No trip to the middle east would be complete without spending a night or two in the desert to experience all that it has to offer. I was very fortunate to experience the fairytale majesty of the Arabian nights on my recent trip to the Sultanate of Oman and glamping at Thousand Nights Camp in the Wahiba Sands was definitely one of the highlights of my trip!
The Omani desert is enormous and is part of ‘The Empty Quarter’ which comprises of parts of Oman, U.A.E., Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. I was hosted at Thousand Nights Camp and would highly recommend it to you too.
ABOUT THOUSAND NIGHTS CAMP
Thousand Nights Camp is the only one of its kind glamping site in the Wahiba Sands, which is about 250 km south-east of Muscat. It is the perfect combination of being outdoors in nature while still being surrounded by all things luxury.
It’s a beautiful setting and feels like a scene right out of a fairytale! The gentle breeze flowing across the virgin sand dunes and through the Cineraria trees brings with it a sense of serenity and calm. The spectacular sunrise and sunsets are simply breathtaking and resplendent. It’s a surreal experience, especially in the mornings, when the fog gradually disappears and gives way to the golden rays of the sun.
GETTING TO THOUSAND NIGHTS CAMP
Once you enter the desert, the only way to get to the property is by a 4WD. You can either self-drive, which I did and absolutely loved driving it on the dunes or request a pick-up and drop service for an additional cost.
Don’t forget to download offline maps in case you get lost as you’ll definitely lose data. Also, remember to half deflate the tires and top up your fuel tank as well.
TENTS AT THOUSAND NIGHTS CAMP
There are different categories of accommodation to choose from based on tent-type and budget. Although I was hosted in the ‘Sand House,’ which is a suite (a concrete structure) in their most premium category, I highly recommend you choose the ‘Ameer Tent’. The Ameer tents are fully loaded and air-conditioned tents, positioned in a way that you can see the sunrise from one side and sunset from the other while laying in the comforts of your cozy bed. The tent walls are made of glass and hence you get the perfect view of the desert at all times. Take my word on it, you’ll love the Ameer Tents.
FOOD & DRINKS AT THOUSAND NIGHTS CAMP
The package includes a lovely buffet dinner and breakfast for all guests. Dining at the glamping site is your only option as there is nothing else around. There are three different dining areas. The Arabian Nights Restaurant is located in the heart of the camp and right next to the swimming pool. It is the main restaurant that can accommodate up to a hundred guests. The second and third dining areas offer a more traditional Arabic style experience but all three dining areas serve international and Arabic buffet.
ACTIVITIES AT THOUSAND NIGHTS CAMP
Nothing can be more luxurious in a desert than swimming in a pool while sipping on your favorite cocktails!! I couldn’t imagine this possibility, but at Thousand Nights they’ve somehow managed to make this a reality.
You must go dune-bashing around sunset or simply drive up to the highest dune and quietly enjoy the show as mother nature’s magic unfolds.
Also, every morning, Bedouin locals bring a couple of camels to the camp which you can ride on. The glamping site also has a few pet Oryx, their national animal, that looks like a mix of deer and goat. However, they are pretty wild, and therefore you cannot go very close to them.
THE VERDICT
I definitely loved the overall experience of glamping in the desert at Thousand Sands Camp. Right from self-driving to the property in the desert, to watching the sunrise from above the dunes, to the Bedouin-style dinner, to cooling off by the poolside, this glamping site had it all and was the perfect pit stop for one night on my 10 day Oman road trip. Like me, if you occasionally love disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with mother nature, even if it’s only for a wee bit, then this is something unique and I would definitely recommend that you experience it.
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