Located an hour’s drive east of Salalah, on the shores of Mirbat, Alila Hinu Bay offers a luxurious home base to experience the Dhofar region’s refreshing Khareef monsoon season. Two to three hours by air from the searing heat of the major Gulf cities, the season offers misty drizzles, enchanting waterfalls, fresh green vegetation and a cooler climate for visitors to enjoy.
Set over 45 hectares of pristine beachfront property, with its own natural Lagoon, Alila Hinu Bay’s design draws on influences from its surroundings and Omani culture. The resort’s rooms and villas are situated along the natural contours of the resort, and frame idyllic views of the desert, lagoon or the Arabian Sea.
The one and two-bedroom accommodations have a luxuriously appointed modern aesthetic. The use of local materials, natural palette and floor-to-ceiling windows combine to create a fluid transition between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The resort’s expansive villas include a private pool and outdoor bathtub.
The resort’s Spa Alila, situated within a standalone building, is enveloped by the musky, woody scent of frankincense. Made from the resin of the hardy Boswellia tree, frankincense has been prized for its healing properties since the time of the ancient Egyptians. The finest frankincense, known as the hojari, comes from the unique microclimate of Oman’s Dhofar Mountains, and the city of Mirbat was once a prominent incense trading post.
The spa’s 150-minute ‘Timeless Frankincense Signature Escape’ treatment incorporates hojari frankincense with deliberately slow strokes to promote deep relaxation and stimulate circulation. In addition to other treatments, guests have the flexibility of designing bespoke treatments according to one’s personal needs and preferences after consulting with the in-house therapists. After the treatment, guests can unwind further in the steam room, and refresh in the outdoor spa pool. Guests can also indulge in yoga or meditation classes.
The resort boasts two signature restaurants. Seasalt serves Southeast Asian cuisine, while The Orchard offers a menu inspired by the Frankincense Route. It features dishes from Oman through the Arabian Peninsula all the way to the Mediterranean, and an array of international specialities made with locally sourced ingredients.
Couples can also opt for a bespoke outdoor dinner at the resort’s SeaSalt Beach. This romantic dining experience under a starlit sky, serenaded by the gentle breeze, offers Omani, Asian or International dishes, specially prepared by the chef. The resort offers other bespoke cultural, dining and wellness experiences arranged by the resort’s Leisure Concierge team.
Guests of Alila Hinu Bay can admire the scenic landscapes of the resort’s vicinity while paddling across the calm waters of the adjacent lagoon. Family-friendly activities include clay art, mountain bike rides, searching for seashells along the shoreline or flying kites, among others. The Kid’s Club offers a range of weekly activities to keep the young ones occupied.
Not far from the resort, nestled among the nearby mountains, is the lush Wadi Darbat. Ranked among the most beautiful in Oman, the wadi has Darbat Lake situated at its heart, along with the nearby cascading waterfalls and caves. The lake offers short boat rides while its shoreline is the perfect setting for one of Alila Hinu Bay’s signature picnics.
The spectacular cliff face at the peak of Jabal Samhan stands at 1800 meters above sea level, and descends towards the coast by Wadi Hinna. The natural phenomenon of the ‘antigravity road’ is one not to be missed. These are just some of the nature-filled excursions that visitors to Dhofar can experience this Khareef season and beyond.
