A Desert Trip in Oman with Al Maalam Tours, How does it work?
Background
Desert is a special environment not very familiar to Europeans, both fascinating and frightening. Sand dunes with soft curved shapes and sharp relief under the smooth light of the rising and setting sun, which disappear temporarily under the raw light of midday sun.
We go to walk in the desert only during the best season (fom mid-november to late february), when the heat is bearable. So, the unpleasant time of the day is reduced t a few hours between noon and 3 PM ; At the contrary, the pleasant morning and evening time stretches.
During a Desert Trip, we stay in the sand druing the whole tour (up to 9 or 10 nights).
During a Hiking Tour, or a Discovery Tour we stay in desert sometime only 1 or 2 nights, sometimes 3 or 4, and rarely 5 or 6.
Different deserts ofOman
We visit Wahiba Sands for its beautiful red sand dunes, the fact that it is much inhabited, and because it is nearby the Hajar Mountains.
We go to the White Desert for the diversity of its landscapes, mixing sand, rocks, and scarse vegetation inland, and the surrealist impression produced by the pure white sand dunes on the Indian Ocean.
Rub Al Khali (which means “Empty Quarter” in Arabic) is the king of deserts. We go there for its huge sand dunes (up to 150m height difference between the bottom and the top) which rise everywhere from the sabkha (flat area between the sand dunes where we can find geodes, pieces of meteorite, or even sandroses), and the feeling of vastness which emanates from it(even more noticeable in the southern than in the northern/central part).
The camp
You should have a look at the page about Wild Camping for general information (sleeping conditions, toilets, kitchen…). We explain here what is specific to desert camps.
We stay sometimes several nights in the same camp, when there is enough to do and see around… we can then set up a more comfortable camp, and you won’t have to set up and fold up your tent nor pack your luggage every day. We have also experienced that it was creating different dynamics : we do not pass through the desert, we stay there…
We imagine often people from the desert and their nomadic lifestyle, with the features of the carvanners, wandering endlessly in the desert. It’s a bit fantasized : indeed, itinerancy was the lifestyle of the merchants (in the desert or elsewhere) before we had car… and even then, merchants were not constantly travelling, but were staying at home between 2 travels.
Nomadic lifestyle implies seasonal or at least occasional moves, but not always a daily itinerancy ; only during the moves. Their camps while travelling were much more simple than the ones for a longer stay.
Finally, we do a bit the same (despite the huge differences due to modernity) : the longer we stay at the same camp, the more comfortable it is. If we stay only one night, then it’s very simple…
We install a big tent to have shade during the day, and potentialy protect from wind in case of a sand storm. If the group is numerous and the camp the same for several nights, we also set up a kitchen tent.
Mornings and evenings, if there is no wind, we move the mat and mattresses of the sitting place (“majilis” in arabic) outside, so that we can enjoy the surroundings : the beautiful morning light, and the stars at night (if the moon is not here…).
Midday, in contrary, we move the sitting place inside the tent to have shade.
Note that in the desert, we have to save water. So, we cannot give you water for washing. Even for washing the dishes, we use sand only.
A typical day in the desert
Please have a look at our specific page about the progress of a hiking day in the desert.
Our Desert Trips
White Desert
7 days
Level 2 & 3
White Desert
Available in JanDec
6 x Camping
Rub Al Khali
5 days
Level 2 & 3
Rub Al Khali (Central Oman)
Available in JanDec
4 x Camping
8 days
Level 3
Rub Al Khali
Available in JanFebNovDec
6 x Camping
2 x Accomodation
All the deserts in a single trip
11 days
Level 2 & 3
Deserts of Oman
Available in JanFebDec
7 x Camping
1 x Homestay
2 x Accomodation
Hiking tour with a long stay in the desert
10 days
Level 3
Hiking in Dhofar
Available in JanFebDec
6 x Camping
4 x Accomodation
Discovery tour with a long stay in the desert
12 days
Level 2
Discover Dhofar
Available in JanFebNovDec
6 x Camping
5 x Accomodation
Do you prefer to join a small group?
If you are a single traveller or a small party and prefer to join a group than going for a private tour, you might be interested in the Desert Trips which we schedule from December to February.
Find here the next Desert Trips scheduled.
Some pictures
