Magical Oman

The magic of the Orient is not a thing of the past - far from it. Even now, the Sultanate of Oman - legendary home of Sinbad the Sailor - seems like something straight out of 'Arabian Nights'. It's a country of exquisite extremes: barren desert and rough mountains meet lush green oases and a picturesque coastline.

From the parched desert expanse of Oman's interior, we head South, past the reserve for the last of the Arabian Oryx, and into the Province of Dhofar. This is the home of incense trees and the Arabian Leopard. Owing to its rich fruit and vegetable plantations, the provincial capital Salalah is also known as the 'Garden of Oman'.