Hidden beaches, lapped by the Arabian Sea, abound throughout the Governorate of Dhofar. The city of Salalah is blessed with kilometre after kilometre of soft white sand, the main beaches including those at Dahariz, Al Baleed and Haffa, near Al Husn Palace.
West of the city the mountains give way to the beaches of Mugsayl and beyond, creating dramatic backdrops. To the east of Salalah, unspoilt beaches can be discovered all the way to Taqah, interrupted only by a few creeks. Beyond Mirbat, the nature of the coastline changes to one of small coves; some with Dhofar's famous white sand, others of multihued granite pebbles worn smooth by the power of Oman's Arabian Sea.
Set on the edge of the Arabian Sea, just to the east of Al Husn Palace and the souq, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Baleed is a combination of open air archeological site and The Museum of the Frankincense Lands. The Museum of the Frankincense Lands focuses on three themes: one is The Governorate of Dhofar's historical and archaeological heritage; the remarkable maritime tradition Al Baleed and the other UNESCO sites, including Sumhuram which is located east of Al Baleed and Ash Shisr, set on the edge of the Rub Al Khali desert. The maritime room includes superb models of Omani boats from 3,000BC to current times.
Ancient travellers such as Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo knew the trading town and its port as Dhofar / Zafar, the name now used for the entire southern region of Oman. The impressive southern sea walls of Al Baleed form part of the fortifications of the town. Protected by the walls were the citadel and grand mosque. Both of these impressive buildings were originally approached by a bridge over the surrounding lagoon.
Situated between the extraordinary escarpment of Jebel Samhan and the Arabian Sea, Mirbat is a charming coastal town. Historically it traded in horses and frankincense, more recently in abalone and from its fishing harbour, fish. Overlooking the harbour entrance is Mirbat Fort which, in origin, is an early 19th century fortifications. Beyond Mirbat the coastline becomes more rugged as the road winds through outcrops of granite rock on its way to Sadh, with its small fort, and Hasik, set on a vast sweeping bay.
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The town of Taqah's charming coastal setting to the east of Salalah makes it an attractive town to visit or stay in. To the west of the town is Khor Taqah, a lagoon edged with natural reeds and a section landscaped to enjoy the views. From the lagoon, a long walk or drive along the beachfront will take you past coconut plantations towards the older part of town. Here is the Sheikh Afif Mosque, which is located next to Taqah Fort. The fort is build around an open courtyard offering its residents privacy and security and, from its upper storey, allows visitors views of the town, mountains and sea. From the fort it's possible to take a short walk through the back streets of the town, where visitors will see several old buildings in traditional Dhofar Governorate style.
One can imagine the magnificence of this province when most parts of the Arabian Peninsula witness a rise in temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius in summer. But, in Salalah, the capital of Dhofar that lies 1,040 kilometres away from Muscat, temperatures never rise above 27 degrees Celsius. There are daily flights between Muscat and Salalah, as well as other Arab Gulf states.
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