Hilton Salalah Resort
The Hilton Salalah Resort has partnered with Oman Air Holidays to offer travellers special packages through August, the month of the khareef. Residents of the Arabian Peninsula can fly directly to Salalah. In addition to return flights and accommodation, the packages include daily buffet breakfast, complimentary airport transfers and all the hotel taxes and service charges.

The Hilton Salalah Resort houses 147 deluxe family rooms and executive suites that boast spectacular seaside views. Guests also have access to a private beachfront as well as some of the finest restaurants and facilities. While a single room with a mountain view will be available for RO81.900 per night, a room with a view of the sea will be available for RO90.400. A double room with a mountain view is set at RO93.200 per night and one with a sea view will be for RO101.600. The single Business Suite will be available for RO103 per night, the double Business Suite for Ro114.300, the Grand Suite for RO212 and the Ambassador Suite for RO425 per night. These rates are in arrangement with National Travel and Tourism.

Contact the Hilton at 23 211234 and www.salalah.hilton.com

Haffa House Hotel
The Haffa House Hotel and Samharam Tourist Village in Salalah will be offering special tariff rates to tourists. Throughout the month-long khareef festival a single room at the Haffa House Hotel will cost RO25 per day, while a double bedroom will be available for RO28.

The Samharam Tourist Village will be offering guests a three-bedroom villa at RO100. A chalet at the tourist village will be available for RO35 per day. All prices will have an additional tax of 17 per cent.

For further information and details about reservations at the Haffa House Hotel or the Samharam Tourist Village, call 23 295444, 23 295590 or:
email house@omantel.net.om.

Oryx Hotels and Apartments
Oryx Hotels and Apartments have special rates for their rooms through the khareef festival. With a view to cashing in on the extra tourist flow during the season, the hotel will be offering its single room for RO20 per night, while the double bedroom will be available for guests at RO27 per night.

For further information contact the hotel staff at 23 296262.

National Travel and Tourism
National Travel and Tourism (NTT) is offering a special package, in conjunction with the Hilton Salalah and the Crowne Plaza Salalah, for the khareef season that will last through August. Apart from the accommodation arrangement, NTT also has packages for transfers, tours and car rentals for visitors to Salalah. While a one-way transfer for three passengers can be availed of for RO10, a return transfer comes for a slightly higher RO18.500. The operator will also arrange for a half-day city tour for RO29 for three passengers. A half-day tour of Salalah east or west will cost RO33, while a full-day tour will be available for RO62 for three people.

For those who wish to travel more independently and explore the region on their own, NTT has car rentals for as low as RO12.300 per day. A 4WD comes for a higher price of RO31 per day. The cars can also be hired on a weekly rate. Apart from these, there are a host of other options as well for travelling around the region.

For further information call NTT at 24 566046.

Salalah Hotel
For the budget traveller, Salalah Hotel would be the perfect option. If your budget does not permit you to stay at fancier places then the good news is that you can hire a single room for as little as RO10 per night, including all taxes, at the hotel. You will also have a complimentary tea or coffee brought to you each morning. Double rooms will be available for tourists for RO12 per night and will also include all taxes and the complimentary cup of tea or coffee.

For reservations at the Salalah Hotel, call 23 295332.

The Darbat Hotel
Through the month of August, the Darbat Hotel will be celebrating the khareef with a specially drawn up tariffs for guests. While a single room will set you back by RO15 per night, a double room with two single beds will be available for RO20. A double room with one double bed will also be available for guests at RO20, and a double room with three single beds will be available for RO25. For those who like a bit more space for their family, the family suite will be available for RO35 per night.

For information and details about reservations call 23 285277, 23 295878 or email darbat@hotmail.com.

Crowne Plaza Resort
The Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah can arrange daily tours and excursions to some of the most scenic and historic locations around Salalah, and you can sample their Picnic Lunch while out. The resort also adds a touch of colour to these excursions by providing entertainment for its guests.

The resort has 153 rooms, suites and villas at the disposal of its guests. The 19 three-bedroom villas are ideal for large families wherein they can indulge in barbeques in the splendid gardens. The resort also creates an Activities Galore program for children that includes tennis and squash tournaments, to name a few. Children will also have the option of getting wet in the water park or taking a dip in the 'Kiddies Pool.’ Meanwhile, adults can have their share of the fun at any of the four swimming pools or indulge in a game of golf, tennis or squash. Those with a penchant for maintaining a fitness schedule can sweat themselves out at the gym or relax in the jacuzzi.

The Crowne Plaza Salalah also has an arrangement with National Travel and Tourism, whereby they have special rates this khareef season. A single room with a garden view will be available for RO73.400 per night and a double room with a garden view will be available for RO96 per night. Single and double rooms with a sea view will be available for RO87.500 per night and RO110 per night. The Junior Suite will be available for RO282 per night, while the Executive and the Royal suites will be available for RO352 and RO705 per night. A three- bedroom villa will be available for RO285 per night.

Don't miss their excellent food and beverage establishments: Al Khareef Pub; Al Luban, the elegant restaurant and nightclub; the complex with three watering holes: Al Inshirah, Coconut Grove and Seagull, with live daily entertainment in each. The Bird’s Lounge is open through the day, with brews, snacks and pastries. Darbat Restaurant has unbeatable views of the Arabian Sea and coconut groves. You can eat indoors or on the terrace. Open for all three meals, with buffets and an à la carte menu. You’ll find the Dolphin Beach Restaurant on the waterfront.

For more details and reservations, call 23 235333 or log on to www.cpsalalah.com.

Archived resources at Oman Today
We've been following the khareef, Dhofar and its capital Salalah for many years now. Look up these past issues of Oman Today.

April 2005, Feature
One day in Dhofar: Salalah
Mary Field travels to the southern city, discovering there's a lot more to it than the khareef

To do
It would be a crime to visit the area without seeing some of the well known sights such as the tomb at Mirbat, the ruins of a palace reputed to be that of the Queen of Sheba, Ain Razat springs, the nearby caves and the famous blowhole. Although we heard the whooshing sound of water from the depths of the hole, as it was low tide it wasn't blowing. However, the site is worth a visit for the magnificent view of the mountains to the east and the endless beach that stretches into the distance towards the west. A short drive along the Yemen road, winding up the mountainside makes one appreciate the skill and tenacity of the builders of the road. And, of course, no visit to Dhofar would be complete without stopping to admire a frankincense tree. A visit to the Al Husn souq and the museum on the last morning rounded off our stay.

Getting there
Oman Air is currently offering a very attractively priced package to Salalah including flights, transfers and bed and breakfast accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Salalah.

Diving in
Scuba Diving and Tours: Samaharam Dive Centre at the Crowne Plaza will organise scuba diving as well as fishing, sight seeing tours and camping excursions. They also have a branch at the Salalah Hilton. Call Yousuf on 99 099002 or the Crowne Plaza on 23 235333. Zubair Tours also operate in Salalah.

August 2005, Natural Wonders
Evergreen: How the rain fell
The Oman Flora and Fauna Survey of 1977 still has lessons to teach us

Back to the book
Text from The Scientific Results of The Oman Flora and Fauna Survey 1977 (Dhofar), Special Report no. 2, The Journal of Oman Studies. From the introduction by M D Gallagher, Ministry of Diwan Affairs and The Environment of the Mountain Region of Dhofar by J B Sale, Animal Ecology Research Group, department of Zoology, Oxford.

October 2005, Feature
Furthest Corners: The Dhofar you never knew
With Salalah as base camp, travel 300km east and west. Text and photographs by Pinaki Chakravarty

Southwestern corner:
Sarfayt, on top of the Jebel al Qamar, overlooking the Yemeni border
Location: N 16º 40.987', E 053º 06.644'
Elevation: 2,758ft

Southeastern corner:
Hasik, between the Jebel Samhan and the Gulf of the Halaaniyats
Location: N 17º 26.967', E 055º 15.724'
Elevation: Sea level

Base camp: Salalah
Location: N 17º01.475', E 054º06.864'
Elevation: 128ft

Getting around
You can drive down from Muscat, which is around 1,000km away and more than ten hours by road. Save your energy and fly instead, just over an hour. Salalah has a range of hotels and car-hire companies that will take care of you. Call ahead because they can be booked to capacity during peak season.

August 2005, Feature
Emerald: SALALAH
Bremelin Romero heads south to Dhofar to experience the best the khareef has to offer

Khareef essentials
At the beach: It is advisable not to swim or to surf during the khareef. The sea tides are too strong and dangerous even for the experienced swimmer.

While driving: With limited visibility on foggy days, always keep your headlights on so others can see you.

If hiking: Remember to bring insect repellent to keep mosquitoes at bay. Wear good trekking boots for good traction on the slippery terrain.