Oman

Compared with some of its more ostentatious neighbours, Oman has a quiet confidence about it. This is a country that has embraced modernity without losing sight of its traditions and Bedouin heritage, and where the natural landscape is every bit as impressive as the architecture.

I spent 10 wonderful days travelling around Oman by car, and found it to be one of the most accessible and rewarding places I’ve explored in the Middle East. The highways are excellent, independent travel is relatively straightforward, and the freedom to venture off the main roads and discover something unexpected is complete.

In Muscat, the elegant Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Royal Opera House stand in contrast to the labyrinthine Muttrah Souq, where the scent of frankincense and cardamom coffee hangs in the air. Inland, the great forts of Nizwa and Bahla, the mudbrick houses of Misfat Al Abriyeen and the rocky peaks of Jebel Shams offer a different perspective on Oman.

Then there are the extraordinary landscapes. Swimming through the turquoise pools of Wadi Shab, cooling off in the Bimmah Sinkhole, driving through the dunes of the Sharqiya Sands and watching sea turtles at Ras Al Jinz were some of the most memorable moments of my trip.