Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Jenifer Bunis in the Wahiba Sands desert at sunset.

Traveler Jenifer Bunis in the Wahiba Sands desert at sunset, after a camel ride from Safari Infinity Camp.

I’m just back from a fabulous two-week adventure in Oman. My friends are used to hearing about my crazy travels, but this destination elicited quite a few “you’re going WHERE?” type comments, followed by “why Oman?” I promised everyone I’d be more qualified to answer the Why question upon my return.

Thanks to my planner Dan, my friend and I experienced all that Oman has to offer, which is quite a lot. We flew into Dubai and spent a day there on our own before getting picked up and driven to Khasab, in the Musandam peninsula, also known as the Norway of the Arabian world. This area is known for its majestic fjords, best experienced via a day on the water in a local dhow. We saw dolphins, we snorkeled, and did our best to get over our jet lag during our time in this little pocket of Oman. Khasab itself isn’t much to look at, but the fjords themselves are pretty special.

Dan put together a pretty comprehensive tour for us, which began in earnest when we arrived in Muscat and met our guide for the week, Khalid. We saw Oman through his eyes, learned so much about the history, the culture, what it means to be an Omani, and all about his life and his family. We loved our stay at the stunning Chedi hotel in Muscat and marveled at the opera house and of course the grand mosque. We spent a great day snorkeling/scuba diving at the Dimaniyat Islands. We also enjoyed dinner at the home of a local Omani family, and experienced firsthand the hospitality that this country is known for. Then we embarked on “the grand tour,” which is a loop that includes all the highlights of the region. We had one great night in a desert camp that I actually found on my own, looked smaller and more intimate than the one suggested by Dan. Even though Dan’s team in Oman didn’t have any real experience with it, they were open to having us give it a try. Worked out great.

Oman is famous for its Wadis (rocky river gorge swimming holes), and the typical tour includes a few of the more popular ones, which can get pretty crowded (at least by Oman standards). My research uncovered a fairly strenuous and lesser-known Wadi, which Dan also arranged for us to do, even though his team hadn’t taken people to it before us. That was another major highlight, and we are so glad Dan was able to make it happen for us.

Dan managed to incorporate fantastic hiking, ample culture, lots of new experiences, some great hotels with character, all wrapped up into a wonderful 12-day exotic adventure. He worked with us patiently to help build the trip of our dreams, and was always responsive to any pre-trip questions or last minute adjustments. We loved our time in Oman, and while it’s still hard to provide a succinct answer to “Why Oman,” anyone patient enough to listen to a longer answer and/or look at my photos will truly understand how special this country is.

My husband John and I set out on our journey with great excitement to experience a glimpse of Oman, its people and culture. We found so much more. From Khasab in the northern peninsula where we explored grand fjords and sailed the Strait of Hormuz in a traditional dhow, we journeyed to the capital city of Muscat. Our trip planner, Daniel, created an itinerary that provided a journey that wove through the heart of Oman. The timing of mid-January was perfect as we basked in warm sunshine-filled days and enjoyed cooler night temperatures.

We ventured from the bustling capital of Muscat to the timeless treasures of Three Villages and the fantastic resort Alila. Our path led us onward to the shores of the Sea of Oman, where the city of Sur awaited. We stood at the docks where craftsmen shaped majestic dhows, the scent of freshly carved wood mingling with the salt air. The souk overflowed with treasures—vivid textiles and intricate designs. We wondered where these treasures would be worn! And the sunsets!

Our local guide Khalid made our trip easy!

Everywhere we traveled, he was met with the warm smiles of old friends and hearty handshakes. Through his generous heart and vast knowledge of Omani culture, he introduced us not only to the landscapes of his homeland but to its people. We discovered that food and family is at the heart of any trip to Oman. Khalid made sure we had the privilege of sharing food with others…. these experiences deepened our knowledge and enhanced our experiences. He introduced us to dates of the regions; so many wonderful dates to enjoy.

Don’t travel to Oman without including a visit to the south. In the Dhofar region, under the insightful guidance of our guide, we explored Taqah Castle—we learned about the history of the area and enjoyed the panoramic views from the tower. We could see forever.

Our journey then led us to the ancient Land of Frankincense, where the hardy Boswellia sacra trees thrive in the inhospitable terrain of Dhofar. Even in off season the scent of frankincense is in the air.

A real highlight of our adventure was wild camping in the vast expanse of the Empty Quarter. We embarked on a lengthy drive into this desolate beauty. Be prepared for a rough ride on a gravel road…the dunes will reward.

As night enveloped the desert, the aroma of a delectable meal prepared under the starlit sky made the chilly desert night more comfortable. Wild camping in such remote areas is not for everyone; it’s essential to ask questions and ensure preparedness, especially as the desert night can be cold. But don’t miss it! We were very happy we took the advice of our travel planner.

Reflecting on our travels through this land of endless sands, sapphire seas, and unwavering warmth, we are left with indelible memories.

Our heartfelt gratitude to our WOW List planner Daniel Waters and our local guide, Khalid, whose local expertise and kindness enriched our journey beyond measure. The people of Oman are so generous and welcoming!

Tracy Reller hosted by a local family for a meal in Oman.

Tracy Reller and her family having dinner in a local home.

Our family (with two 17-year-olds) spent an amazing spring break (March 23-April 1, 2024) in Oman! It offers varied landscapes, warm/friendly people, interesting culture and very few Americans. Dan Waters did a great job planning a family trip that included a bit of everything Oman offers. We explored the capital of Muscat, visited mosques/forts/small towns/abandoned towns, snorkeled with turtles, dined with a local family, spent a night at a tent camp in the desert and hiked in wadis and mountains.

Our guide, Fahad, was superb and really added to our trip. We spent a good amount of time driving around the northern part of the country and had many interesting conversations about religion, daily life, challenges of our respective countries, history of Oman and Sultan Qaboos. This is the main reason we use Wendy Perrin and the travel specialists. You get built-in access to locals and closer to the local culture and way of life. Fahad was fine with our eating and drinking in the car despite his fasting during Ramadan and even stopped at grocery stores for us to get mid-day snacks, allowing us to eat despite many restaurants being closed during the day. Our one regret is that we didn’t get to meet his family as we thought there wouldn’t be time before our departure. We were thrilled to see him one last time as he chose to handle our transfer from hotel to airport.

Our favorite experiences included my teen daughter thanking me after swimming with sea turtles on her first snorkeling experience, seeing camels and spending the night in the desert for the first time and off roading/hiking in Wadi Ghul and then experiencing same canyon from the top on Balcony Walk in Jebel Shams. Wadi Ghul was surreal driving through the gorgeous canyon, sometimes through remaining water from the winter rains, with date palm trees growing, abandoned stone buildings and towering canyon walls.

Our dinner with a local Omani family gave us a peek into their home life, such as seeing typical sibling interactions, eating on the floor and our teenagers engaging their 4-year-old boy in an amusing game of indoor soccer. We felt very fortunate to be able to share Iftar (fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims during Ramadan) while learning about Ramadan, Omani education, family sizes and new foods.

Also memorable was our crazy hard “Lost Village” hike in Jebel Ahkdar 600 meters down to an oasis in the canyon and 600 meters back up. Incredibly impressive was our hiking guide doing it while fasting!! We also enjoyed Al Hamra, one of Oman’s oldest towns now mostly abandoned except for the interesting heritage house Bait Al Safah.

Oman is a fascinating country. Huge variety of scenery, from lush date and coconut plantations on the coast to quite high mountains to deserts with lots of sand dunes. The history is interesting—the country has made huge strides in the past 60 years, from an underdeveloped 3rd world country in 1970 to a modern prosperous environment. Travelling is easy—roads are great, there are lots of hiking trails and camping facilities, Oman Air was on time, etc. The government has spent a lot of effort preserving old forts and castles (there are many of both). Our touring included many of these historical structures, hikes through old towns, visits to several mosques, 2 stays in the desert, a visit to a Bedouin household and stays in 3 of the most luxurious hotels we have ever seen (and some not so great but quite acceptable). This is a beautiful country, with long white sand beaches, that is just being discovered, mostly by travellers from Europe. I highly recommend it for people who have an interest in the history and culture, or just want to enjoy the warm weather and beaches.

Daniel Waters and crew did a great job of the arrangements in Oman, everything unfolded exactly as planned.

The WOW List: Best Local Travel Fixers Worldwide

by Wendy Perrin | March 25, 2025

How to Get an Extraordinary Trip: Wendy’s WOW Way

by Wendy Perrin | January 1, 2023

Wendy Wants To Amp Up Your Trip!

by WendyPerrin.com | January 1, 2023

Our Latest Newsletters