A night in the Wahiba Sands (Sharqiya Sands)

The Wahiba Sands, which Oman's Ministry of Heritage and Tourism calls the Sharqiya Sands, cover some 10,000 km² of dunes, ranging from pale yellow to rusty orange, just beyond the Al Mintarib plain. They lie a little over two hours' drive from Muscat. One night in a camp is enough to capture the essentials: the 4WD track, sunset from a dune crest, dinner and a sky full of stars.

A typical night at camp

• In the afternoon, arrive at the edge of the dunes near Al Wasil or Bidiyah. If you are driving yourself, you leave the car there and the camp picks you up by 4WD.
• Late in the day: settle into your tent, then head out on the dunes for sunset.
• In the evening: dinner at camp, then stargazing far from any lights.
• At dawn: sunrise over the dunes, or a hot-air balloon flight if you have booked one.
• In the morning: back to the road, then on to Wadi Bani Khalid or the coast at Sur.

Camp times (check-in, check-out, dinner) are given in local time; Oman is 4 hours ahead of London in winter and 3 hours ahead in summer.

Getting there

Al Wasil and Bidiyah, the two gateways to the dunes, are about 185 km and 2 h 10 by road from Muscat airport. Beyond them, the sand tracks are for 4WD only: at Desert Nights Camp, for example, the last eleven kilometres are on sand. Most camps offer to collect guests at the edge of the dunes, so you do not have to drive on sand yourself.

If you drive your own vehicle into the dunes, European governments are clear: never venture into the sand alone. France Diplomatie, the French foreign ministry's travel advice service, recommends travelling in a convoy of at least two vehicles, with people who know the desert and the route, and carrying the means to navigate, communicate and cope with a breakdown (water, food, fuel, sand recovery gear, GPS). The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) adds that you should check your insurance covers this kind of trip. Our guide to driving in Oman sets out the rules.

Three camps chosen by Sabaro

• Desert Nights Camp has air-conditioned tents with vaulted canvas roofs, a lounge and a private bathroom. Its name appears to have changed recently; we confirm the details at the time of booking.
• Thousand Nights Camp offers tents in different styles and price brackets, including goat-hair tents and air-conditioned tents with a private terrace.
• Canvas Club builds a camp just for you in the middle of the dunes: a bedroom tent about 6 m across, a Bedouin-style lounge tent, and an open-air bathroom with hot shower and chemical toilet, without electricity. It is the most secluded experience, and the simplest in terms of facilities.

The price recorded for Thousand Nights is room only. Whether meals and dune outings are included varies from camp to camp, so check what the rate covers when you book.

Things to do in the desert

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism lists the activities on offer in the Sharqiya Sands:

• dune driving by 4WD with a driver, and by quad bike;
• camel rides;
• sandboarding down the dunes;
• stargazing, under skies free of light pollution;
• camel and horse racing; at Bidiyah, camel races are held at weekends, according to Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hot-air balloon at dawn

A balloon flight over the dunes is the signature experience. One option recorded in October 2026 costs about €310 per person for a 40-minute flight, departing around 5 am local time; it is open to ages 12 and over, with a minimum booking of two.

Wadi Bani Khalid

2 h 50 by road from Muscat and not far from the dunes, Wadi Bani Khalid is one of the most fertile valleys in the country, with waterfalls and natural pools for swimming. Visit on the way in or out. From Muscat, a guided day trip combining the desert and the wadi, without an overnight stay, costs from about €117 per person.

When to go

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism recommends the Sharqiya Sands from September to April. Average highs recorded at Bidiyah, on the edge of the dunes, show that midwinter is the most pleasant time:

In September, October and April, afternoons are still very hot, so save outings for late afternoon and early morning. Bring covering clothes, a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water, as the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism advises.

Local customs

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism asks visitors to respect the customs and traditions of the Bedouin tribes who keep desert culture alive. In practice, ask before photographing anyone, and dress modestly outside the camp. Alcohol is only served in licensed venues, so check with your camp.

To build a trip around the desert, see our Wahiba Sands page and our desert theme.