There’s a lot more to northwest Oman than taking the highway through Buraimi and crossing over into the UAE. For the keen off-roader, the Safa and Lekhwair areas offer some of the most scenic and spectacular star dunes in the sultanate.
To get here, head to Ibri, about 3.5 hours from Muscat, and stay at the reasonably priced and comfortable Ibri Hotel. From here,
follow the road towards Buraimi and the border and cut west into the huge dunes. A 500km loop can be made going from Ibri towards the Buraimi border and then following the dunes a few kilometres in from the border, looping around Lekhwair and then back across the empty desert to Ibri. If you ever get into difficulties, head east on to the easy gravel plains.
If treated with respect these dunes are some of the most
rewarding to explore in Oman. Being star dunes you can make your way around most of them if your biking skills are not up to it, or have a go at crossing directly if you are feeling brave and have the experience to carry you through.
Care must be taken as the area has oil fields and permission should be obtained from those companies whose concession you wish to pass through. It is also advisable to inform the local ROP of your intentions, because there are both UAE and Saudi borders in the region.
Especially welcome this summer, the Ibri Hotel will offer you
air-conditioned comfort, hot water and an excellent restaurant,
complete with a licence and room service. Call them on 25 689955 and 25 691626, or fax them at 25 692442.
READY
TO RACE
BIKES While the bikes featured in this diary are all four-stroke 450cc Hondas, there’s nothing to beat the thrill and sheer raw power of a two-stroke ‘ready-to-race’ KTM over short runs
ARMOUR Protects the torso when you hit the dirt, is easy to wear and is ventilated
BOOTS For when you catch your foot under the rear wheel, or hit a shrub or stone
GOGGLES Sand can damage your eyes, or, at the least, minimise vision
CAMELBACK A backpack that holds water, available in different capacities
GLOVES One of the first things to go down on the tarmac are your hands
HELMET The most essential part of your kit, and thankfully required by law
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