Following the lead set by neighbouring Dubai, Oman is fast becoming the next sought-after destination on the Arabian Peninsula thanks to its stunning beaches, rich ancestry, beautiful vistas and guaranteed sunshine. Your adventure will undoubtedly include Muscat, but take time to explore the incredible mountains and the endless, undulating dunes of the Wahiba Sands.
The variety on offer in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ensures their popularity for a hit of reliable heat. In the United Arab Emirates there are five-star hotels where the service is well-nigh perfect and beaches are impeccably raked, waterparks for all ages, wadi bashing and golf. With super-malls carrying every label that has ever graced Bond Street, the diversions on offer mean nobody gets bored.
Jordan is a fascinating desert kingdom and a veritable treasure trove of remarkable landscapes and vistas. A journey though the Hashemite Kingdom takes you from olive-strewn northern hills dotted with crusader castles, to parched deserts cut with dramatic red sandstone cliffs in the south, via the Dead Sea, a mysterious lake of bright turquoise, and the canyons of Petra, into the walls of which an ancient civilisation built its capital city over 2,000 years ago.
| £££ | Great quality at competitive prices |
| ££££ | Excellent accommodation at a moderate to higher price level |
| £££££ | The very best in class and priced accordingly |
