Wahiba Sands

"Stretching 125 miles from the eastern Hajar Mountains to the Arabian Sea, and known variously as Shariqiyah or Wahiba Sands. These are the deep golden sands dunes of children’s picture books. The dunes run north to south in unexpectedly regular valleys. Reaching heights of up to 100m, the dunes are highest towards the east, close to the ocean, and get lower the further west you are. The southern dunes are particularly treacherous, with numerous salt flats. The dunes move constantly thanks to the wind – by as much as 10m per year. Fairly permanent tracks run down the valleys between the dunes, with a regular flow of tourists and locals ensuring they remain quite well compacted."