Travel Story Explore Oman with Travel Club's Travel Editor

Oman blends traditional life and culture with some of the best innovations and infrastructure of the modern world.

It is a place which I’ve visited many times and know well ... a place which I write about and I’m keen to share in person.

Oman is at the heart of our Travel Club Tour, presented with trusted friends Collette, and which is bookended by the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

I have experienced Oman in many ways. I have been alone and footloose in Arabia. I have let the Wahiba Sands of the Empty Quarter run through my fingers, and followed the writings I have known since childhood, of Arabist, traveller and writer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, into the Al Hajar Mountains.

The people of Oman compare the Hajar mountain range to a human spine.

Under Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, the previous Sultan’s son, Oman has modernised, developed and invested in infrastructure, but kept its roots deeply planted in tradition.

Even young men wear the long, white dishdasha garment of their forefathers, with an embroidered kum (kummah) cap.

In 1970, under the previous Sultan, there was just 10km of sealed roads in Oman. It was still a place of donkey carts and dusty tracks. By 2000, there was more than 8000km. 

But this is still a land of frankincense, gathered from Oman’s Boswellia sacra trees; of Bedouin traditions, goat markets, oases, protective forts and delicious Omani coffee in elegant pots, served with dates. Of flatbreads and hummus and roasted goat.

After the Travel Club Tour group has thoroughly explored Abu Dhabi and travelled to Oman, I will be there to meet everyone at Muscat Airport.

I will personally guide the group around this interesting place, where I will also be on assignment — giving a glimpse into the work of a travel writer.

I am only interested in leading Travel Club Tours to areas where I can be helpful — where I can open up new horizons. 

I will share the full story of Oman, be with our guests around Muscat, on the road to Nizwa and to the Wahiba Sands.

Nizwa is one of my favourite places. 

It will help to bring a deeper understanding of this safe and welcoming place. 

And I will take the opportunity to share some of my photographic experience.

In Abu Dhabi, the travellers will have seen the Emirates Palace and Corniche, the Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque and the falcon hospital ...

In Dubai, they will see Burj Al Arab, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding and Bur Dubai.

And in between, in Oman, I’ll show them Arabia, ancient and modern. It’s a one-off, and I can’t wait. 

Fact File

• The Travel Club Tour to Dubai, Oman and Abu Dhabi, presented in conjunction with partners Collette, is from November 29 to December 11. It is from $8790 per person, twin share and includes airfares, transfers, transportation, accommodation, meals (as per itinerary), touring, tipping, gratuities and porterage.
• Highlights include Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace, Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque, Old Muscat, the city of Nizwa, Wahiba Sands, a desert safari, Burj Al Arab and Bur Dubai.
• For more details see sevenwesttravelclub.com.au/tours or phone 1300 062 731.