From exotic souks selling stunning silverware, frankincense and pungent spices, to bewitching wadis in desert wilderness, and five-star hotels with wonderful hospitality, this guide sensitively explores the little- visited but fascinating Sultanate of Oman. Located at the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is a land of great contrasts, from the rugged, weatherworn Hajar Mountains in the north, across the barren desert of the Central Plains to Dhofar in the south, where tropical humidity in summer nurtures a lush greenery. Modest oil reserves have allowed Oman to develop, but rather than get caught up in the Gulf State oil mania, the Omani people still identify more with their age-old traditions as a trading and seafaring nation. A stable and hospitable state, Oman provides, perhaps more than other Middle Eastern country, an enchanting blend of colourful, exotic landscapes, rich history and culture, and an understanding of and careful integration with the modern world. Oman is the exotic land of 1001 Arabian nights. It has an antiquity-laden frankincense heritage, and majestic fjords and tranquil mountain hamlets. There are camping and hiking adventures amid the grandeur of the Rimal Ash Sharqiyyah (Wihiba Sands). It has alluring beaches along 1700 km Indian Ocean coastline. There is the turtle sanctuary of Ras Al Jinz, and Musandam, Dhofar, the Batinah coast and the province of Ash Sharqiyyah.
