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THE BIG SHORT BREAK BOOK PERK
Free morning dolphin-watching boat trip for two people What's this?

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Elegant pools > superb rooms > fine cuisine

Oman remains one of the least discovered countries in the Middle East, despite some of the finest medieval forts in Arabia, and stunning landscapes that are ripe for exploration.

The capital, Muscat, boasts the Chedi, one of the finest hotels in the Middle East. The hotel - owned by the same group as the award-winning Datai in Malaysia - is a study in elegance, with beautifully designed rooms and gardens. The two pools and shaded areas are the perfect place to relax, and all this just a seven hour direct flight away.

A few miles from Muscat, the Al Bustan Palace was the first five star hotel in Oman and enjoys a picture perfect beachfront setting surrounded by mountains. Sadly the hotel will be undergoing major renovations for most of 2007, so will be closed from January 7th until at least November and more likely December.

In the next door bay the brand new three-hotels-in-one Shangri-La resort, Barr al Jissah, provides fresh competition for the two Omani stalwarts. The facilities are unparalleled, and the Al Waha or Al Bandar parts of the hotel are probably the best bet for families of any of the hotels in or near Muscat, with an excellent joint kids club. The Al Husn hotel is a 6* property with its own private beach.

The latest development in Oman is the spectacular new Six Senses (owners of the Soneva and Evason brands) property at Zighy Bay in Musandam, a northern province of the Sultanate best reached from Dubai rather than Muscat. Famed for beautiful mountain scenery and amazing diving, Musandam is completely untouched, and the hotel sits alone on a beautiful bay. There is a ‘soft’ opening from November, with reduced rates, and the hotel opens for real on January 11th 2008. Original Travel are taking reservations now. One fun idea at Zighy Bay is to arrive by paraglider from the top of the mountain behind the hotel.

All three of the Muscat hotels are also ideal as a haven before or after a 4x4 adventure in the vast and unspoiled interior. The tailor-made guided desert safaris take in the very best scenery that the country has to offer, including the famous fort at Nakhl, spectacularly perched on a rocky prominence in the foothills of the Western Hajars.

The Wahiba Sands region provides an opportunity to put 4x4 driving skills to the ultimate test, taking on dunes, some with slopes at an angle of over 45 degrees.

Exploration of some of the beautiful wadis is the absolute highlight of any trip, as there’s almost certain to be no-one else there, and it is possible to swim in crystal clear pools to wash off the dust of a trek through the dense vegetation that fills these deep watercourses through the desert.

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PRICES
The price shown above is based on the sample itinerary, with flights in economy class, accommodation on a B&B basis (or more where stated), transfers and activities specific to this trip. Where prices fluctuate throughout the year, the price is based on low season rates and where more than one accommodation option is listed, on the cheapest available. We would be delighted to put together a current and 100% accurate quotation based on your specific travel requirements, so please contact the relevant member of our expert team.

TAILORED TO YOUR EXACT SPECIFICATIONS
Almost every one of our Big Short Breaks and Beyond the Big Short Breaks can be entirely tailormade from scratch, so you can enjoy the holiday exactly how you want it, exactly when you want it, and for exactly as long as you want it. Our expert team, who have been to every one of our destinations, are here to talk you through all the options available in order to create the trip best suited to you.