Where to Next? Oman with a Side Dish of Dubai

Everyone has that destination that’s been calling for years. For me, it’s Muscat, Oman, which has lived on my travel wish list since 2010. Set on the Gulf of Oman and framed by mountains and desert, Muscat blends ancient history with modern polish—Portuguese forts guarding the harbor, sleek shopping districts below, and the jaw-dropping Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, crowned by a 50-meter dome and one of the world’s largest Persian carpets.

Where to Stay
Six Senses Zighy Bay, is where I’m hoping to land, tucked away on the Musandam Peninsula. Styled like a traditional fishing village, the eco-luxe resort sits between the jagged Hajar Mountains and the shimmering Gulf of Oman. With 82 private pool villas, a serene Six Senses Spa, a saltwater pool, and organic gardens, it’s blissfully removed—yet only two hours from Dubai.

The Plan
I want to start in Dubai, a place I’ve visited before, with a hit of adrenaline: robot-jockey camel racing at Al Marmoom (from October to April), followed by a night on Yas Island for a lap on the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit. Then I’d finish with a big Dubai moment—skydiving over Palm Jumeirah, swimming with sharks at the Dubai Aquarium, or dining midair at Dinner in the Sky.

Then off to Oman—for dramatic landscapes, slow mornings, and maximum desert calm. Who’s with me?