Saiq holidays

Holidays to Saiq take you to northeastern Oman for sprawling mountain views and hiking routes.

Views fit for royalty

The scenery’s one of Saiq’s top attractions – it’s nestled in the Al Hajar mountains, which means rocky peaks in all directions. It’s peaceful and secluded, surrounded by miles of open countryside – there's a real away-from-it-all feel. Famously, Princess Diana visited Saiq on her trip to Oman in 1986, and the spot where she spent time reading is now named ‘Diana’s Viewpoint’ – it's a little terrace in the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, and you don’t need to be staying at the hotel to visit. The grey-and-green mountains fade into shades of blue in the distance, and the view gets even better at sunset. If you look closely, you’ll spot small terraces and tiny villages dotted around, too.

Hiking or biking

Saiq comes with a handful of walking trails, and with such hilly surroundings, you can bet they’re going to be scenic. On your travels, you could pass terraced farms cascading down hillsides, and rocky valleys that seem to go on forever. Depending on the route you choose, you can stop off at some tiny mountain villages, too. If cycling’s more your thing, hire a set of wheels and put foot to pedal on the winding mountain bike trails, instead.

Day trips to Nizwa

If you fancy a change of pace and an insight into life in Oman, make the hour-long drive to Nizwa – a bustling town plotted at the bottom of the Hajar Mountains. Start with a walk around the souks, where you’ll find handmade pottery hanging over archways, glowing lamps of all shapes and sizes and soft fabrics in a rainbow of designs. There’s plenty on the food front, too, like huge Omani dates that’re juicy and sweet. If history’s more your thing, you’ve got Nizwa Fort – this place is quite a sight, and dates back to the 17th century. There’s a museum inside where you can learn about its past.