Gîte d'étape Oman

At the bottom of the old village, in the heart of the oasis, this was the first traditional house to be converted into a guest house, thus initiating this type of tourism in Oman. Spread over several levels (not recommended for the elderly), it still offers the most authentic setting. With its many nooks and crannies, it houses 15 rooms for 1 to 7 people, with mattresses on the floor, air conditioning, shared bathroom on the landings or private bathroom, as you wish. We love the pretty covered terrace nestled in the palm trees and the rooftop restaurant. Charming!

The road, then the track, is long, beautiful and vertiginous, up to this altiplano that one gladly takes for the roof of the sultanate! At over 2,200 metres above sea level, winter awakenings are at 4° max, and in summer you can enjoy a 15° or 24° in the bright sunshine. As in the two other resorts a little lower down, we find the binomial chalets + tents, the first ones are spacious, with TV, air-conditioning and a bathroom, the second ones are equipped with less comfortable beds and an outside but private shower-wc. Restaurant and swimming pool. 4x4 obligatory.

At an altitude of almost 2,000 meters, this establishment is like a star refuge. It's made up of air-conditioned and/or heated (depending on the season) cube-shaped "scientific station on Mars"-type buildings ( chalets, they call them) with bathrooms, decent beds and large, private, landscaped terraces. On-site: restaurant, BBQ, heated outdoor pool, range of activities (trekking and mountain biking in particular)... and the whole space to walk in freedom (views). The establishment is accessible without a 4x4 (although a Mini Cooper is not recommended).

There's no big infrastructure here, just a fairly isolated, basic camp on the west coast of the island, made up of prefabricated cabins covered in colorful wood, some with shared sanitary facilities and no air conditioning, others more luxurious with king-size bed, air conditioning and private bathroom. Its advantage: it's just 100 meters from the kite spot, so you can escape civilization and make the most of the site. It's ideal for nature and surf lovers. Meals can be taken at the camp's small restaurant.

Close to the W4 and W6 hiking trails, on a vast plateau with plunging views over a canyon and the mountains, this is the only ecolodge in Jebel Shams and the most comfortable in the area. In harmony with the mineral immensity of the site, accommodation is divided between dry-stone bungalows, large chalets with views, luxury tents... each with private bathroom and air conditioning and/or heating. On-site: restaurant, library, playground and activity center (mountain biking, trekking, yoga...).