Is it safe to travel to Oman right now? A real travel story

I have just returned from a 12-day fly-drive holiday to Oman. The 1st thing to say is that you should not be put off from visiting due to the crisis in Iran/Straight of Hormuz. Not for a moment did I feel that my safety was compromised. If Oman is your preferred destination, then my strong advice is for you to go, and enjoy yourself(s).

I had originally booked this back in January, before the crisis broke out. Emma was my point of contact, and throughout the planning process, kept me updated along the way with phone calls and detailed emails. I never felt that the crisis was over running the planning that Emma was organising on my behalf. In fact, during an email to her, I commended her for her efficiency in dealing with what was, at times, a fluid situation beyond her control and her subsequent transparent communications with me. My original routing of Edinburgh-Dubai-Muscat was changed to Edinburgh-Istanbul-Muscat, and there were some minor changes in the itinerary, that frankly made no difference to the original plan.

The itinerary was what I had requested; a fly drive with multiple stop overs. The accommodation ranged from basic but clean and functional to top end, high class hotels.In the more remote areas such as Jebel Shams and the Desert Camps, it was “glamping pod” type of sleeping and bathing arrangements. Food at these locations was served buffet style with numerous dishes. The luxurious hotels had everything you could wish for with menus to match. Very high end.

There were numerous highlights along the way.The Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort & Spa is noteworthy as it is only accessible via a drive up a 2,000 metre mountain, consisting of a ribbon smooth, winding, three lane road. At the base is a 24/7 police checkpoint to ensure that driver and vehicle are up to the task. Great fun! Superb driving conditions, and views that you are unlikely to have ever seen before, all in complete safety. Check out Google Earth to get a good visual of what I'm trying to describe in this paragraph!

Oman has, over the last 50 years, been modernised to the extent that every convenience known in the western world, has been fused with the culture and traditions of Oman that still prevail, and which travellers love to experience when visiting foreign countries.

I could go on. But this is to say Holiday Architects looked after me extremely well, and as an aged solo traveller, I was cocooned with emergency phone numbers and numerous contacts that, should I ever have required to use them, would have ensured my safe recovery. Highly, highly commended.

If an Oman holiday has been on your wishlist but recent headlines have left you feeling uncertain, either Cat (our other Oman specialist) or I would be more than happy to chat through any concerns you may have.I've travelled extensively in Oman myself and remain in regular contact with our partners across the country, so I can give you an honest picture of what it's like on the ground and whether it's the right time for you to travel.Oman remains one of my favourite destinations to recommend. And regardless of whether you're heading for the mountain roads, sleeping under the stars in the desert camps, exploring the beautiful coastline or a combination of it all, you're sure to have a brilliant holiday.Feel free to get in touch, and we can start planning your own tailor-made Oman adventure today. We'd love to help.