A guide to Oman’s epic desert

The desert is entwined into the rich culture of Oman and a must-see for any visitor. You can delve into Bedouin life with an immersive, authentic experience in The Empty Quarter, or feel the rush, as you discover the waves of sand up close whilst dune bashing in Sharqiya Sands. Here’s our guide to these two sandy wildernesses…

The sculpted dunes of the Rub Al Khali (Shutterstock)

Called ‘Rub Al Khali,’ in Arabic, The Empty Quarter holds the title for being the largest sand desert in the Arabian Peninsula. The vast desert encompasses parts of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the southwest of Oman. The mysterious swathes of sand has been a pull historically for renowned explorers from Lawrence of Arabia to Wilfred Thesiger to Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who found the lost City of Ubar in 1992.

To visit The Empty Quarter, begin your journey by flying into Salalah, the land of frankincense trees. From there, hire a 4×4 to combat the uneven terrain and drive north for approximately two hours until you reach the sand. It will be obvious once you have arrived because the roads will diminish and you will just be able to see impressive sand dunes before you, stretching out as far as you can see.

Experience Bedouin culture

Experiencing Bedouin culture and to feel how their daily lives play out, is easily accessible in Oman. whether your four-by-four guide is a Bedouin and shows you their well-trodden paths, or you could join a more intimate experience and taste the food they eat, normally a spiced rice, vegetable and chicken or lamb dish served on a large sharing platter, dining with a Bedouin family. You can visit their homes and gain an appreciation for desert life, taking a seat on one of their intricate colourful rugs or handmade bolster cushions, as you listen to their tales, going back generations.

Go stargazing

The deserts of Oman offer a fantastic opportunity to witness clear skies with no light pollution whatsoever, meaning you can spot the stars and their pretty patterns with ease. A popular pastime is to stay the night in the desert in one of the many comfortable or very luxurious campsites. You can make yourself cosy, perhaps with a small cup of delicious saffron, rose water and cardamon infused Omani coffee, as you gaze at the brilliantly lit up constellations above. The desert is also remarkably still and quiet, adding to the ethereal magic that is The Empty Quarter.

Follow in Lawrence of Arabia’s footprints

To get around in The Empty Quarter, your options include either a 4×4 or sat on top of a camel. Naturally when visiting you’ll take in far more inside a four-wheel drive, where you’ll be able to go further distances in a shorter time and you’ll certainly come to life speedily riding the sand dunes. However, if you want to feel as the legendary Lawrence of Arabia would have felt, then a camel is the most authentic way to go, traversing this epic desert just as he did and soaking up the real Arabia at a satisfyingly slow pace.

Close to Muscat is Sharqiya Sands, just a three-hour drive from the bustling cultural capital city. Here, sand dunes can reach heights of up to 100m and they continue to go up to 10m a year. You will see Bedouin tribes traversing the desert, as you catch a glimpse of their homes whilst exploring. You could be fast paced dune bashing or sand surfing or improve your wellbeing and relax practising yoga at sunrise.

Known as Wahiba Sands locally, Sharqiya Sands is located in the eastern part of Oman. Only a three-hour drive away from the colourful capital city Muscat, you could join a tour that takes you from there direct, or why not hire a car and head there under your own steam. As it’s a long drive away, most people choose to stay a night or two at a desert camp. Several tour operators can arrange this for you.

Stay in a desert camp like Desert Nights (Experience Oman)

Stay on a desert camp

Staying the night in the desert at one of their many camps, means you will see the desert at all times of the day, from the heat of midday to the soft breeze of the evening, to the still, peacefulness of the night lit up by the stars, through to the warm glow of sunrise, turning the sand gold. You will become one with the desert, with a deeper understanding of your surroundings and a newfound affection for life of the Bedouin tribes. The contrast to hiking in the mountains or souk shopping in the capital, will add a new dimension to your trip.

Go dune bashing

If you are ready for a fun-fuelled adventure in the desert, then dune bashing is most certainly one for you. The beauty is you can kick back and relax in the knowledge that your driver is skilled and experienced at bashing the dunes and knows exactly the route to take both for safety and scenery, so while your heart may feel as though it is in your mouth, this is an exhilarating experience unlike any other. As you swerve through the soft rippled sand dunes, leaving swirl patterns where you once were, you can see the desert from a new perspective.

Start the day with sunrise yoga

What better way than to start your day, feet sinking into the soft sand beneath as you embark on an energising yoga practice. You will be hard pressed to find a more inspiring and soothing setting to bring your hands together as you whisper ‘namaste’. Teachers will accommodate every level, so you won’t feel left out if you haven’t practised in a while or even, ever! The benefit will come as much from the location as it will from the movement, with the rippling sands of Sharqiya nature’s way of soothing your soul.