Stunning Salalah offers respite from the heat

Oman Air hopes heat-weary UAE residents might welcome a little rain this season.

The airline's holidays arm has rolled out a series of short-stay packages to Salalah to coincide with the Salalah Tourism Festival.

The event coincides with the annual monsoon.

"With the summer heat soaring high in the whole of Oman except the Dhofar region, now is the right time to visit the verdant city of Salalah and the near-by places for a refreshing break.

With the temperature at a salubrious 20 to 24 degree Celsius and the monsoon drizzle lingering throughout the day that breaks into a shower at times, Salalah extends a warm welcome to visitors from the rest of the Gulf," Nigel Stoker, GM, Oman Air Holidays, said in a statement.

"To make it easier for the visitors, Oman Air Holidays has some exciting packages that include return ticket on Oman Air, three nights' twin-share accommodation at a range of apartments, hotels and resorts, return airport transfers and all hotel taxes and service charges.

With such fantastic packages at rates much lower than last year, the offer has never been any better." he added.

The five-star Festival Package has a lead in price of Dh1,549 from the UAE.

The offers are valid until September 30.

Salalah, Oman's second most important city after Muscat, is called the "perfume capital of Arabia".

Some of its attractions include the blowhole at Mughsayl, the natural springs at Ain Homran, the Tawi Attir sinkhole, ruins of the Queen of Sheba's famed palace at Samhurram and the historic sites at Mirbat.

Additionally, the city is also known for its breathtaking scenery, traditional souqs, fresh springs and wadis, green countryside and the verdant mountains that make for a refreshing drive.

The climate supports wildlife often more commonly associated with East Africa, with sightings of leopards and hyenas often reported in the surrounding region.

The beautiful beaches and coastline are also major attractions for scuba diving and bird watching.

A city of antiquity, it boasts both the ruins of the fortified town Sumharam, an important port from 100BC to AD400, as well as the alleged resting place of the Biblical character Job (Ayoub in Arabic) in nearby Jabal Gadu.

Modern Oman is also represented by the Port of Salalah, located some 15km to the southwest of the city.

The strategic location of this port has made it one of the major entry points to India, the Middle East, and Africa.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.