(
Dine in the desert with bedouinsSharqiya Sands, Oman
Deep in the vast Sharqiya Sands, in Oman's north-eastern corner, lies a community that has lived in much the same way for centuries. The Bedouins of this remote desert region herd, farm and fish their way to survival, bedding down in makeshift tents woven from goat's hair that rustle in the desert breeze. Most locals reside near Al Huyawah, a natural oasis near the border of the desert, where tribesmen gather during late summer to pluck ripe yellow dates from palms.
Experiencing the famed local hospitality first-hand can be hard without an invite, but on some tours – such as Swagman's Deluxe Oman – it's part of the deal. You'll break unleavened Omani bread with a nomadic family, enjoying a lunch cooked over licking flames that's as delicious as it is simple. Often nothing more than coarse sea salt coats whole fish or plump chickens, though some dishes can be more intricate: saloonat, for example, is a stew of fragrant spices, lime, chicken and vegetables. Drink bitter coffee from small cups and scoop up hunks of fish and pilaf with your fingers, while admiring the golden emptiness beyond the tent's tarp.
get there
Eat lunch with bedouins on Swagman Tours’ Deluxe Oman trip.
Swagman Tours
swagmantours.com.au
This tip was provided by Swagman Tours, but we’re sharing it with you because we think it’s great.
Ready to go?
Get Inspired In Print
While you're here
An English pub that features some of the biggest sporting events on their...
An English pub that features some of the biggest sporting events on their screens – but...
There are sand dunes, and then there are the mighty kahunas you’ll find in...
There are sand dunes, and then there are the mighty kahunas you’ll find in Oman. ...
Built in a region of Oman formerly off-limits to foreigners, it’s hardly...
Built in a region of Oman formerly off-limits to foreigners, it’s hardly surprising that...
Driving through the arid landscape of northern Oman, you probably wouldn’t...
Driving through the arid landscape of northern Oman, you probably wouldn’t expect to...