“An award-winning beach resort in a remote coastal position. Absolute barefoot luxury in individual poolside sea-facing villas with private pools, spas, and gardens. Chic eco suites with light stone walls and wooden furnishings. Fantastic Ottolenghi style restaurant and direct access to the beach.”

Hotel review

The development and infrastructure built for this hotel is extraordinary. On a previously empty bay on the Musandam Peninsula – a whole new Omani village has been built - at one end of the bay is the accommodation for the staff and at the other end the hotel. If you look from the col above it is like a green oasis in an otherwise harsh, mountainous and arid environment. Zighy Bay is a series of sea-facing stone-built villas with private pools, connecting to the main hub along ‘roads’ of fine white sand. All of them are luxurious with daybeds in the living area, private dining areas (for when you have your private chef round) bedroom, bathroom and outside shower plus of course you own pool.

It’s not just that the villas are absolutely top end, but so are the restaurant choices from home-made pasta by the pool, Arabian dishes in the Spice Market or at the Shua Shack (right on the beach) or be transported to Sense on the Edge, 293 metres above sea level overlooking the Arabian gulf and Zighy Bay for a taste of Spain. Between breakfast, lunch and dinner if you aren’t relaxing by your pool or on the beach, Zighy Bay has a full menu of ‘Experiences’ from sailing, boating and yachting to flying and gliding, walking and hiking, diving and snorkeling and there’s even culture with village trips and cooking classes. It seems a shame not to partake of some of these activities but you can always stay put in the prone position on your sunlounger or if you have to do something book a treatment in the Six Senses Spa. Zighy Bay has it all and considering the sybaritic existence that is offered, is not unreasonably priced.

Charles Marsden-Smedley
Charles Marsden-Smedley Review published: 07/05/2019

Recommended for

  • Foodies

    • Ottolenghi style restaurant.
  • Beach Life

  • Families

  • Wellbeing

  • Luxury

  • Barefoot Luxury

  • Total relaxation

  • Romantic Break

  • Restaurant

    • Hill top restaurant with spectacular views over the Gulf of Oman
  • Great walks

    • There are many guided walking opportunites around Zighy Bay
  • Other Activities

    • Microlight, paragliding and sunset cruises can be arranged
  • Hotel boats for hire

    • Charter one of the hotel's catamarans with crew
  • Cycling

    • Explore the Hajar mountains on a mountain bike
  • Spa

    • Spa pool villas offer private treatment rooms
  • Wine tasting

    • Spectacular cellar, private dining available
  • Watersports

    • Waterskiing and wakeboarding
  • Fishing

    • Deep sea fishing
  • Eco

  • Family Suites

  • Rooms with balcony/terrace

  • Cinema

  • Sailing

  • Snorkelling

  • Archery

  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Good wine list

  • Tennis

  • On the beach

  • Sea Views

  • Gym

  • Honeymoons

  • Spa breaks

  • Child friendly

  • 5* Luxury

  • Diving

  • Romantic

  • Mountain biking

  • Views

  • Cooking classes

Facilities

  • Rooms

    82 rooms in this hotel
  • Swimming Pool

    A fantastic main pool and smaller pools dotted around the hotel.
  • Restaurant

    Hill top restaurant with spectacular views over the Gulf of Oman
  • Spa

    Spa pool villas offer private treatment rooms
  • Sit-out Terrace

  • Family Suites

  • Bar

  • Bicycles available

  • Car not required

  • Rooms with balcony/terrace

  • Airport transfer

  • In room DVD

  • Cinema

  • Sauna/Steam

  • Massage

  • Air conditioning

  • Private dining room

  • Good wine list

  • Suites

  • Garden

  • Gym

  • Child friendly

  • Room service

  • Bath robes

  • Private villas

  • Hot Tub

  • Concierge

  • Satellite / Cable TV

  • In room music system

  • Wifi

  • Views

  • Safe

Activities

  • Great walks

    • There are many guided walking opportunites around Zighy Bay
  • Other Activities

    • Microlight, paragliding and sunset cruises can be arranged
  • Hotel boats for hire

    • Charter one of the hotel's catamarans with crew
  • Cycling

    • Explore the Hajar mountains on a mountain bike
  • Wine tasting

    • Spectacular cellar, private dining available
  • Watersports

    • Waterskiing and wakeboarding
  • Fishing

    • Deep sea fishing
  • Sailing

  • Snorkelling

  • Archery

  • Climbing

  • Tennis

  • Diving

  • Mountain biking

  • Cooking classes

Map & Location

Other reviews

20 great desert escapes

Originally published by The Times

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