Oman

some of the best ones are conveniently located in Muscat and date back to the 16 ^th century. Visit the magnificent Bahla Fort. With 7 miles of walls, it was built in the 13 ^th and 14 ^th centuries to protect Bahla which was a thriving oasis town at the time. The forts of Al Hazm and Nakhal are some of the best preserved forts in the country and can easily be explored on a day trip from Muscat. While in Muscat, you can visit the spectacular Grand Mosque with the second largest hand-loomed carpet in the world. Experience sensory overload in the frenetic Mattrah Souk; get lost in the maze-like alleyways with its heady scents of frankincense, jasmine and spices.

Surprisingly, Oman is a large breeding ground for sea turtles with the most leatherbacks in the world. You can do a night tour in the fishing village of Ras al-Jinz where you can see the turtles nesting at the Turtle Reserve. A few hours out of Muscat is Wadi Shab a beautiful valley with lush palm trees, glistening emerald-green rock pools, rocky canyons, cascading waterfalls and caves to explore.