The magic of Oman
Anyone that knows me well will know that it is incredibly rare for me to be speechless, and for the past week since my return from Oman, I have been just that. Without words, or at least the proper to describe what a truly unforgettable experience I had.
Owning and running Corporate Peaks, as well as managing two children (one being a newborn), planning a destination wedding, and dealing with all that life throws at you, means my opportunity to enjoy Familiarisation Trips to our global destinations are exceedingly rare; but when Star-Your-World’s invitation to Oman landed in my inbox, there was little hesitation from me to RSVP ‘attending!’. And I am so glad I did, as it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Let me tell you why…
My business partner Ben had a feeling that this place was going to inspire me, and my creativity has gone through the roof! (just ask the team!). I have returned more inspired, ambitious, motivated, and energised than ever before which is why I implore you to take your team! For this reason alone, it is the perfect place to reward your employees, host a unique supplier meeting or whatever your business objectives demand. And that is before we have even started into the details…
So, what did we do exactly?
Day 1:
Meeting the team at Heathrow- standard procedure but with a few extra comforts of the business lounge and Oman Air treating us to business class. I rocked up as my usual lively self, and I think it’s safe to say everyone could see I was already beyond excited for this trip- having looked at the itinerary, we all were!
First impressions- the team at Oman Air were welcoming and made sure we had everything we needed to have the ultimate relaxing journey. The flight from Heathrow is at 20.3, perfect for post-office day departure and allowing you to sleep through the journey before an early morning arrival.
Our arrival into Oman and through Muscat Airport was a seamless experience and was swiftly followed by a traditional Omani breakfast. Immediately immersing ourselves into the beautiful culture, we got to know each other over some Arabic coffee – the perfect way to refresh after the flight and kick off our first day.
Day one was a Muscat Sightseeing tour which I loved. One highlight for was the Grand Mosque- stunning grounds and an elegant interior. I do not know much about the religions of the world, but learning about the Islamic faith and culture was insightful, and I could not stop beaming in awe at the grandeur and detail of every part of this Mosque.
From exploring volcanos to chasing waterfalls in less than an hour, lunch was at a lovely little spot in Vik, a remote seafront village in south Iceland, another impressive venue and menu that offered great vegetarian options. Following lunch, we visited the local ‘Black Beach’, which was quite simply profound. The landscape was almost haunting and beautiful at the same time. Despite the rain at this point, we had all fallen in love with this rare and unique land.
Upon checking in to our hotel, Al Bustan Palace – a Ritz Carlton hotel, we had a fabulous site visit of the function facilities followed by a few hours of personal R&R.
The facilities, hospitality and comfort of this hotel are 10/10. Boasting a superb location as everything is conveniently very close by.
Day 2 – THE BIG ONE(…OR SO I THOUGHT)
Another thing you may not know about me is my obsession with turtles- and my twelve-year search for the ‘top turtle destinations’. Only I seem to have the misfortune of them escaping my gaze each time I look. So, when I saw that there was a ‘full day on the ocean’ on the itinerary, I made a special request that turtles made an appearance!
Onboard our private boat, we set off into the beautiful waters and immediately came across an enormous pod of dolphins – the day was already off to a great start!
We then turned in a different direction, passing cliffs, coves, and empty beaches. As we pulled into our very own secluded beach for the day- the excitement was too much, and some of us jumped into the clear warm waters, grinning ear to ear.
On the beach, while an Omani lunch was prepared, we all felt like children again as we raced to the banana boats, kayaks, and snorkelling kits. Having bored everyone to death with my turtle swimming dream, everyone (presumably felt compelled) to tell me their location. Lo and behold, the next magnificent hour was spent swimming nearby four beautiful turtles, large and small and finally ticking this experience off my list!
Lunch was hosted in a tent with traditional floor seating, and as we sat and enjoyed the wonderful food, we talked, laughed and recalled stories of our past travels, concluding this trip was up there with the best of them. Lunch was rounded off with an almighty rendition of the Macarena by the group – the perfect afternoon.
That evening, we ate at a beautiful beach club venue and toasted what a lovely experience we’d had so far. What stuck out to me about this place was how perfect of a location it was for a group of any size. Taking the stairs down to the shore, there was a low-lit bar which provided the ideal location to finish the evening with a cocktail.
Day 3 – now Then…
This is the one that got me! Loving all things adventure, I was excited to get up into some higher terrain and explore. We were given a safety demonstration, donned our canyoning clobber and walked to the first waterfall of many. For anyone unsure of Canyoning, it involves attaching yourself to a secure line and walking backwards down a cliff edge/waterfall- easy!
I rarely ‘feel the fear’ in this way, but I had one heck of a wobble at the top! This was a 16m descent, and it certainly does not feel natural to take yourself down, but with the support of some strong team spirit, I sang my way down, and I had a GREAT TIME! Such a great time that I wanted to carry on all day, but of course, we had more ahead of us, and after such an adrenaline rush, I was up for it all!
Next up, we were on the road to Wahba Sands. At the starting point of the desert, we changed vehicles and embraced some fast and furious dune bashing in 4 x 4s. We laughed our heads off in the most exciting transfer to what would be our home for the evening.
Next up, we were on the road to Wahba Sands. At the starting point of the desert, we changed vehicles and embraced some fast and furious dune bashing in 4 x 4s. We laughed our heads off in the most exciting transfer to what would be our home for the evening.
As we got out of the car, our jaws dropped. We walked over a dune to see the most magical sight, a camp just for us and offering the perfect spot for watching the sunset over the desert sands. There were camels, sandboarding, and fat bikes, and we were met graciously by the team, who explained how this eco-friendly luxury camp runs and what to expect on our overnight stay..
It did not disappoint- the main tent was host to an outstanding meal, board games, more fabulous conversation, and the surprise of a Bedouin family who sang, danced, and mesmerised us with songs and celebration. After this was over, we walked along the candlelit route to the fire pit, where we danced and shared stories late into the night.
This, for me, was a night I will never forget. I was enchanted by the magic of this experience and believe that everybody should be given the opportunity to do this. It was also so refreshing to be entirely cut off from the world, with no Wi-Fi and no 3,4 or 5G; it meant we were more present than any of us have been in an exceptionally long time. In fact, the whole trip, I was rarely on my phone at all (other than choosing songs for the playlist). I remained present for the whole experience, and it was part of the reason that I have come back invigorated.
The ability to disconnect is one of the reasons I believe every business should use this location within its travel programme. It has been a strange and challenging few years for events professionals and I thoroughly enjoyed simply talking and learning from one another. It felt much more enriching than simply scrolling through LinkedIn and checking out Insta stories.
Day Four- the finale…
After leaving the desert camp, we headed to the oldest capital, Nizwa. We walked around the fort and enjoyed the morning market. We ate within an exclusive and traditional function room before setting off up the mountain towards our final venue.
The Anantara hotel is most definitely my personal preferred style; it was spacious and inspired (in my opinion) by multiple cultures whilst remaining Omani-focused. All the rooms overlook the dramatic mountains and are very different from the ones I am used to! They all face outwards, with gardens, viewpoints, and a gorgeous infinity-style pool by the cliffside. It encapsulated tranquillity and was the perfect end point for reflection during our final meal together. Before we knew it, we were returning home.
The very essence of our Global brand (Corporate Peaks) is exclusively fun, personable, and enriching experiences. We live and breathe adventure, excitement, and, most of all, connectivity. Connecting our clients is key to achieving those objectives and every moment of this trip felt perfectly aligned with everything we love to offer. Oman has the capacity to deliver outstanding events, from a small to large scale, and with complete ease. I implore you to consider this wonderful destination for your next event and to reward your team with such a deeply connecting and energising trip. It is one which I will certainly never forget and has left me feeling recharged and ready to go!
The ability to disconnect is one of the reasons I believe every business should use this location within its travel programme. It has been a strange and challenging few years for events professionals and I thoroughly enjoyed simply talking and learning from one another. It felt much more enriching than simply scrolling through LinkedIn and checking out Insta stories.
With special thanks to all the hosts, providers, and superb company, this wOman I will be seeing you again VERY soon.
Feeling inspired? Send me a message directly, and we will chat more.
Holly x