Set between sprawling white sand beaches, ancient ruins and a freshwater lagoon, the Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Ananatara is perfectly placed for the ultimate Salalah getaway. On the shores of the Arabian Sea, Salalah is Oman’s tropical paradise. This beautiful city is famed for its blissful coastline, unending supply of fresh coconuts, and of course the novelty of monsoon rains in the desert – Salalah’s khareef season! But outside of the miraculous rains which engulf Dhofar in July and August, this region of Oman is still a gem. Immerse yourself in Arabian hospitality, history, and incredible food in the Land of Frankincense – and stay in the lap of luxury at the Al Baleed Resort for the trip of a lifetime!
The Land of Frankincense
Once known the world over as the heartland of the incense trade, Salalah still produces some of the highest quality frankincense on earth, and is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to this magical resin. The UNESCO Land of Frankincense comprises four different archaeological sites, one of which is the ancient port town of Al Baleed, the namesake of Anantara’s Salalah resort and just metres from the hotel.
Al Baleed was a key trading post on the Incense Route and was the port of the ancient city of Zafar, the precursor of modern Salalah, as well as being a flourishing city dating back more than four thousand years. As the gateway linking the Silk Road to the sea, Zafar grew wealthy thanks to its precious export of frankincense, and shards of pottery from Imperial Ming China found at Al Baleed show just how far the desire for Omani frankincense spread.
Today, Anantara proudly celebrates this heritage and location in the heart of the Land of Frankincense. You’ll be offered a cool drink of frankincense-infused water to freshen up as you step into the foyer and out of the Salalah sun, while the resort’s spa weaves frankincense through many of its sumptuous treatments.
Dripping in sophisticated luxury, the Al Baleed Resort offers accommodation ranging from rooms set in their beautiful gardens to secluded villas with private pools and direct access to one of Salalah’s iconic white beaches.
The hotel is decorated in an elegant, modern style, with inspiration drawn from Dhofar’s coastal forts, Omani heritage and the natural textures of the hotel’s surroundings. We especially loved the traditional Omani majlis style seating in our room – the perfect place to relax, and where we were treated to fresh coconuts and cake on arrival!
During your stay, you absolutely must unwind with a trip to Al Baleed’s opulent spa – where the scents of frankincense, coconut and pomegranate will carry your stresses away. The Anantara Spa blends the wisdom of Ayurvedic traditions with Thai massage and heavenly Middle Eastern hammam rituals for the ultimate in relaxation. If you’re looking for some more active forms of stress-relief, the Anantara Spa also runs yoga classes on their private beach – pure bliss!
If you tire of lounging by the infinity pool or strolling along the beach, Al Baleed by Anantara is perfectly placed to explore Salalah. Lose yourself in Haffa Souq, visit the Nabi Imran Tomb and admire Salalah’s beautiful mosques – for more ideas for your Salalah trip see this article! Only a stone’s throw from the hotel and next to the archaeological site of Al Baleed, the Museum of the Frankincense Land is dedicated to Omani history and the incense trade routes which distributed this precious export across the world.
For those looking for a little adventure, look no further! From trips to the ruins of Sumhuran, (thought to be the ruins of the Queen of Sheba’s palace), trekking in the mountains, camping in the desert and exploring the Tawi Attair sinkhole and Taiq cave, you won’t be short of choice! Make the best of the hotel’s coastal setting with watersports like diving, snorkelling or head out deep-sea fishing for giants of the Arabian Gulf like sailfish and yellowfin tuna! Nature lovers can head out to spot turtles and dolphins on a boat trip, or stay on land to watch for the flamingos, spoonbills and ibis which flock to the freshwater lagoon next to the resort.
Back at the hotel, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining – the resort boasts a speciality Asian restaurant, Mekong and Al Mina, a Mediterranean restaurant and bar, in addition to the international buffet served at their beautiful main restaurant, Sakalan. If you’re looking for something really special, Al Baleed can even organise a private candlelit dinner on the beach as the sun goes down.
The extra touches were what really made our stay at the Al Baleed Resort memorable. Staff all across the hotel went out of their way to make us welcome, even leaving flower petals and a note on our bathroom mirror to welcome us! From the Amouage toiletries in the room to the incredible floating breakfast we were served in our private pool, we felt so pampered throughout our stay – it’s the perfect luxury retreat from which to explore Salalah and would make a fabulous romantic getaway. Click here to find out more about the Al Baleed by Anantara, or to book your stay!
Disclaimer: We were not paid to write this review but were offered a media rate on the basis that we would write about our stay. 🙂
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