Salalah & Dhofar Tours

It would be appropriate to think that a place in the Arabian Gulf which harbours miles of unspoiled beaches, rolling swells and a canopy of coconut palms is a mere mirage. More so if the monsoon rains (Kareef) from the Indian Ocean bring the moisture-laden clouds ashore and cast them adrift in swirls of eerie mist.
Every summer in Southern Oman’s Dhofar governate the Kareef bathes the coastline and mountains in soothing rains; carpeting the landscape in lush emerald vegetation and transforming the wadis into spectacular displays of waterfalls and swollen streams. The balmy temperatures also nurture succulent crops of mangoes, papayas and bananas and the frankincense trees that grow in abundance across the Dhofar plateau.

At the heart of Dhofar is Salalah, located 1,000 kilometres from the capital, Muscat. A city that was built around the ancient port of Samhuran along the Frankincense trade route, Salalah is not only Oman’s second largest municipality but also a royal stronghold for Oman’s past Sultans and birthplace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Attracting a record 351,000 travellers in 2007 (up from 285,000 in 2006) the Kareef season which runs from July to September transforms Salalah into a vibrant summer retreat.
From July 15 – August 31, Salalah hosts its annual Salalah Tourism Festival. A colourful celebration of cultural events including traditional music, concerts and dance performances, visitors will equally enjoy the bustle amid incense burners, exotic Omani jewellery, Bedu crafts and frankincense at the Festival’s Golden Village.
Additionally, travellers can take pleasure in orientation; from viewing the traditional Omani costumes (men’s dishdasha and burqas worn by Bedouin women), bartering for a beautiful silver khanjar (curved dagger) or embroidered cap, sampling the plentiful marinades and spices that complement the meat dishes to sipping on Khawa – a symbol of Omani hospitality. The Festival also engages visitors in a host of enchanting activities such as applying Henna art - an important decoration in religious and festive ceremonies -on hands and feet.

“Salalah is no longer the Arabian Peninsula’s best kept secret as more and more visitors discover its natural beauty, pleasant weather and wealth of leisure pursuits,” says Mona Tannous, Australian Director, Oman Ministry of Tourism.
Extremely affordable, Salalah entices visitors with its sun-kissed beaches and excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities in the warm turquoise waters. There are also several bazaars to explore - especially Al Husn Souq, famous for its prized silverware, frankincense and local perfumes – as well as Salalah Museum. Featuring a detailed exhibit of British agent and explorer Wilfred Theisger’s photographs from his famous 1946 expedition across Rub Al Khali - the Empty Quarter - the Museum also showcases extracts from Theisger’s book, Arabian Sands, which chronicled his travels with the Bedu tribesmen, who served as his companions.
For birdwatchers Dhofar’s intense forested valleys and creeks (khors) now serves as a sanctuary to over 186 species of migratory birds, with many touching down from Africa and Asia between seasons. Near Salalah’s khors visitors can spot birds of prey (eagle and osprey) in search of tasty morsels as well as flamingos, egrets and black ravens.
Salalah – deemed the perfume capital of the world - equally nurtures a rich heritage, with recent archaeological excavations confirming that Salalah’s Haffa district cultivated a vital trading community between the 12th and 16th centuries. It was also believed that the Queen of Sheba built a summer palace at the present day ruins of Sumhuran – Salalah’s ancient port - once the commercial centre for storing prized frankincense and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And in the heart of Salalah, a fenced off region protects the 14 footprints of Prophet Mohammed’s sacred camel, which have been embedded in rock.
FAST FACTS:
The Salalah Tourism Festival (formerly the Kareef Festival) is held daily from July 15 – 31 August, 2008 (5PM – Midnight) at Salalah’s Municipality Showground
Dhofar is the only region in the Arabian Gulf to be affected by the southwest monsoon climate, where temperatures can drop to a cool, 22 degrees.
Salalah is serviced by Oman Air from Muscat and features a number of moderate and deluxe accommodations including Salalah Hilton, Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah and Haffa House Salalah.
The economic Vision 2020 charter will see the development of an integrated tourism complex, featuring five hotels from four to six stars, restaurants and upscale retail outlets along with an 18-hole golf course and a marina promenade.

There are three major locations in Dhofar associated with the ancient frankincense trade:

Al- Baleed in Salalah between Dahareeze and Hafah (dating back to 2000 BC)
Khor Rori- Samahram, 40 km east of Salalah (dating back to 400 BC – 1oo AD)
Shisr - Wubar, approximately a two-hour drive north of Salalah at the southern edge of Rub al Khali – Empty Quarter (dating back to 5000 BC and ending in 500AD).

Salalah serves as the base for visiting Rub Al Khali - the desert region of Dhofar that fans into the southern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen.
Other ancient antiquities in the region include Job’s Tomb – the biblical prophet, Nabi Ayoub, long revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews – and the alleged resting place of Nabi Imram, the father of the Virgin Mary. Also close by are the fortified ruins of Al Balid, featuring 11 of The Great Mosque’s original 148 columns along with a scattering of gravestones that date back nearly 1600 years.
The Queen of Sheba, who ruled the kingdom of Yemen and Eritrea in the 10th century B.C, was known to have travelled to Dhofar to buy her frankincense. Her summer palace was reputed to have been built in the ancient city of Sumhuran, near present day Salalah.
Jebel Samhan - the eastern mountain range in Dhofar - is believed to shelter Arabia’s largest population of Arabian leopards.

[source]