Globalista

Less developed than Dubai and less conservative than Saudi Arabia, Oman is the Middle East destination du jour for travellers looking for deserts, mountains, beaches, sunshine and a refreshing lack of skyscrapers. Oman is the second largest country in the Arabian peninsula (about the size of the UK) and has over 2,700km of sandy coastline to explore.

The activities on offer range from desert camping and dune bashing (in a 4x4) to camel safaris and turtle watching (although lying by a pool is also an option). A trip to Oman will undoubtedly begin in the capital Muscat, with its souks, beaches and the country’s best hotels, but the landscapes outside the city are the real reason to come here. You can drive for miles without seeing a settlement or a soul – heavenly.