Things to see and do The Desert

A village suspended from the scorching slopes, drowned in green palms, forms one of Oman's most striking postcards. Easy access by tarmac road, well-equipped parking lot, tourist coffee shop, natural pools crossed by modern, secure footbridges - this is a major destination for Omani families and travellers alike. From here, following the long-distance footpath, walkers cross the range in 14 hours. It takes considerably less energy to laze on the large rocks and dive into the green water. On weekdays, when it's quieter, this water park, given by nature and redesigned by man, is a recommended excursion. To make the most of the place, take a towel and a bathing suit, which for the ladies must be covering, as the posters remind us. Between the parking lot and the pools, there's a goat path. Don't hesitate to get away from the crowds and head upstream along the wadi to enjoy the peace and quiet. The gorge narrows to form a vertiginous canyon. After the sometimes tricky passage of several large limestone boulders and the crossing of several basins whose water level varies according to the season, you reach a very narrow cave after 1 km - Muqal Cave. It stands halfway up the wall. Following a narrow corridor that requires crawling, it opens onto a vast, dark cavity, extended by vaults and galleries. Even though the area is marked out, it's best to come with locals or a guide.

To buy melons and dried fish, a carved wooden door or a magnificent khanjar, it is there, at the Ibra market, considered the second most important in the country after Muscat. To be frequented at the top of the buzz, on Thursday morning. The day before, Wednesday, the space is reserved for women, although the discreet presence of tourists is tolerated at the edge. In what looks by far like an unbelievable jumble, all the articles of daily life for oriental women are sold: incense, rose water, perfume, fabrics, children's clothes, bags...

Listed and fully restored, the Jami Al Hamoda Mosque was built in the 11th century. Of rather modest size, it recalls the profile of Sahelian mosques. With no minaret, it is characterized by its 52 domes which make it unique. Its courtyard is crossed by a falaj which is used for ablutions. The mosque is not open to non-Muslims, but it is still often possible to enter it outside of prayer (and siesta!) hours. Try to get a fabulous shot of the roof.

Direction the old souk, a shady square surrounded by arcades. This is where the villagers meet to play cards or chat. Superb photos in perspective, especially since some of the elders like to pose. Going a little deeper into the back of the souk, you come to a falaj and the ruins of the Al Khanajirah fort. The village is dominated by a hill where the remains of seven watchtowers still stand. One can climb up the hill by cutting through the old alleyways, where some beautiful carved wooden doors topped with Quranic inscriptions are nestled. From the top, the whole area and the sands of the Sharqiyah are dominated, making it one of the most coherent and photogenic urban ensembles in the region.

Housed in a superbly restored ^17th-century fortified house, this museum is a journey back in time, taking us into the daily lives of the Omanis of yesteryear. From one room to the next, the countless objects on display tell us about the lifestyles of adults and children alike, through an eclectic collection ranging from traditional weapons, tools, jewelry, kitchen utensils, etc. (which can also be seen in certain forts) to more "familiar" objects such as old toys, bicycles, old school bags and candy wrappers!

A fort in the desert, a solitary sentinel facing the immensity. A little imagination will help us to conceive of its eminent role in this outpost on the shores of the sea of sand, when it served as a shelter and a place of command under the Bani Nabhan of the 13th century. On these very ancient foundations, Al Hawari bin Malik (1406-1428) had high walls and a tower that does not protrude beyond the ensemble. Reconstructed several times and renovated at the end of the 20th century, this noble and simple fort offers above all the opportunity to climb up to its heights to embrace the dune landscape.

In the ocre-pink dress, on a palm-bottom backdrop, this is a sumptuous orientalist décor. Largely ignored by flowered visitors flows, Bu Hassan's fort seems to us to be the most complete and balanced of all in this region. Its foundation dates from the ninth century, the era of Imam Al Muhana bin Jaifar. Sayyid Said bin Sultan (1804-1856) built this magnificent building restored in 1992. The surrounding area, the fort, the framework of a perfect palm grove, without signs to neon and sellers of laptops. Photo sequence.

Adventure demands an early start. But what wouldn't you do to see the sun rise over the desert, the dunes change color, the naked immensity gradually revealed as the balloon gently rises to embrace the horizon? Led by expert pilots, the experience is as much about the beauty of the scenery as it is about the experience itself - the unusual sensation of being a bird in a basket, the solemnity of silence disturbed only by the occasional sound of the burner. The team picks you up at your camp, and the flight lasts around 1 hour.

Covering an area of 220 km², the Al Saleel Nature Park Reserve is largely covered by acacia forests. This habitat is ideal for several species of gazelle, including the Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella cora) or the sand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), a rare species in great danger of extinction. The park is also home to Omani wild cats or sand cats (Felis margarita), a species remarkably adapted to arid environments; and also to Arabian red foxes (Vulpes vulpes arabica), Egyptian eagles, vultures, etc.

Al-Manzifat is an ancient city surrounded by a defensive wall. Although only ruins remain, they look good and retain some semblance of vaults decorated with oriental motifs and several two-storey houses with elaborate window openings. These dwellings form the outline of the ancient city of the Zanzibar Moguls. Given the narrowness of some of the narrow streets, leave the car behind and stroll along them, admiring the mud-brick watchtowers at the top of the hills.