Al Areesh Desert Camp
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Al Areesh Desert Camp
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#2 of 3 campsites in Al Qabil
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Free parking
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HOTEL STYLE
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Romantic
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Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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Detailed Reviews
offers an overnight "shelter" in the desert, convenient showers and toilets, scrumptious buffet dinner and breakfast, endless supply of Omani coffee
this is a great place for snapping sand dunes at sunset AND sunrise
a chance to meet bedouin and camels near the camp
if you stay more than one night I imagine it might get a little quiet during the heat of the day
if travelling by public transport - it is worth asking them to pick and/drop you at Al Qabil to connect with the Muscat - Sur bus.
Friendly, helpful management and staff
this is a great place for snapping sand dunes at sunset AND sunrise
a chance to meet bedouin and camels near the camp
if you stay more than one night I imagine it might get a little quiet during the heat of the day
if travelling by public transport - it is worth asking them to pick and/drop you at Al Qabil to connect with the Muscat - Sur bus.
Friendly, helpful management and staff
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Date of stay: March 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Even though our guest always seem to enjoy themselves, the camp has certainly not improved since I visited the first time. Dinner was quite tasty but breakfast was just about a matter of slapping some bread on the table with boiled eggs. Not much effort and enthusiasm goes into maintaining and cleaning. (Bathrooms in particular). They used to offer live Omani entertainment but nowadays visitors bring their stereo system. There were 2 different groups both playing their own music. The larger group was noisy and showed no respect for other guests. Different cultures but not my idea of enjoying the desert.
Every time I visit I support the local ladies by buying some of their handicraft but this time I felt way too cheated so they will loose out should there be a next time.
Every time I visit I support the local ladies by buying some of their handicraft but this time I felt way too cheated so they will loose out should there be a next time.
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Date of stay: December 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On our tour of Oman we wanted to stay one night in the sands. Two factors contributed to our choice of Al Areesh: (1) This is at the edge of the sands and an asphalted road passes by. Reachable without 4WD - just park your car at the gate and walk uphill through the sand for 100m. (2) Price. Al Areesh is very reasonable. Actually, we enjoyed the basic style of the camp as there was no posh luxury getting between ourselves and the desert experience. The cabins are simple but clean and it is really enjoyable sleeping cool without A/C. Most cabins have their own toilet and shower, and an outside sink. Food is ok, staff mostly stick to the daily routine. The camp is at the edge of large dunes, and the dune bashing is really to be recommended - just make sure you get your turn, as one driver serves the entire camp.
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Date of stay: October 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Have to say that this is one of my favorite camps in Oman to always come and visit again. I really enjoy the dune bashing and the food is always nice and hot for everyone to eat! Hope everyone agrees with me!
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
Location
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Room Tip:Â Sleep outside when not hot! The night gaze is wonderful!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Just got back from a wonderful one night stay at Al Areesh. The food was the best we've ever had there, the dune bashing was fantastic (thanks Abdullah, you're a star! if a little crazy), and we spent a lovely evening watching a thunder storm play out in the distance, smoking shisha. Having read the review from Derek, there is luck involved - you can't pick your fellow camp mates - but the hosts at the camp over the years my friends and I have been going have always done their best to make sure everyone is comfortable and safe.
Vladi, from Bulgaria & Barking.
Vladi, from Bulgaria & Barking.
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

We were picked up on time in Al Qabil Rest House by one of the staff of Al Areesh. That's one good point. When they say 2:30pm, it's 2:30pm on the dot. The camp is conveniently located near the road leading in and out of the desert, and atop one of the many sand hills. The tea, coffee and water facilities are available in the dining area 24/7. There are two types of accommodations, i believe. We took the one with attached toilet and bath. Our hut was huge and very cozy. It had 3 single beds, 1 king-size bed, and 1 bed frame outside the hut should you want to sleep under the stars. Best for families. The bathrooms, even the -common toilets in the area, are well-maintained and had a basket full of toiletries. We went for dune-bashing which was very enjoyable and waited for the sunset on a high area of the desert. Their buffets were excellent. There was traditional Omani music being played after dinner and me and my partner got the chance to sample the traditional dance. There was sheesha available also. The staff were helpful and very accommodating. Good value for your money.
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Date of stay: January 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
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Location
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were alone in the camp (end of season). There was no friendly welcome. Food was just reasonable. Not clean; I was happy to have my sleeping bag with me. Old buildings. Only a fan in the rooms. One of our rooms had a bad smell. Weak internet.
Not far from the tarred road.
One plus: int the morning a dunebashing tour with a young driver. He took the limits of his 4x4 vehicle.
Not far from the tarred road.
One plus: int the morning a dunebashing tour with a young driver. He took the limits of his 4x4 vehicle.
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Al Areesh desert camp is a beautiful camp set in the middle of the Wahiba Sands and very easy to find from Muscat.
The camp itself is simple, but has all the amenities you will need, delicious food, hot showers warm comfy rooms and a lovely outdoor communal seating area.
The guides are very welcoming and very amenable. When we were there we sat around the fire with them at night, whilst they told us stories about camels and we sat under the stars in the absolute silence that is the desert, it was a very memorable evening. There were only a few of us there that evening however, so I would not like to comment on the experience if it was busy.
Al Areesh is fantastic value for money, especially as the other desert camps are mostly high end and very expensive. If you want a 'true' experience, this is the place to stay. The camp can arrange visits by the Bedouin, camel rides and desert driving experiences (all well worth it!).
The camp itself is simple, but has all the amenities you will need, delicious food, hot showers warm comfy rooms and a lovely outdoor communal seating area.
The guides are very welcoming and very amenable. When we were there we sat around the fire with them at night, whilst they told us stories about camels and we sat under the stars in the absolute silence that is the desert, it was a very memorable evening. There were only a few of us there that evening however, so I would not like to comment on the experience if it was busy.
Al Areesh is fantastic value for money, especially as the other desert camps are mostly high end and very expensive. If you want a 'true' experience, this is the place to stay. The camp can arrange visits by the Bedouin, camel rides and desert driving experiences (all well worth it!).
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Date of stay: December 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived at Al Areesh, an architectural blot on the landscape, to be ungreeted by a group of quite amazingly surly and unhelpful staff. After a survey of several of the rooms, we realised there was nothing to choose between them - all very basic and uncomfortable, with wiring just waiting to fry you. Eventually the manager appeared, who was friendly and interesting and cheered us up with some dune bashing. Supper was simple, but good and he joined us for a chat, which was nice. We decided to forego the pleasure of our rooms and dodgy electrics and slept outside in the dunes - possibly rash, looking at the myriad tracks crisscrossing around us the next morning, but heaven being under the stars and wouldn't have missed it. Whilst we were not expecting luxury, we felt that it was expensive for what it was and, other than from the manager himself, the service was dour or not at all. Probably if an effort had been made with service and atmosphere, we might not have been so ill disposed to the accommodation, but anyway it was a billet of sorts - not however, for those who have any need for their creature comforts!
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.



I loved being in the desert. The dune bashing was fun, climbing the near vertical dunes with my young nieces was a blast, the sand was silky soft. The cabins were basic, but have running water and toilets. There was plenty of food both dinner and breakfast, and after dinner music. One of the musicians even taught me a dance!
I definitely would love to go back!
I definitely would love to go back!
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Date of stay: February 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mohammed Afsar Hussain wrote a tip Dec 2017
Dubai, United Arab Emirates54 contributions8 helpful votes"Choose Executive Family or Classic Suite only as other room have no water heaters."Read full review
"They seem to allocate the rooms closer to the main facilities on a fist come first served basis."Read full review
LOCATION
OmanAl Buraimi GovernorateAl Qabil
NUMBER OF ROOMS
53
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Al Areesh Desert Camp
Is parking available at Al Areesh Desert Camp?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.