Thousand Nights Camp (1000 Nights Camp)

Thousand Nights Camp, also known as 1000 Nights Camp, is a mid-range camp deep in the dunes of the Sharqiya Sands, the Wahiba desert. Guests sleep in traditional black-and-white goat-hair tents or in sand houses, shaded by desert trees. Tour operators class it as "standard" or "affordable": it is simpler than Desert Nights Camp, and we chose it for its location far into the dunes, its pool and its price.

Why this camp

• It is deep in the sand. The camp lies beyond the busiest part of the Wahiba, about 40 minutes by track from the road. Around it, nothing but golden dunes.
• It has a pool. Small, and described as the only pool at a Wahiba camp: a welcome luxury in the middle of the desert.
• It covers every budget. From a basic tent with shared facilities to an air-conditioned sand house, you choose your level of comfort.

Four types of accommodation: the choice that matters

This is the key decision when booking: the four levels differ mainly in bathrooms and air conditioning. The Arabic Tent, the simplest, means crossing the camp to shower; from the Sheikh Tent up you have your own facilities, and both the Ameer Tent and the Sand House are air-conditioned. For a European traveller, we recommend the Sheikh Tent at a minimum, the Ameer Tent for a couple and the Sand House, the camp's most comfortable option, for a family.

Evening at camp

The highlight comes late in the afternoon, when a camel carries you to the top of the nearby dunes to watch the sun go down. Dinner follows at the Arabian Knights restaurant: Arabic starters and a barbecue, including shuwa (marinated, slow-cooked lamb), as a buffet of Omani and international dishes. Bedouin evenings add henna, traditional coffee and songs around the fire. Then comes the starry sky, sometimes with an astronomer to explain it.

A private dinner in the desert can be arranged at extra cost. The camp also has a library, a lounge called the Desert Ship Lounge, and a children's play area.

Activities are booked on site, some at extra cost: dune walks, sandboarding, dune bashing (driving the dunes in a 4x4 with a driver), horse rides and camel rides.

Before you go

• Electricity is limited: charge your devices when you can.
• No alcohol: the camp has no licence.
• 4x4 access only, along the track. For desert driving and safety advice, see our guide to a night in the desert in Oman. Do not venture into the Wahiba alone: travel in a convoy of at least two vehicles, or use an organised transfer.
• Season: September to April is the best time for the desert.

Price

In October 2026, for two nights in March 2027, the cheapest unit was offered on the camp's own site at about €150 a night for two adults, room only and non-refundable, possible local taxes extra. Prices vary widely by tent type.

Sabaro's view

Who it suits: travellers who want the Bedouin atmosphere without paying for a luxury camp; families in a Sand House.

Highlights: the location deep in the dunes; the pool; the sunset camel ride; a choice of comfort levels; a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor (914 reviews).

Good to know: mid-range comfort; basic tents with shared facilities at the entry level; limited electricity; no alcohol. For more comfort, see Desert Nights Camp; for a camp all to yourselves, Canvas Club. See also the Wahiba Sands region and our desert ideas.