Escaping the Dubai summer in Salalah

Let’s face it, the summers in Dubai can be unbearable at times and we all like to escape the heat every now and again. One of my favourite places to visit is Salalah in Oman. It is so peaceful and during Khareef season (late June to early September) the land is a luscious green and the temperatures vary between 23 and 27 degrees.

I spent 2 nights at Fanar Hotel & Residences at the end of August. The hotel was quite new and looked a bit unfinished (some parts were still under construction). This didn’t impact the quality of our stay. The rooms were generous, the restaurants were adequate and the pool overlooked the beach with a beautiful silhouette of palm trees.

The hotel is a short walk (or buggy ride) from The Island and the Juweira and Rotana hotels. One evening we ate at the Rotana and had a few drinks at The Island (small bar/restaurant on the marina that is buzzing with expats in the evenings). It was nice to get out of the hotel and speak to some expats who live in Salalah.

The next afternoon, I organized a day trip for us to see the sights. We had a private driver take us to Taqah, Sumhuram, Khor Rori creek, Wadi Darbat, Mirbat and Ain Razat. We saw white sandy beaches, overlooked by cliffs, ancient forts, the UNESCO archeological site at Sumhuram, wadi’s, waterfalls and natural springs. It is amazing to see so much greenery (coming from Dubai in summer). It reminded me of country drives back in Ireland.

After a quick massage in the newly opened spa, it was back to sizzling Dubai!