A’Sharqiyah Sands desert trip

A'Sharqiyah Sands, long known to visitors as the Wahiba Sands, is the classic desert experience from Muscat. The sand sea covers about 10,000 square kilometres of Ash Sharqiyah North, and the national tourism site rates it among the most attractive camping areas in the country. The landscape starts on the flat Al Mintarib plain and rises into long ridges of dunes whose colour shifts through the day from pale yellow to rusty red and deep orange. The town of Bidiyah, on the edge of the sands, is the usual starting point.

The main activities are 4x4 dune drives, camel trekking, sandboarding and quad biking, along with visits to Bedouin communities and stargazing after dark, when the sky is far clearer than in the city. Most visitors stay overnight in one of the desert camps, which range from simple tent sites to comfortable lodges with private bathrooms, and watch the sunset from the crest of a dune before dinner. Horse and camel races are also part of local life in the region.

The best season is from September to April. In summer the heat is extreme in the middle of the day and an overnight stay is much less comfortable. Driving on the sand needs a proper 4x4, experience and low tyre pressure, so unless you have done it before, arrange a transfer from Bidiyah with your camp or join a guided tour from Muscat. Bring sunglasses, a scarf against blowing sand, plenty of water and sunscreen, and a warm layer for the night, which can be surprisingly cool in winter.

Visitors are asked to respect the customs and traditions of the Bedouin tribes who live in and around the sands. Dress modestly, ask before photographing people and follow your guide's lead when visiting a family. The trip suits couples, families with children who enjoy outdoor adventure, and photographers.

The drive from Muscat to Bidiyah takes around three hours by road. Many visitors break the journey at Wadi Bani Khalid, a fertile valley in the Eastern Hajar Mountains where waterfalls feed natural pools and small lakes long used to supply the villages' irrigation channels. Combining the wadi and the desert over two days, with a night in a camp, is one of the most popular short trips from the capital.