Our travel bucket lists have long been dominated with the usual wellness hotspots (Tulum, Bali, Greece, and so on). But, there’s one destination that hasn’t made it onto the list, and it most definitely should. We’re talking about Oman.
Oman? Don’t feel bad if you had to Google it. Situated on the Arabian Sea, Oman shares its borders with the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. The small country has set itself up to be one of the hottest destinations of 2017, and a fierce rival of another popular Middle Eastern city—Dubai.
Instead of dazzling guests with majestic, skyscraping glass towers, Oman’s beachside and mountain resorts aim to restore and revitalize their clientele. Honestly, every location is completely beautiful—and in some strange way, mystic. If you’re due for a relaxing getaway, book your ticket to Oman. Here’s where you should stay for detoxifying, relaxing holiday.
Al Baleed Resort Salalah
Southern Oman
Whether you opt for a private seaside villa or a hotel suite with an ocean view, you’ll immediately be spirited away by Al Baleed Resort Salalah’s chill beach-meets-desert vibes. The secluded hotel itself is strategically placed between the turquoise sea and a freshwater lagoon, so you can spend your entire vacay by the water. But if it’s true rejuvenation you’re after, the hotel’s Anantara Spa is where you’ll probably spend most of your time.
The Anantara Spa is renowned for weaving together ancient healing traditions from the East, Middle Eastern healing rituals, and more traditional “spa” activities into an all-encompassing wellness experience. Every treatment is designed to used indigenous ingredients to “renew from tip to toe.” The holistic massage is amazing, and if you go you’ve got to try the ancient Ayurvedic facial treatment.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar
Northwest Oman, Al Hajar Mountains
The Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort is honestly unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It looks like it could be a location for a sleek James Bond movie. The hotel itself is on top of a mountain—yes, a legit mountain—and overlooks a giant canyon the Al Hajar Mountain range. It’s a quiet, cloistered locale that would be perfect for disconnecting from truly anything.
If you’re really into starting fresh, sign up for the hotel’s wellness concept that introduces guests to fitness activities, luxury beauty treatments, and mindfulness practices for a life-changing stay. Start your day by breaking a sweat skyrunning on the mountain trails or summit biking to the peaks surrounding the hotel; refuel your body and learn a few new kitchen hacks in a healthy cooking class; and finally, restore tired muscles in the Himalayan Salt Room.
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa
Northern Coast, Outside of Muscat
Just a 15-minute drive from the capital city of Muscat, the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort is actually three hotels in one. Regardless of whether you choose to stay right on the beach or tucked away in the more secluded hills, you’ll have easy access to the gorgeous coastal beaches where you can kayak into sea caves and snorkel with turtles to your heart’s content. But the main attraction is undoubtedly the CHI Spa. Based in Thai tradition, the spa offers Thai massage, Philippine Hilot treatments, and chi-balancing techniques.
