It's hard to believe it was back in December when we visited Muscat, Oman for the first time! Living in Dubai we always heard what an awesome weekend destination it was because it's only 4-5 hours away and the drive is scenic and beautiful.

The drive in was absolutely stunning - a beautiful landscape of mountains, red sand and bright blue skies.

We drove right in to the Palalce Bustan, Ritz Carlton resort where we were greeted with an exceptionally warm welcome followed by this amaaazing lobby! We've been to plenty of luxurious hotels in Dubai, but this lobby took the cake. It was so beautifully done - opulent and grand without being loud or tacky. And it smelled heavenly!!! So heavenly that I had to ask them what they were burning - turns out it was the famous Omani frankincense or luban that I picked up at the souq the next day!

We got up to our room and found this beautiful spread awaiting us. The room was just perfect - lots of space and two working desks for Ahmed and I. It overlooked the stunning pool and resort grounds and the bathroom was stocked with Asprey London products (yes, I get *very* excited about hotel toiletries!).

We woke up bright and early the next morning for a delectable breakfast buffet outdoors with this stunning view! This was by far my favorite part of the day in the five days we stayed here - the amazing breakfast with such a serene view. We tried to get in super early to have it all to ourselves!

Shortly after breakfast I took a much needed break at their stunning Six Senses spa. The spa treatment rooms were so luxurious! Everything you needed was all in one place - your own private bathroom, shower, changing room and vanity so you stay in your own little enclave from start to finish (Read: no walking from the waiting room to your treatment room in a robe and slippers).

I cannot express how stunning the grounds of this resort are. Every turn is another view more beautiful than the last. We spent the majority of our time lounging by the pool and of course answering your questions on snapchat ;)

 

Of course I got some outfit shots in ;) For the rest of these photos (and more photos of the stunning Al Bustan Palace), check out the blog post here. If you happen to visit Muscat and don't end up staying here - be sure to eat at one of their many amazing restaurants at the very least! Our personal favorite was the Beach Pavilion on the beach ;)

On our first full day we ventured out into the city to explore Muscat. One of the must-see places is Souq Muttrah. It sits along this stunning shoreline and is surrounded by these breathtaking mountains! Be sure to eat at Bait Al-Luban for some authentic Omani food. Call ahead as it books up fast and ask for a table on the balcony for a beautiful view of the city!

The souq is stall after stall of unique silver and bronze gifts and gorgeous home decor pieces. Definitely check out the beautiful silver jewelry and pick up the famous Omani luban!

Do you spot me ;) On the second full day of our trip we ventured out to Wadi Shab. There are tons of different wadi's in Oman, but we heard this was the best one - and it lived up to the hype!

After a 45 minute hike through what looks like the grand canyon with a stunning stream beneath you, you get to an area where you have to swim to get to the end. We made a makeshift changing station, changed into our swimwear and got in!

 

You swim through the stream above (left) for about 20 minutes until you get to a small little cave. The opening extends about 15 feet through a super small opening where only one person can get in at a time. Once you get through it opens up to a stunning cave with a waterfall flowing through! Ahmed climbed the rocks up the waterfall and jumped in the water. (See video below to see the footage!)

You cannot visit Muscat without going to Wadi Shab - it was definitely the highlight of our trip and one of the most amazing and exhilarating experiences we've ever had!

For more action watch our official vlog above!Stay tuned for Part II of our Oman trip, and for more of my travels click here or search #HHaroundtheworld on Instagram!