After a smooth arrival into Oman, a short 20-minute drive took us to the Al Mouj district. A beachside community, the area is peaceful, modern and home to our hotel, the Kempinski Hotel Muscat.
The striking façade of this hotel is inspired by the ornate designs seen in the architecture of the old town. Inside, the hotel lobby is stunning, with plush low couches, providing the perfect spot for a cup of Omani coffee and some succulent dates as you check in. Most impressive of all are the dazzling lotus styled columns which lead your eye across polished floors, to a vast wall of glass sharing views across the gardens to the Gulf of Oman.
The new kid on the block, Kempinski has 310 spacious rooms furnished in a contemporary style. I thought the rooms were beautiful, but I did feel they lacked an authentic touch. However, the bed was like sleeping on a cloud and the pillow menu even featured an anti-ageing option! The food was exceptional with extensive choices to cater to all palates and at the end of the night, the atmosphere at the Zale beach bar was fantastic, great for drinking cocktails to the early hours with your feet in the sand.
Our first day we ventured into the old city of Muscat, where time feels like it has stood still for hundreds of years. Wandering the streets of the market, watching everyday scenes of traders peddling their wares whilst hearing the call to prayer echoing across the city was magical. However, my personal highlight was being invited into an Omani home for dinner. We sat crosslegged on the floor and tried delicious authentic dishes whilst listening to tales of daily life and traditional folklore. A truly special experience, it made me appreciate this country’s rich heritage even more.
On our last day, we boarded a private boat at the nearby marina and headed out to sea. On our journey, we saw fishermen bringing in their daily catch before reaching little islands where the skies were full of birds and below, we were treated to an abundance of fish swimming against coral reefs, a sight I did not expect to come across in Muscat. After a busy few days on our return to the hotel, we decided to spend our last couple of hours lounging by the pool, the perfect way to end an amazing trip!