Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Begin week four by crossing the border via
Buraimi
to
Ibri
in Oman. This is the land
of a thousand aged towers and fortifications, gracing mountain top and wadi's edge, and
it's easy to feel the spirit of the ancients in their burial towers at
Bat
. Continue through
the castle towns of
Jabrin
and
Bahla
to
Nizwa
where the mighty Jebel Shams towers
over this heritage city.
Take a complete break from the vertical by journeying across the edge of the Empty
Quarter on the flat and utterly featureless highway to
Thumrait
. The descent into
Sala-
lah
, Oman's southern capital, after 10 hours of stony-plain monotony is sublime, espe-
cially during the rainy season when the desert turns green. End week four among the
frankincense trees near
Mughsail
and see where the precious resin was traded at Al-
Baleed and the ancient harbour of
Khor Rouri
.
With a car, begin week five by skirting the Arabian Sea from Salalah (via Hasik when
the coast road is completed) to
Duqm
, pausing for a night on floating hotel Veronica.
Complete a lap of
Masirah
to understand the true meaning of the term 'desert island' be-
fore continuing along the auburn edge of the Sharqiya sands to
Ras al-Hadd
. Spend a
day in
Sur
, where the lighthouses of Ayjah guide dhows to safe haven, before heading to
journey's end in the hospitable city of
Muscat
.
