Oman

A sea of orange and crimson dunes rising to 100 meters that stretches 180 kilometers across the interior of eastern Oman, the Wahiba Sands is home to Bedouin tribes who have adapted their way of life to this extraordinary landscape for thousands of years. Private tented camps among the dunes — with falconry demonstrations at sunset, a traditional Omani feast under the stars, and a dawn camel ride along the crests — are the defining Oman experience.

The compact, beautifully preserved historic quarter of Muscat combines the whitewashed Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts guarding the harbour entrance — built by the Portuguese in the 16th century — with the Mutrah Corniche and the extraordinary Mutrah Souk, where incense, silverware, Omani khanjars, and frankincense have been traded for centuries in a covered warren of alleyways.

One of the finest works of Islamic architecture completed in the 21st century, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat took six years to build and can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. The main prayer hall's Persian carpet — 4,343 square meters, hand-woven by 600 women — was the world's largest when installed, and the Swarovski crystal chandelier at its center weighs eight tonnes.

The dramatic limestone range running the length of northern Oman, the Hajar Mountains rise to 3,000 meters and contain ancient falaj irrigation channels, 1,000-year-old terraced gardens growing pomegranates and roses, and hilltop villages of extraordinary beauty. Jebel Akhdar ('Green Mountain') is famous for its damask roses, harvested each spring and distilled into rose water that has been exported across Arabia for centuries.

Built in the 17th century around an enormous round tower 40 meters in diameter, Nizwa Fort was for centuries the most important defensive and administrative center in the Omani interior. The traditional Nizwa Souk below the fort on Friday mornings is one of the most authentic markets in Arabia — a livestock auction, silversmith stalls, and vegetable sellers operating exactly as they have for hundreds of years.

An Omani exclave separated from the rest of the country by the UAE, the Musandam Peninsula's dramatic fjords — khor in Arabic — are often called the 'Norway of Arabia.' Traditional dhow cruises through the narrow inlets, past sheer limestone cliffs and small fishing villages accessible only by sea, offer one of the most dramatic coastal experiences in the Middle East, with dolphins accompanying the boat and wild mountain goats visible on the cliff faces above.