Oman: Jewel of the Arabian Gulf

From exotic souks heaped with silk carpets, stunning silverware and pungentspices, to bewitching wadi wilderness, to five-star hotels and wonderful hospitality,this guide sensitively explores the little-visited but fascinating sultanate of Oman.Located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman is a landof great contrasts, from the rugged, weatherworn Hajar Mountains in the north,across the barren desert of the Central Plains to lush Dhofar in the south, wheretropical humidity allows a lush greenery. Modest oil reserves have allowed Oman todevelop, but rather than get caught up in the Gulf State oil mania, the Omani peoplestill identify more with their age-old traditions as a trading and seafaring nation.A stable and hospitable state, Oman provides, perhaps more than other MiddleEastern country, an enchanting blend of colorful, exotic landscapes, rich history andculture, and an understanding of and careful integration with the modern world.