Muscat, Oman.

As you’ve probably guessed, I have a thing for destinations with a quirky charm, and Muscat seems perfectly in line with that vision.

5 days itinerary

Day One – Arrival, Frankincense, and Slow Light

Check-in: The Chedi Muscat (late afternoon)
White walls, palm trees, and air that already feels older than us. We drop the bags, find the pool, and agree we’re not doing anything that requires shoes for at least three hours.

Afternoon: Frankincense & mint tea at Al Bustan Palace
A soft start: high arches, low cushions, and the scent of Oman in a teacup. We sip slowly and pretend not to google what frankincense actually is.

Evening: Dinner at The Beach Restaurant (The Chedi)
Sea breeze, grilled seafood, and candlelight in the sand. The ocean’s three meters away, but we barely notice.

Day Two – Marble, Gold, and a Very Good Plate of Lamb

Morning: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
We step inside and the silence stretches. Marble underfoot, gold overhead, chandeliers that feel like stars.

Late morning: Slow coffee at Bait Al Luban rooftop
Back near the port. Strong coffee, cardamom, and views of dhows drifting by. It’s 10 a.m. but time’s already weird.

Lunch: Ubhar
Camel biryani? Sure. We order like we mean it. Flavors deep and strange in the best way. We share everything. Except dessert.

Afternoon: Royal Opera House + bookstore wander
We’re not seeing a show—we’re here for the architecture. White stone, symmetry, and a gift shop that sells poetry and oud.

Dinner: Kargeen
A garden under lanterns. Mezze, grilled meats, wine that isn’t wine. The call to prayer floats in with the smoke. Nothing feels out of place.

Day Three – Water, Coral, and a Nap We Definitely Earned

Morning: Boat to the Daymaniyat Islands
We head out early. The sea’s glass. The reef is better than expected. We swim with turtles, float in silence, and eat mango between dives.

Lunch: Picnic on the boat
Fresh fruit, salty hair, no forks needed. Our guide brings dates we can’t stop eating.

Afternoon: Spa reset back at The Chedi
Steam, stillness, and the kind of massage that resets your skeleton. Afterwards, we sit in robes and pretend we live here now.

Evening: Light dinner by the pool
No reservations. Something grilled, something green. We eat slowly, barefoot, slightly sun-stoned. One drink, then back to bed-business.

Day Four – Dunes, Dust, and Rosewater in the Desert

Morning: Road to Wahiba Sands
We leave early. The city fades into red earth. The dunes roll out like fabric. The silence changes pitch out here. Our driver lets the tires drop pressure. We hold on.

Lunch: Bedouin-style in the desert
Flatbread, rice, lamb, dates. The shade is an oasis. The tea is sweeter than it needs to be.

Afternoon: Wadi Bani Khalid
Clear water, smooth rocks, feet first into turquoise. We swim, nap on stones, then swim again. Time dissolves.

Evening: Return to Muscat + dinner at Al Angham
Ornate walls, rich spices, quiet service. This one’s dress-up. We lean in, slow down, and order everything once.

Day Five – Mountains, Markets, and the End That Doesn’t Feel Like One

Morning: Up to Jebel Akhdar
We climb into the clouds. The air shifts. Green terraces, rose gardens, stone houses that cling to cliffs. We stop often. Sometimes just to stand still.

Lunch: Sahab Resort
A terrace on the edge. Mountain food: grilled eggplant, lemony chicken, something warm with saffron. The view makes everything taste better.

Afternoon: Nizwa Fort + souq
On the way down, we stop in Nizwa. A 17th-century fort, a market that still smells like spices and silver. We buy one thing too many. That’s fine.

Evening: Back to Muscat + final dinner at Bait Al Bahr
Seafood by the sea. A final table, a final bottle, a final view.

View of white buildings with blue domes and minarets along a waterfront with mountains in the background.
Sand dunes in a desert with smooth, flowing shapes and warm orange and yellow hues under a clear sky.
A luxurious indoor spa area with a central hot tub, frosted glass doors on either side, and soft lighting. There are water bottles, glasses, and towels on the side tables.

Travel ideas: Worldwide