Ever since childhood I’ve been fascinated with Middle Eastern culture. I used to watch Disney’s Aladdin over and over again, singing “Arabian Nights” and dreaming of someday venturing into the Arabian desert. Flash forward a few decades, and I fulfilled my Arabian nights fantasy during our Oman glamping experience with Canvas Club Oman. Their private Oman desert camp provides the ultimate luxury camping experience in Wahiba Sands. So come on down, stop on by, hop a carpet and fly, to another Arabian night!
Ultra-luxurious Oman Glamping with Canvas Club
Starting with a sunset camel ride to our private desert luxury camp, to dinner cooked over a bonfire served in a cozy majlis tent, to stargazing at a sky twinkling with millions of stars, to waking up to a glorious sunrise over the dunes, our Oman glamping experience was nothing short of magical. Luxury camping in Oman is a must-do on any Oman tour, and Canvas Club has mastered the art of bespoke luxury Oman desert camping. Oman holidays are well spent in the heart of Wahiba Sands Desert. Here’s a glimpse into our luxury camping experience with Canvas Club Oman.
Making a grand entrance to our private luxury Oman desert camp
Our luxury Oman camping adventure started at the meeting point in Bidiyah before our drive deep into the desert. Our guides, Ali and Maik of Canvas Club Tents, let some air out of the tires of our 4×4 to drive safely in the dunes. We followed our guide into the desert and had to stop a few times for photos because the scenery was so breathtaking. After about 30 minutes of driving into Wahiba Sands, also known as Sharqiya Sands, we arrived to Safari Desert Camp. There our guide would drive our car to our camp while we took a more exotic method of transportation.
Taking in the views of Wahiba Sands on the way to our Oman desert luxury camp
Our Arabian camels (called dromedaries since they had one hump instead of 2) were waiting for us to begin our 45-minute sunset camel ride to our private desert camp. The kids were bursting with excitement because this was their very first camel ride.
Arriving to our desert luxury camp in style on a camel ride
Our camels lined up behind their local Bedouin owner, head to tail, and walked to our luxury desert camp as the sun began to sink beneath the dunes. We got a kick out of seeing our shadows on the sand.
Starting our luxury Oman camping experience like the Bedouins – on camels
The kids couldn’t stop smiling. They loved it. Talk about making a grand entrance! Check out this video we put together, and please follow us on Instagram if you aren’t already.
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Sundowners upon arrival to our luxury desert camp
Once we arrived to the camp, a staff of six greeted us. They welcomed us to an elegant table overlooking the dunes for sundowners. Our kids were way too excited to sit down, so they ran around exploring while we sipped our welcome drinks. The camp does not serve alcohol, but poured us glasses of sparking juice to savor while the sky turned shades of amber and the sun disappeared behind the dunes.
We nibbled on some snacks including dates, a staple of Omani hospitality, cookies, and nuts. We weren’t hungry for dinner yet, which wasn’t a problem since dinner would be served whenever we wanted. So we headed off to explore the camp before it got completely dark.
Welcome drinks awaited us for sunset over the dunes
Relaxing in our traditional Bedouin majlis tent
The majlis is an Arabian tent that is used to receive and entertain guests and is a symbol of Bedouin hospitality. Hospitality is such an important part of Omani culture, so our desert camp would not be complete without a traditional majlis. We had our very own majlis to relax in for the evening, and it was so inviting. Ali and his team brought us cups of gahwa, which is cardamom-flavored Arabic coffee, with dates. We also had some ginger lemon tea, which was delicious.
The majlis was decorated in rich red tones and fabrics and illuminated by hanging lanterns. The floor was lined with cushions, which the kids had fun rearranging over and over again. We cozied up on the cushions and snuggled under the blankets, savoring the quietness and tranquility of our private desert camp.
The Arabian Majlis tent was so inviting and cozy
Getting cozy at our Canvas Club luxury desert camp
Glamorous Arabian desert tent
The kids couldn’t wait to see where we’d be sleeping. They headed straight for our glamping tent and pulled open the flaps to reveal the inside of our luxurious desert tent.
Luxe Canvas Club glamping tent
Our family tent was large enough to hold a king-sized bed for us and 2 twin-sized beds for the kids. There was also space for several side tables and a bench at the end of our bed. Baskets on the floor held fresh towels and plush bath robes for us.
We loved the Arabian decor that felt both luxurious and Bedouin at the same time. Our king bed had a fabric canopy suspended from the ceiling of the tent, creating an intimate vibe and providing privacy. Morrocan lamps, Persian rugs, elegant bedspreads, mirrors hanging from the walls of the tent, and Arabic side tables made the space inviting and warm.
Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – Canvas Club Oman Family Tent
We were all buzzing with excitement to sleep in such a dreamy space. The beds were surprisingly comfortable too, we can say after a great night of sleep. The cold desert night helped us sleep soundly, and the plush blankets kept us warm. Solar lights illuminated mason jars in case we needed to slip out and head to the bathroom in the middle of the night. They also provided flashlights to find our way around in the dark.
Inside our luxurious Arabian desert tent
Canvas Club Tents surprised us with such comfortable beds
Luxe open-air glamping bathroom
After checking out our sleeping tent and majlis tent, we headed to the open-aired bathroom where Ali showed us how everything worked. To be honest, we weren’t sure what to expect for a bathroom in the middle of the desert. We weren’t expecting it to be nearly so luxe. We were pleasantly surprised by the modern amenities, including a rain shower, pedestal bowl sink, and toilet that flushed by pushing a button a few times.
Our tent had its own water tank that supplied water to our bathroom, which means we had hot running water in the middle of the desert. What an indulgence for our Oman camping (or rather glamping) experience! We took our showers the next morning under the warm desert sun, since the bathroom was an open-air hut rather than a tent. There were wooden platforms for the toilet, shower and sink to sit on and pavers to keep your feet out of the sand.
Well-appointed luxury camping bathroom
Meals cooked over a bonfire
Our Oman glamping adventure with Canvas Club included dinner and breakfast. The crew cooked our meals over an open fire and used ingredients sourced from local markets.
Preparing the bonfire for our glamping dinner
For dinner, the menu started with olives and sun-dried tomatoes fresh from the market. Appetizers included Arabic flat bread baked on a hot stone served with hummus and feta mousse, a regional specialty that was especially delicious. The main course was chicken with fresh vegetables and couscous cooked on the coal of our bonfire. We ended with mango yogurt with hazelnut and another pot of ginger lemon tea.
Dinner menu for our luxury camping experience with Canvas Club Oman
Our main course- chicken with couscous and vegetables
Our breakfast menu included hot tea, freshly squeezed orange juice, Arabic flat bread with sweet spreads including jam, honey and Nutella, cheese, fruit salad, and mushroom and tomato omelettes. They also brought cereal for the kids.
Enjoying our glamping breakfast on the dunes
We watched the chef prepare our omelettes over a portable wood-burning stove that he fueled with sticks. The kids were intrigued and even got to lend a hand stirring the vegetables.
Preparing breakfast the Bedouin way
The crew waited on us hand and foot during our stay, making sure we had absolutely everything we needed. Breakfast felt like something straight out of a desert safari movie, sitting in the vast desert enjoying a tasty meal with views of the dunes.
Our bespoke luxury breakfast setup while desert camping in Oman
Stargazing at millions of stars
After dinner, we stretched out of the cushions they arranged outside the majlis for stargazing. We were blown away by the number of stars that were visible from our private desert camp in Wahiba Sands. With no light pollution in the desert at night, we could see more stars than ever before. The kids loved looking for their favorite constellations and were curious about how the sky looked different on the other side of the world. We were hoping to see a shooting star but had no such luck. Our son drifted off to sleep while stargazing and snuggling us under the blankets. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Loungers for stargazing during our night in the desert
Sunrise on the dunes
Bertaut and I woke up early to catch sunrise on the dunes. We had planned on waking up the kids to take some family photos on the dunes but decided to let them sleep since they looked so peaceful and were worn out from all the excitement the day before.
We ventured up into the dunes to catch sunrise. We frolicked in the sand and did our own little photo shoot, which I must admit turned out pretty fabulous. We had so much fun taking photos and videos as a couple while our kids slept soundly. It worked out great since the kids often complain when we try to take their photos. Hahaha! Make sure to click on the sound icon while watching this short video that gives you a glimpse into our memorable morning on the dunes.
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Enjoying the endless Oman sand dunes for our desert photo shoot
Enjoying sunrise on the sand dunes in Oman just steps away from our Canvas Club desert camp
Sand boarding down the dunes
Sand boarding is complimentary for guests at Canvas Club Oman. The kids had been begging us to go ever since we arrived, so after breakfast, we headed back up the dunes with the kids and sand boards in tow. Ali came along to teach the kids how to sand board, since none of us had ever done it before. He was so kind to carry the boards back up the dunes after every round, which is quite a workout in the sand. We lost count of how many times the kids went flying down the dunes, but it was a lot.
Sand boarding was definitely the highlight of our entire desert glamping camping experience for our kids, but especially our son who absolutely loved it and turned out to be a natural. The kids started off cautiously, sitting on the boards as they went down the dunes for the first few rounds. As they gained confidence, they began to stand up while speeding down the dunes. They were screaming in delight and could have kept going all day long. We wished we had goggles though, because sand was getting in their eyes. So if you plan to do any sand boarding, bring goggles.
Ali taught the kids how to sand board and was a huge help!
Outstanding service
We were so impressed by the crew and outstanding service at Canvas Club Oman. Our main guides Ali and Maik were incredibly kind and hospitable, as well as the rest of the crew who took exceptional care of us during our stay in the desert. The whole team was quick to get us anything we needed, whether it was another pot of tea or some extra cookies for the kids.
We appreciated how they were so welcoming and engaging with the kids. They allowed them to hang around in the kitchen to see how our meals were prepared and answered ALL of their questions (and our kids ask a lot of questions). 😉 In short, they made us feel like royalty with the personalized service.
The fantastic Canvas Club Oman team that took great care of us while desert camping in Oman
Final thoughts on our Oman desert camping experience
Unfortunately we had a long drive ahead of us to our next destination, the beautiful Jabal Akhdar mountain, so we had to take off before any of us were ready to leave. We certainly hope to return someday for more luxury camping in Oman, since one night was not enough time for us. We recommend staying 2 nights to fully unwind in the tranquility of this peaceful oasis. We could have spent an entire day just playing on the dunes!
Our kids loved playing on the Wahiba Sands dunes
The Canvas Club team sent us off with smiles, cookies, and lots of cold drinks for our drive to Jabal Akhdar. Ali even sprinted across the dunes to catch us on our way out and give us a sweater that we accidentally left behind. Thank you Canvas Club Oman for making our Arabian night everything we dreamed it would be and more! True story- we were ALL singing “Arabian Nights” long after driving off from our luxury desert camp. Now if we could just find a magic carpet to take us back whenever we want. 😉
For help deciding where to stay in Oman after you leave the desert, check out our reviews of other luxury Oman resorts we’ve visited including The Chedi Muscat, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, and Grand Hyatt Muscat. You can make your glamping booking on its own or Canvas Club can arrange a tour of Oman including stays at the best hotels in Oman, including these and more. Make sure to check out our post about must-visit Oman sights to include on your Oman itinerary.
**Disclosure- we were hosted by Canvas Club but all opinions are our own.
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