Salalah Holidays

The Omani city of Salalah undergoes a complete metamorphosis every June. For three months until early September, the sun-baked desert landscapes of the region’s hinterland transform into a lavish blanket of tropical greenery punctuated by seasonal waterfalls and fragrant frankincense trees, and shrouded in an ethereal layer of mist.

It’s all down to the fact that Salalah and the surrounding Dhofar province catch the south-eastern monsoon, or Khareef, which is Arabic for autumn. Far from being a season to avoid, it’s when visitors flock here from Oman and the surrounding Gulf countries, eager to escape the summer heat.

So much so, in fact, the city hosts a season-long Salalah Khareef Festival every year. Visit during this time and you’ll stumble across dance performances, music concerts, and street markets that fill every corner with the sound of celebration.

Visit Salalah outside of Khareef season, meanwhile, and the spotlight falls firmly on the coastline. White-sand beaches shelve gently into the Arabian Sea, while coconut palms and banana plantations fringe the shoreline. If you can tear yourself away, don’t miss the Museum of the Frankincense Land, where you can learn about Salalah’s starring role in the ancient frankincense trade.