A hideaway in the mountains

When it comes to choosing holiday destinations, most residents in the region think beyond the boundaries of the deserts and brown landscapes.

Few may seek nearby hideaways in the region that will offer comfort, peace of mind, complete pampering and a great escape from the daily routines of a busy life.

The Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay is a choice you will not regret. It is clearly defined as an exclusive, extravagant, luxurious and holistic holiday.

Situated on the northern Musandam Peninsula in the Sultanate of Oman between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman, this luxurious resort draws on centuries of history and provides a glimpse of a typical old Omani village.

From Bahrain, visitors can take a flight to Dubai where the resort will arrange transportation to the mountain-beach resort at Zighy Bay.

Leaving the crowded and busy borders of Dubai, visitors will witness a huge change in landscape once they enter Oman. Hills of varied sizes and shapes with huge stone formations catch the eye and goats stroll at the roadsides.

Reaching Zighy Bay, which is 120 km from Dubai International Airport, you go off-road into the Six Senses zone. Along winding stone-built roads and hairline curves, the vehicle, always a four-wheel drive, climbs higher and higher until you reach the resort's main gate.

Once there you are transported to a bygone era where villas are built using mud and palm leaves with wooden doors and windows and stone floorings.

The resort offers three types of villas all with pools and some with their own spa facilities, there are also two retreats including one private area suitable for corporate groups or extended families with access to a personal chef as well as spa therapists.

Each villa also has a personal butler service designed to provide a true hideaway experience from arrival to departure.

Stand-out features at the spa include doorbells which work on an old fashioned rope-pulley system, small earthenware pots of water and a wooden spoon to clean your feet, bicycles for him and her (for return visits these two-wheelers will bear the guest's initials), an infinity pool, a traditional Arabic summer house and an outdoor dining suite. The beachfront villas offer direct access to the beach and the ocean.

Inside, the theme remains aesthetically and environmentally pleasing with recycled paper, stone containers and recyclable glass water bottles.

For those wanting an extra touch of luxury and relaxation, the resort's spa treatments range from regional to Six Senses signature choices, for both men and women. These are not to be missed.

As well as pampering and relaxing on the beach there is also the opportunity to get more adventurous with the resort's outdoor activities. Paragliding is a favourite option with the chance to glide from atop the neighbouring mountains across the landscape and on to the sandy beach.

You can also try your hand at game fishing but you will be asked to throw your catch. Both activities take place under the watchful eye of trained professionals.

There are plenty of local villages to explore including the Hatta Heritage Village as well as wadis and oases, archaeological sites, historic watch towers, sand dune safaris, camel farms and the Bidiyah Mosque, one of the oldest ones in the region.

Dining is a pleasure at Six Senses with various options including the 'On the edge' experience in which guests are taken up a hill to the newly opened 'Senses of the Edge' which offers a stunning view of the property and the mountainous landscape, or you could try a table for two overlooking the entire resort from the top of a wind tower.

For the future there are plans to open the Zighy Souk, later this year at the entrance of the resort giving guests the feeling of entering a real village market with shops and stores as they arrive. The resort also plans to add an organic farm which guests will be able to visit.