Serene Glamping

The one bright spot was breakfast. It was Indian rather than Arabic, with no other option, but it was warm, well prepared, not overly spicy, a good quantity, and arrived exactly on time. For 90 OMR a night, though, I wouldn’t choose this place again. It has potential, but management needs to take a closer look at the investment and the improvements still needed. I couldn’t sleep because people on the road made noise until after 2:00 AM, so it was far from serene. Light came into the room at night through its structure, which would be hard for a light sleeper. There were construction defects in the bathroom, and despite trying, I couldn’t get hot water from the bathtub faucet outside the bathroom, so that tub was only usable for a cold or lukewarm bath. Some insects got inside too. Communication was difficult. Reception is shared with the café, and only one Omani staff member spoke fluent English. If that person wasn’t there, getting a request handled was a gamble. The WhatsApp number wasn’t very responsive either. The plastic material meant I couldn’t see the surrounding nature from inside the room. Room No. 6 wouldn’t lock from outside despite attempts. Theft in Oman may be unlikely, but that basic feature matters at a glamping hotel. There was no room safe, so I kept valuables in my car. The bathroom in Room No. 6 also had a sewage smell, though it wasn’t intense.

The surroundings were amazing, and the hotel was very clean inside. Staff were polite and helpful, and check-in went smoothly. You can talk to them before you arrive, and they’ll help at any time. We had a great stay and will definitely come back.

The room was reasonably clean, though not completely. We had no hot water in the tent, and after raising it many times, we still weren’t offered another room or any compensation. For the price and the standard we were supposed to get, that really bothered me. The only nearby place, the coffee shop, was closed, and breakfast we’d requested for 10am showed up far too early. It’s a nice location and a great idea, but the facilities and management need a lot of work.

The view can be lovely, with Wadi Garziz below, but during my stay we also spent time surrounded by cloud. Sitting outside meant dealing with midges or mosquitoes, so my partner and I didn’t enjoy the outdoor view much since we’re both prone to bites. Fly traps or something similar might help. The dome windows are translucent rather than clear, so you can’t really take in the view from indoors either. I’d suggest Taraneem for dinner nearby. It looks rough from the road, but the food and staff were nice. Bring mosquito repellent there too. I paid 360 OMR for four nights, about $940 at the time, more than some hotels like Crowne Plaza or Anantara Resort. At that price, the stay didn’t feel like good value. The domes seem like decent structures when properly installed, but mine looked poorly fitted, and the white exterior was constantly being cleaned by staff. The photos show issues including a sink hanging off the wall and water collecting on the dome. The toilet leaked at its base whenever flushed, so we had to leave a towel on the floor. The staff were friendly and helpful, but despite arriving at 14:45, I couldn’t get into my room at the stated 15:00 check-in. The small team was still preparing rooms, so I waited beyond an already late check-in time. Breakfast tasted nice, but there wasn’t much variety and no fruit. One morning there was no juice because they’d run out. It’s brought to the room sometime between 9 and 10, with no choice of timing, so you have to be ready at 9 and might wait an hour. That’s awkward if you want an early start or a lie-in.