Oman by Sally

I'm a huge fan of Oman; I love the old and post 1970 history, the mix of landscapes and the numerous UNESCO sites but most of all I love the people. They must be amongst some of the most hospitable, kind and welcoming I've ever come across. Hence I wanted to go back.

Muscat is a new and shiny city, yet it still retains charm, not least as a harbour city, and its highlights - the souq and grand mosque - didn't disappoint a second time round. I also revisited some hotels and inspected some new ones before heading via Wahiba Sands and Nizwa into the Empty Quarter.

En route I stopped at the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary and the lost city of Ubar, which was only discovered by a NASA satellite. I revelled in the scenery on the way, enjoying the mixed landscape Oman has to offer before finally reaching the Empty Quarter.

I have to say I thought Wahiba Sands were amazing when I'd visited previously but nothing had prepared me for the sheer vastness of the desert wilderness of the aptly named Empty Quarter. Many of my colleagues in the Africa team have travelled to Namibia and often talk of the desert there - I imagine the Empty Quarter is much the same yet unspoiled with no luxury camps in sight. In the Empty Quarter you sleep under the stars, keeping a watchful eye out for camel spiders and scorpions. Luckily my guide, Mohammad was still serving in the Royal Guard as was his Bedouin driver so I was in very safe and experienced hands.

Further south I reached Salalah and its more South East Asian feel with papaya and mango trees lining the roads. The beaches here have whiter sand than Muscat. In the environs I found frankincense trees and Queen of Sheba's port - again more evidence of the history to be found in this truly amazing country.

No doubt some of the beautiful coast that runs from Muscat past Sur will soon give way to hotels and resorts. Hopefully the current and much respected Sultan will keep to his word and ensure that any such developments remain true to the Omani sense of heritage and pride, found throughout the country, and which I enjoyed so much second time round.