The scent of style
On the heels of the Anantara’s first resort in Oman, the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, is a swift second property. Where the former scaled dizzying heights in the Saiq Plateau when it opened in October, the Anantara Al Baleed Resort Salalah swaps cliffs for coast at the opposite end of the country.
Occupying a private beach in the southern province of Dhofar, the resort is sandwiched between two bodies of water – the Arabian Sea and the Khawr Al Baleed freshwater lagoon. It also has plenty of water of its own, being the first luxury pool villa to open in this part of Oman. In between basking in the sun and lazing by the beach, the region offers guests of the Anantara Al Baleed Resort Salalah a unique opportunity to connect with Omani culture. For Salalah is known as the perfume capital of Arabia, a UNESCO World Heritage site that include archaeological treasures dating back to 2500 BC. Three other UNESCO World Heritage Sites are a stone’s throw away: the ancient city of Samhuram – site of the Queen of Sheba’s palace, the lost city of Wubar, Atlantic of the Sand, and Wadi Dawkah, which supports over 8,000 frankincense trees.
In fact, frankincense – the treasured aromatic resin of the Boswellia tree – is in the very soul of Salalah. As such, you can opt for a unique frankincense spa ritual at the Anantara Spa, which is only of the many one-of-a-kind experiences available. Arrival at the resort by camel is one, while other options range from a simple pomegranate cocktail by the poolside to a full-scale adventure into the Rub al Kali – the desolate Empty Quarter of the Arabian Peninsula.
