We landed bright and early after a red-eye flight from Greece to Muscat. I had little idea as to what we would do in Muscat, besides hang out on the coastline.
Many people think of Oman as a desert country in the middle of the Arabian peninsula. We did too, until we checked into the Shangri La Al Husn on the coast of Muscat and found complete Arabian paradise.
Checking into the Shangri La Al Husn
The Shangri La Al Husn is one of the most luxurious properties in Muscat. It’s about a twenty-minute drive away from downtown Muscat and lies in the perfect position on the coast. It’s an ideal location for a quick city break for Omanis and a great vacation spot for international travelers who want to experience the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman.
Al Husn sits on a clifftop just a walk away from its sister property, the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. To maintain a quiet and relaxing environment only guests over 16 are allowed to stay at Al Husn.
The Rooms
There are 180 luxurious rooms at Shangri La Al Husn. They are all well equipped with fast WiFi, bathtubs, a balcony or terrace with stunning sea views.
The Activities
The most inviting thing about the Shangri La Al Husn is the number of activities and things to do on offer. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but you could have an entire fulfilling vacation here and never leave the resort.
For starters, you are always only steps away from the beach or the pool. There are plenty of water sport activities on offer. Stand up paddleboards, kayaks, and even wakeboarding can be arranged. Al Husn guests also have access to a private beach secluded away from everything. We spent a great day at the private beach enjoying the Omani Coast.
If you want to go next door to the lazy river at the sister property this is also a fun option!
The Shangri La Al Husn offers an incredible amount of inclusions to guests. We took for granted the free daily afternoon tea, free sunset cocktails, free minibar, and sunset music as these kinds of things are not offered at every resort.
The Shangri La also has a dive center nearby where you can book diving trips, snorkeling trips, and dolphin watching excursions. This resort is home to one of the only turtle nesting sites in Oman so turtle sitings while diving or snorkeling is common! (Remember to never touch the turtles).
The Food
There are four main restaurants at the Shangri La Al Husn dishing up Arabic and international dishes. With our three nights at Al Husn we tried multiple restaurants and each one was delicious. Chow Mee, serves up Southeast Asian street food, while Shahrazad is more upscale and serves Moroccan and Arabic Cuisine. Our final night was spent at Sultanah,
where you can find fresh Omani seafood in a fine dining environment.
As guests of Al Husn, you can also visit the 15 additional dining venues at the sister property, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa
The Spa
Last but not least is the Hareer Spa, where we spent our last evening soaking up L’OCCITANE ingredients in an amazing and relaxing setting.
Book Your Oman Vacation at the Shangri La
Quick Oman Travel Tips
- Language – Arabic. However, with good education and a strong tourist industry English is widely spoken.
- Currency: Omani Rial
- Visa: E-Visa System,
- What to Pack: Pack for desert temperatures. Light, loose, and conservative clothing works best here!
Where to Stay in Oman
Alila Jabal Akhdar
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the Alila is one of the most high end and beautiful hotels in Oman. It’s certainly not a cheap stay, but it’s located in a special place in the world and will transport you back in time to the mountains of Oman.
Al Bustan Palace
Located just outside Muscat, Al Bustan Palace is exactly what it sounds like – a palace. Well, not a real palace, but it certainly feels like one. It’s a great property to stay at for a relaxing time in Oman. With a huge pool and swim up suites.
Shangri La Al Husn
Shangri La Al Husn is one of the most luxurious properties in Muscat. It’s about a twenty-minute drive away from downtown Muscat and lies in the perfect position on the coast. It’s an ideal location for a quick city break for Omanis and a great vacation spot for international travelers who want to experience the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman. You can read our full review here.
Plan and Pack for Oman
Travel Insurance
We don’t travel without travel insurance and neither should you. You never know what can happen in a foreign country and it’s best to be prepared. World Nomads provides good short term coverage.
SafetyWing is perfect for digital nomads. See our full review here!
Book a Tour
Sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the trip planning! Book an Oman Tour!
Hiking Sandals
These were great to have! You’ll do a lot of walking around Oman in the extremely hot sun. Hiking sandals allow for your feet to breathe and they do not collect sand when trudging through the desert. You bet we’ve reviewed the best hiking sandals for travelers!
Shemagh
Just throwing this into your bag is going to make packing for Oman a breeze. A Shemagh is the perfect travel accessory for both the men and the women travelers out there. This can be worn for just about anything. It will keep you warm, cover your face, protect valuables in your backpack, and even double as an eye mask the shemagh has tons of different uses.
Adapter
Remember that Oman uses the Type G plug. Make sure you find a good adapter like the one I have to keep you charged. Otherwise, you may be paying for a cheap one once you land.
