Arabian Oryx Camp

Sharqiya Sands


This pretty camp has stolen the march on its flashy neighbour, the Desert Nights Camp, by offering a welcoming, traveller-friendly service. Providing just enough comfort to make the camp appealing to all, it lets the dunes creep in at the edges with well-thought-out excursions and facilities. It lies 11km from Al Wasil along a poorly graded road.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sharqiya Sands attractions

1. Bidaya Museum

5.69 MILES

This quirky little museum on the edge of the sands preserves the history of the Hijri Tribe, written in Arabic on goat skins. A collection of spears and…

2. Al Mintirib Fort

5.84 MILES

In the days before the housing of Al Mintirib encroached on its space, this solid-walled fort with its sunken door must have been an impressive sight,…

3. Al Wasil Fort

7.69 MILES

This large fort with a mighty round tower with a unique, detached (and arched) external stairway is of passing interest for those heading into the sands…

4. Women's Souq

23.6 MILES

Once a week this souq, opposite the main market, attracts women-only buyers and sellers from all over the region, selling a variety of handicrafts such as…

5. Ibra Souq

23.61 MILES

Ibra has a lively souq that is at its most active on a Wednesday morning. Arranged around a double courtyard, the greengrocery takes pride of place in the…

6. Ibra Old Quarter

23.61 MILES

The old part of Ibra is a honeycomb of crumbling mud-built houses of two or three storeys. There's a paved walkway of several kilometres through some of…

7. Tourist Service Centre

27.34 MILES

For a panoramic view of the wadi plantations, stop at the Tourist Service Centre on the approach road to Moqal Cave. The centre has been closed for years,…

8. Wadi Bani Khalid

27.73 MILES

Justly famed for its natural beauty, this wadi just north of the town of Al Kamil makes a rewarding (and well-signposted) diversion off the Muscat–Sur…