Holiday in Wahiba Sands

What makes Wahiba Sands special as a destination?

The Sharqiyah Sands (formerly Wahiba Sands) in eastern Oman are a desert straight out of a storybook: endless dunes in warm gold and red tones stretch to the horizon, shaped by the wind into elegant crests and waves that reinvent themselves with each position of the sun. What sets this desert apart from others is its accessibility: just two hours from Muscat, it offers an authentic desert experience without the extreme remoteness of the Rub al-Khali. The dunes of Sharqiyah reach heights of up to 100 meters and offer a range of experiences: from dune bashing with 4x4 vehicles over the steep sand slopes to sandboarding, which takes you down the dunes at surprising speeds. Camel rides at dusk follow the trails of the Bedouins, who still live on the fringes of the desert and welcome their guests with famous Omani hospitality. The nights in the desert are the true highlight: far from any light pollution, a starry sky of overwhelming brilliance reveals itself. The desert camps — from simple Bedouin tents to luxurious glamping resorts — offer the chance to sleep under this sky, awakened by the sunrise that bathes the dunes in a play of colors of pink, gold, and purple. The surroundings of the desert enhance the experience: Wadi Bani Khalid, just a short drive away, surprises with emerald green natural pools in a rocky oasis — the perfect contrast to the sandy desert. The traditional oasis villages on the desert's edge, where date palms, goats, and the characteristic Omani mud towers dominate the landscape, showcase authentic life in the Sultanate.