Arabian glamping in Oman desert at Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp

We’ve wanted to try desert glamping since we visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi, since glamour camping in UAE is very popular. We finally had the chance to experience it at Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp Oman. This desert luxury camp in Wahiba Sands, also known as Sharqiya Sands, offers everything for an unforgettable Arabian glamping experience in the Oman desert. Wahiba Desert is one of the most beautiful places in Oman, so make sure to visit during your Oman tour. This Wahiba Sands camp offers activities for families and adventurous travelers like us, including paragliding, quad biking, sand boarding, dune bashing, camel rides, micro light flights, visits to authentic Bedouin villages and more. Sama Al Wasil Camp is a romantic place to experience the desert at night. You can snuggle up with your loved one on cool desert nights next to the bonfire, gazing up at millions of twinkling stars. Read our Sama Al Wasil Camp Desert Camp review for tons of details about desert camping in Oman at this eco-friendly lodge surrounded by beautiful sand dunes.

Why choose Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp Oman?

There are many options for desert camping in Oman, from rustic Bedouin camps to 5 star desert luxury camps. Which one you choose will depend on the kind of experience you are seeking as well as your budget. We opted for a camp that had comforts like air conditioning and private bathrooms, but still felt authentic with traditionally Arabic decor, food, and accommodation.

Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp, operated by Desert Palm Oman, offers Arabian tents with private bathrooms, traditional Bedouin tents to welcome guests with Arabic coffee and dates, beautiful dining tents with low-sitting Arabic tables and pillows, camel BBQ, and all the authentic experiences we were craving for our night camping in Oman. We were so glad we chose Sama Al Wasil Camp and can’t wait to share all about it with you. We hope our details and photos help you decide which desert camp to choose when you visit Oman. We felt like we were straight out of Aladdin and loved every minute of our Arabian night glamping in Oman!

Where is Sama Al Wasil Camp?

This camp, managed by Desert Palm Oman, is about a 2 hour drive from Muscat in the heart of Sharqiya Sands. The desert night camp lies in a flat valley between sand dunes so feels very secluded and private. It is a great place to explore the beautiful Omani desert and get a feel for the Bedouin way of life, since you will pass local Bedouin homes on your drive to the camp. You will also pass camels wandering around the desert, so make sure to stop and snap some photos of these adorable creatures. If you love photography like us, make time for a Wahiba Sands tour and get some epic photos of the desert. We had a blast capturing stunning shots at both sunset and sunrise in the dunes.

Getting to Sama Al Wasil Camp in Wahiba Sands Desert

To get to Sama Al Wasil camp, you enter Wahiba Sands through the town Al Wasil. There you will meet staff from Sama Resorts and be driven to the camp in their 4×4 vehicle (for a fee of 15 Omani rials), or you can follow them in your own 4×4 vehicle from the meetup point. If you are driving in your own vehicle, you’ll need to let out some air from your tires before driving into the desert. Staff from Sama Al Wasil can help you with this process. If you have a private tour guide (like we did), then you may be able to skip the meet-up and just have your guide drive you to the camp at whatever time is convenient for you. Guides in Oman are familiar with the desert camps and will most likely know how to get there on their own, which gives you extra flexibility in your schedule. Our guide drove us to the camp to check in quickly before heading back out to the perfect spot to catch an epic sunset. Sunsets in Wahiba Sands around Sama al Wasil desert camp are amazing!

A warm welcome to the desert retreat camp with Omani coffee & dates

Serving Arabic coffee, called kahwa, and dates is an important part of hospitality in Oman and is a symbol of generosity. During check in at Sama al Wasil, there’s a traditional Majilis, or Arabic tent used to receive and entertain guests, with coffee, dates and oranges to welcome guests. If you’ve never tried Arabic coffee, then definitely sit down for a taste because it is flavored with cardamom and has a unique flavor. Make sure to try some dates too. We LOVE those things! They are so sweet and delicious.

We loved how the majilis tents were decorated with traditional Arabic rugs and pillows. It was so inviting and cozy and is a great spot to mingle with other guests or just relax. There are several spots around the camp where you can enjoy your Arabian night in the romantic atmosphere.

Sleeping in a Sultan tent in the desert

We wanted to sleep in an Arabic desert tent, so made sure to book the deluxe sultan’s tent at Sama Al Wasil. There are different accommodations including one bedroom chalets and 2 bedroom family chalets, but this is the most traditional offering at this camp. The sultan tent looks like an Arabic tent from the outside, but it is actually built with stones and is very sturdy. There’s an air conditioning unit, but we didn’t need to turn ours on thanks to cool desert nights in Oman.

Our Sultan tent had a bed, 2 chairs and a table, small dresser, mirror and a bathroom. The ceiling was draped with red fabric which gave it the traditional Middle Eastern feel we desired. The bed was wide enough for the two of us, but since Bertaut is really tall (6’6), he had to sleep diagonally so his feet didn’t hang off the bed.

The bathroom was basic with a toilet, small sink, and corner shower. They provided a few toiletries including soap, shampoo and conditioner. Make sure that the flip is switched in the tent (on the wall outside the bathroom) for the hot water. We did not know about this and thought there was no hot water. Since we woke up at 5am to catch sunrise, we didn’t see anyone around to ask how to get the hot water working. Make sure to ask them to show you how to turn on the hot water when you get into your room.

An additional feature of the Sultan tent (and all the accommodation options at Sama Al Wasil) is a private outdoor sitting area. Bertaut and I sat outside for a long time enjoying the peace and quiet of the desert night. It was definitely romantic to sit and enjoy each other’s company without the distraction of phones (there’s no wifi), TV, or the outside world.

Dining on Omani traditional food in an open-air Bedouin tent

Dinner and breakfast buffet is included in the room rate at Sama Al Wasil and is served in a Bedouin style open air tent. There are normal tables and chairs, or for those wanting to eat Bedouin-style, they have low tables with pillows to sit on. We sat at one of these tables (we were the only ones who did hahaha), and I must say it was not super comfortable. I was wearing a dress so I had to put my legs to one side. Bertaut has long legs so he looked kind of funny sitting at this short table. However, it was our first time glamping so I’m glad we sat at the Bedouin table.

Dinner buffet was plentiful and tasty with Omani traditional food. There was a large selection of salad, rice, curry dishes, some of which were vegeterian, as well as barbecued meats. Oman food is very similar to Indian cuisine, which we love. We tried camel meat for the first time and it was so delicious! They served it on kebabs and the tidbits of camel barbecue were well-seasoned and tender. We went back for seconds and thirds of the camel BBQ because it was so good. Apparently it’s really good for you too. Camel meat is typically reserved for special occasions in Oman and is considered a luxury meat, so it was really exciting to try it. Dinner buffet also included fruits, several kinds of desert, coffee and tea.

Sama Al Wasil provides a buffet breakfast with a mix of Arabic breakfast options and European selections. The buffet included fruit, cereal, French toast, baked beans, bread, eggs, sausage, cheese, and yogurt. They also have made to order omelettes which were good. Drinks include coffee, hot tea, juice and water. We filled up before we headed out for the fun desert activities offered (for an additional charge) at camp. More on that below!

Alcohol in Oman and at Sama Al Wasil Camp

Oman is a Muslim country so locals do not drink and you cannot purchase alcohol except for at licensed hotels and restaurants. Sama Al Wasil does not have a liquor license and therefore does not serve any alcohol. However, you are allowed to bring your own. I wish we had known this ahead of time, because it would have been nice to spike our Omani coffee with some Tina Marie liquer or some Bailey’s Irish Cream for a nightcap as we lingered around the bonfire after dinner. We sat listening to hilarious stories of other travelers’ adventures in Oman with our guide under the stars.

We did not try to purchase any alcohol in Oman, except for when at hotels, so aren’t sure if it is even possible to buy it. In hindsight, I wish we had asked the tour guide where we could get some. We learned after the fact that you can purchase alcohol in Dubai at the airport duty-free and are allowed to bring 2 bottles into Oman. If you like to drink, this may be your best bet.

Night desert entertainment while glamping in Oman

Desert glamping in Oman is not complete without some evening entertainment. We already mentioned the bonfire after dinner, which was really fun for us. We heard the best stories about crazy things that have happened to Oman tourists while sitting around the fire with tour guides and other camp guests.

On some nights, the camp offers live traditional Arabic music and dancing. Unfortunately, they must meet a minimum occupancy in order to book the music and dancing. They did not have enough guests on the night we stayed, so we missed out on that.

If you’re not into mingling with other guests around the campfire, then stargazing is another great way to spend your night camping in the desert. Since you are in the middle of sand dunes with almost no light pollution, you can see an incredible number of stars. Gazing at the stars in the desert at night is so romantic, so cuddle up to your lover and relish the moment. Remember that the temperatures drop in the evenings, so bring a jacket or pashmina for those cool desert nights.

Daytime activities for your desert safari in Oman

Sama al Wasil desert camp offers many exciting activities for your desert safari in Oman. We tried the micro light flight above the sand dunes and it was exhilarating. The flight lasts 10 minutes and costs 17 rial, which is about $45 USD. It is so exciting to fly high above the dunes and see them from the best perspective ever. Bertaut took our 360 degree camera and our GoPro HERO6 up and captured some footage to give you an idea of how amazing it was. Check our YouTube channel for videos from our flight.

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

Other activities include dune bashing for 25 rial ($65), early morning camel ride, sand boarding, quad biking, and paragliding. We had a tour guide who took us dune bashing and it was adrenaline-pumping. I have to admit I was in the backseat with my hands clinched on the seat in front of me. I was terrified that we were going to roll over the car, and our guide was cracking up because he saw how scared I was from the look on my face. Bertaut was cool as a cucumber, although he decided not to try it himself. You definitely need to know what you’re doing or you could roll the car. Leave it to the experts.

Conclusion of our review of Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp

We really enjoyed our desert night of Arabian glamping in Oman. It’s a bucket-list experience that we were so excited to check off, and want to do it again with our kids next time. If you want to experience camping in the desert but don’t like roughing it, then we recommend glamping at Sama Al Wasil Desert Camp. We loved the Bedouin tents decorated with colorful Arabic carpets and pillows, the coffee and dates, the traditional Omani food, the bonfire under the stars, the exciting activities, and being surrounded by beautiful sand dunes. It was a magical experience that we will never forget. We hope we’ve inspired you to go glamour camping in Oman! We will have much more about Oman coming on the blog, so check back soon. Sama Resorts has 2 other properties -Wadi Shab Resort and Sama Heights on Jebel Shams- to consider when you are ready to tour Oman.

While planning your Middle East vacation, check out our posts on UAE’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are only a short drive from the Sultanate of Oman. Read about the best shopping spots in Dubai, Miracle Garden, Global Village, Jumeirah Beach, and our review of Park Hyatt Dubai. Also check out our posts on Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, Heritage Village, and Hyatt Capital Gate.

**Disclosure- Sama Resorts provided us with a complimentary one-night stay and micro light flight in exchange for an honest review but all opinions are our own. This post contains Amazon affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase anything through our links at no extra cost to you.