Nils Lindhorst
Travel Designer
I am Nils Lindhorst, Senior Travel Planner and your contact person for Oman. Since the beginning of 2023, I have been planning trips to this country at Take Memories – one of the countries I especially enjoy designing for our guests. I had already gotten to know it previously on my own travels, and since I have been at Take Memories, I have spent longer periods of time on-site and traveled Oman from the mountains to the coast.
Hardly any country conveys the feeling of a Thousand and One Nights as authentically as Oman – the capital Muscat, small towns like Nizwa, ancient mud villages. And all of this can be connected quite easily: Even in about a week, one can experience city, mountains, desert, and sea, as is only possible in very few places in the world. Along with this, the warmth and hospitality of the people enchant you from the very first moment and make you feel welcome. And to this day, it has remained a true insider tip.
On my bucket list
Diving in Oman: Daymaniyat Islands, Musandam & Salalah
I have been diving for many years in many parts of the world – in Asia, the Red Sea, and South America. But I have never been underwater in Oman, although I keep hearing about it from acquaintances and clients. I want to change that: At the top of my list are the Daymaniyat Islands off Muscat, where one can encounter whale sharks in late autumn with a bit of luck, along with the fjords of Musandam in the north and the south around Salalah – to get to know Oman underwater in its various facets.
My next trip
Oman expedition through the Rub al Khali
Next, I will return to Oman – on the one hand, to meet our local partners and look at new accommodations, and on the other hand, for an adventure that I am particularly looking forward to: our Oman expedition into the Rub al Khali, the largest sand desert in the world. With this signature product, you are behind the wheel yourself, driving deep into the dunes – exactly the kind of trip my heart beats for.
About Nils – How Oman won my heart
The Orient has fascinated me for a long time, but the fact that a love for Oman emerged was pure coincidence. In 2015, shortly after I returned from Colombia to Germany, I spontaneously flew to the United Arab Emirates. From there, it is just a short flight to the neighboring country, and we thought: Let's just take a look at Muscat as a contrast, without any expectations.
It took less than 24 hours for Oman to capture us. It was this openness of the Omanis, their willingness to help and warmth that I had only experienced in a few travel countries before. We took a day trip to Nizwa, the ancient oasis city inland, and drove with a rental car up to Jabal Akhdar. This combination of Thousand and One Nights history, ochre-colored mountain landscapes, and the warmth of the people stuck with us.
Shortly thereafter, we returned, this time for two weeks – and since then, this story has continued to unfold. Over the years, I have repeatedly spent longer periods on-site, traveled the country in all directions, and found corners that continue to surprise me. The first impression from back then still holds true today: Oman welcomes you as if you were expected.
Places that particularly excite me:
Wahiba Desert – a night at the Canvas Club Camp
For me, spending the night in our exclusive Canvas Club private camp in the Wahiba Desert is one of the most beautiful experiences ever. In the desert, we met Abdullah, the camp leader, and my guide Ahmed suggested that I should be traditionally dressed for the camel ride towards sunset. I had nothing with me – so he promptly lent me one of his own dishdashas, the traditional Omani garment. When I put it on, he looked at me and said it looked so good on me that he would give it to me – even though it was one of his favorites. Such a gesture would hardly be imaginable back home, and it showed me once again how honest and warm the people here are, and how happy they are when you visit their country and engage with them.
We then rode camels towards the sunset and experienced it surrounded by soft sand dunes. The team at the camp welcomed us warmly, and shortly afterward there was a freshly prepared dinner: chicken, salads, freshly baked bread, hummus – simple and really good. As the starry sky slowly emerged, we walked to a small dune nearby and let it take effect on us. The next morning, the sunrise over the desert and a fresh breakfast with Arabic tea, bread, and eggs. To be honest, I didn't want to leave anymore – I swore to myself to come back. I have managed to do so several times since then, and every time, it is something special again.
Musandam – on the Rubba through the fjords
In the far north, separated from the rest of Oman by the Emirates, lies Musandam with its fjord landscape, which one would not expect in Arabia. I was fortunate to travel there on the Rubba, a small ship with only three cabins, built anew in the style of a traditional dhow. The captain, Abdulfatah, and his small crew were so warm that we felt at home within the first few minutes. We kayaked, swam, and fished, had long conversations on deck – and in the evening, there was a fish and seafood-inspired dinner under the starry sky, featuring our own catch. What stayed with me the most was Abdulfatah's story: He started as an Omani fisherman, recognized early the potential of tourism, and had the Rubba specially built in the old dhow style to take guests through the fjords. This personal story, told in the midst of the tranquil fjords, made the place special for me.
Misfat al Abriyeen – Shuwa in the mud village
The way there was already an adventure: an off-road track through the mountains, which I recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of thrill. At the end, we were greeted by Misfat al Abriyeen, an old mud village with terraced gardens at the foot of Jebel Shams. A cook from the village was already waiting for us, and together we prepared Shuwa, the holiday dish of Oman. The lamb is rubbed with spices and oil, wrapped in palm and banana leaves, encased in burlap, and slowly cooked overnight in a sealed earth pit until it almost falls off the bone by itself. I was allowed to help with it. The next day we sat down together and ate what we had prepared the day before. Knowing that I was part of this slow, traditional preparation made this meal something special for me.
Wadi Hawer – canyoning almost by oneself
Right next to the now very popular Wadi Bani Khalid lies Wadi Hawer, which is hardly developed for tourism – most of the time, you are completely alone there. With our guide, equipped with safety gear and after a safety briefing, we traversed the gorge: jumping from rocks into the water, rappelling down, and climbing through the narrow waterways. This combination of bright rock walls, turquoise water pools, and small streams had a primitive quality. Occasionally, we saw a few young Omanis jumping from the rocks into the water – otherwise, this Wadi belonged entirely to us that day.
See where I've traveled
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