Oh Man! Pampering in Salalah

Salalah, the second-largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, is the default R&R destination for the residents of the neighbouring Gulf states when summer heat starts taking its toll. Just a hop and a skip from the regional travel hubs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, Oman offers a welcome breath of fresh air in the region where daytime temperatures in the summer months routinely reach mid-40s°C.

Salalah’s secret to staying naturally cool when the rest of the region is cranking up their air conditioning? The monsoon season, which spans from July to September, and turns the arid land into verdant plains, filled with rolling hills, crystal-clear streams, and flowering gardens. Cloudy but with relatively little rainfall, the monsoon reliably rolls in at the start of every summer leaving everything emerald green in its wake.

With the overarching theme of renewal and regeneration, it’s only natural for Salalah to have blossomed into a budding wellness destination. The latest addition to the feel-good landscape is Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara’s new "a la carte" wellness concept.

Led by the resort’s intimidatingly experienced Wellness Guru (14 years of industry experience would have you hang on one’s every word), the programme kicks off with a consultation to map out a personalised wellness plan. Depending on the length of the stay, you can choose from three-, five-, or seven-day packages that include rejuvenating spa treatments, purification therapy and nutritious cuisine.

For the outdoorsy types, there is hiking the beautiful mountainous coast of Salalah. Although partaking in strenuous physical activity admittedly burns more calories per hour than, say, subjecting oneself to a Kundalini massage, your meal plan will still lean towards the vegetarian and the healthy. So if you thought you get a free pass to indulge in a full English breakfast if hiking shoes happen to be your footwear of choice, think again.