My visit to Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Instant appeal

The hotel is run very sustainably, without forfeiting any degree of luxury or comfort. The hotel is built in the style of an Omani village using natural materials such as clay, wood and bamboo. Sand paths zig-zag between the villa’s, lined by clay pots and date trees. There is a shop selling products made by Omani widows, and part of the hotel profits go to a children’s project. Local inhabitants have been granted new housing as a gesture of thanks for using the land.

The hotel is as self-sufficient as it can be. Fruit and vegetables are grown in the organic gardens, a water purifier produces drinking water and there are solar panels to generate power. Paper is used instead of plastic, and guests are kindly asked to take away their plastic bottles with them, as there is no facility available to recycle these.

What surprised you?

The service! Staff is so friendly and hospitable – beyond anything I’ve known. Each villa has a private butler and the villa is cleaned thoroughly twice a day and prepared for the evening. The level of service really deserves a six star rating! Other details that makes your stay so special are the espresso machine with milk frother and a kettle for tea. There is Italian coffee and tea from Sri Lanka; fresh milk is in the fridge. Lot’s of items at the breakfast buffet are home made, such as the stewed apple and lavender jam, Goji berry juice and Arabic scrambled egg (my personal favourite). Other features include a wine fridge, weekly open-air cinema screenings on the beach under the stars, yoga on a platform overlooking the sea and a large salt water pool with three times the salt concentration of the sea and extremely good for your skin.

The spa and spa programme

The resort has a Six Senses spa, with the same touches as the rest of the resort. On entering, I recognise the familiar Six Senses aroma. The spa is also detail-focused: massages begin with warm towels on your feet and back. They end with respectful silence. What is most clear is the skill of the masseurs, who come from all over the world and are experts in their profession.

The resort also has a weekly activity schedule, covering everything from yoga, high tea and a tour of the organic garden to kayaking. Our wellness guests can complimentary enjoy those activities in the wellness center, such as yoga and Pilates. Bear in mind this is an Arabic country and men and women have separate use of the Finnish sauna and steam room. A brand new hamam is currently being built and is due to be completed by January 2014. Top tip: book a personal training session with Daniel, who is determined to get you fit and well again!

Room for improvement?

This is a tough one… Every last detail has been covered off. If I could change one thing, I suppose it would be the price – it is still not a cheap place. Then again, you get what you pay for, and much more in the six star services. The yoga classes could be more frequent, (currently three mornings and two evenings per week) but this is being addressed by management. During summer months, the heat makes outdoor yoga almost impossible on the platform. Morning walks during winter are being considered as an addition to the activity schedule

Top tips

1. Book a table at the fantastic Sense of the Edge restaurant. From the top of a mountain, this restaurant offers unforgettable views of the ocean. The restaurant is open three days a week and gets booked up quickly, so book in advance prior to your stay.
2. Bedouin evenings are hosted once a week on the beach. An array of Arabic specialities is served on low tables and benches. The evening is well worth the additional fee.
3. Book a snorkelling session in the Zighy Bay. You’ll catch tortoises, beautiful fish and coral: a perfect snorkelling and diving destination.
4. Combine Oman with a visit to Dubai. Oman’s calm and relaxing atmosphere contrasts starkly with the ‘anything goes’ attitude in Dubai. Visas to Oman are free when travelling out of Dubai.