotels.
Booking is available with hotels and resorts via Within Oman website. All offers will be subject to terms and conditions applicable to each hotel and resort. To learn more about the 2021 ‘Within Oman’ summer holiday campaign, visit OMRAN site or follow OMRAN Group’s social media accounts @OmranGroupOm and share your lifestyle experiences in the hashtag #WithinOman.
Under government guidelines, all participating hotels are adhering to the precautionary measures to prevent COVID-19.
Omran places great emphasis on sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism projects preserve and emphasize Oman’s unique traditional integrity and cultural values while perfectly complementing its natural beauty. As such, sustainability is an integral part of the Omran business model. Focusing on sustainable development has become a fundamental component in the drive to balance the fulfilment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment.
About Sustainability Framework
Omran has an established Sustainability Framework focusing on four core areas; the Economy, Society, Environment and Cultural Heritage. This means that the Company is mandated with building sustainable tourism infrastructure that will contribute to economic growth, in addition to providing employment to the local people and support communities. The sustainability framework requires us to provide safe and secure working environments as well as being committed to minimising the environment impact of developments.You may read here about natural wonders of the Middle East you’ve got to see.
