Mystical charm of Salalah
A Bahrain-based adventurer and overlander has added another feather to his wanderlust hat this summer by completing a 'soul-stirring' expedition to Oman.
V Krishna Das, an Indian expatriate and business development manager, clocked in 4,500km in five days, exploring the beauty of Salalah.
Overlanding or four-wheel-drive touring is a way of 'self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations' where the journey alone is the principal goal.
'Salalah during the Khareef season is breathtaking with its misty mountains, vibrant greenery and rhythmic pitter-patter of rain,' the 38-year-old told GulfWeekly.
'It felt like stepping into another world. Oman stands apart from other Gulf countries with its raw, untouched beauty. While cities like Dubai and Doha dazzle with modernity, Salalah offers a serene, almost mystical charm,' he added.
'Traversing the shifting terrains of Saudi Arabia and the UAE before entering Oman felt like peeling back the layers of the Gulf's diverse geography, but it was Salalah that truly stole the show.'
Some of the places he covered during this trip were Ittin mountain, a scenic area with winding roads, foggy vistas, and cosy cafés nestled in the hills; Sheeheet sinkhole, a hidden gem and geological wonder in Dhofar region, boasting dramatic rock formations, and Marneef Cave and Blowholes where seawater shoots up when the tide is high.
'The landscape is so diverse in Oman and over 2,000km of driving revealed stunning contrasts – from golden desert dunes to fog-draped cliffs,' he recalled.
'Driving through the Rub'al Khali desert was an unforgettable experience. The vastness of this sandy expanse, with its endless horizon and shimmering dunes, was both humbling and awe-inspiring.
'On my visit to Ittin, I stayed in my car, surrounded by deep mist. There was zero visibility and nonstop rain, which was surreal – like being wrapped in nature's quiet embrace,' he added, talking about the highlights of the trip.
Despite the excitement, Krishna found navigating the mountains through heavy fog and rain quite challenging.
'I relied heavily on offline maps and pre-planned fuel stops, especially in remote stretches. Staying flexible with my itinerary helped me adapt to weather delays and changing road conditions,' he explained.
The adrenaline junkie, who has been living in Bahrain for 17 years with wife Soja and children, Veena, eight, and Advaith, three, started overlanding in 2014. He and his friend Pramod Ramachandran covered eight countries in the region over six days in a Mitsubishi Pajero. Since then, he has switched to travelling alone as he feels it helps him connect with his surroundings better.
So far, he has visited several countries, including Yemen, Türkiye, Malaysia and Thailand, which are recorded on his YouTube channel @Das_VK_Vlogs.
Krishna hopes to revisit Oman and experience the 'warmth and hospitality' of the Omani people once again.
'The people were so nice, especially in the smaller villages, which added a deeply personal touch to the adventure. Their kindness and quiet pride in their heritage were truly moving,' he said.
'I would like to thank Noushad Rawther, who guided me to all these incredible spots. His support made this journey more memorable,' he added.
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Gulf Weekly
14 hours ago
- Gulf Weekly
Mystical charm of Salalah
melissa@ A Bahrain-based adventurer and overlander has added another feather to his wanderlust hat this summer by completing a 'soul-stirring' expedition to Oman. V Krishna Das, an Indian expatriate and business development manager, clocked in 4,500km in five days, exploring the beauty of Salalah. Overlanding or four-wheel-drive touring is a way of 'self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations' where the journey alone is the principal goal. 'Salalah during the Khareef season is breathtaking with its misty mountains, vibrant greenery and rhythmic pitter-patter of rain,' the 38-year-old told GulfWeekly. 'It felt like stepping into another world. Oman stands apart from other Gulf countries with its raw, untouched beauty. While cities like Dubai and Doha dazzle with modernity, Salalah offers a serene, almost mystical charm,' he added. 'Traversing the shifting terrains of Saudi Arabia and the UAE before entering Oman felt like peeling back the layers of the Gulf's diverse geography, but it was Salalah that truly stole the show.' Some of the places he covered during this trip were Ittin mountain, a scenic area with winding roads, foggy vistas, and cosy cafés nestled in the hills; Sheeheet sinkhole, a hidden gem and geological wonder in Dhofar region, boasting dramatic rock formations, and Marneef Cave and Blowholes where seawater shoots up when the tide is high. 'The landscape is so diverse in Oman and over 2,000km of driving revealed stunning contrasts – from golden desert dunes to fog-draped cliffs,' he recalled. 'Driving through the Rub'al Khali desert was an unforgettable experience. The vastness of this sandy expanse, with its endless horizon and shimmering dunes, was both humbling and awe-inspiring. 'On my visit to Ittin, I stayed in my car, surrounded by deep mist. There was zero visibility and nonstop rain, which was surreal – like being wrapped in nature's quiet embrace,' he added, talking about the highlights of the trip. Despite the excitement, Krishna found navigating the mountains through heavy fog and rain quite challenging. 'I relied heavily on offline maps and pre-planned fuel stops, especially in remote stretches. Staying flexible with my itinerary helped me adapt to weather delays and changing road conditions,' he explained. The adrenaline junkie, who has been living in Bahrain for 17 years with wife Soja and children, Veena, eight, and Advaith, three, started overlanding in 2014. He and his friend Pramod Ramachandran covered eight countries in the region over six days in a Mitsubishi Pajero. Since then, he has switched to travelling alone as he feels it helps him connect with his surroundings better. So far, he has visited several countries, including Yemen, Türkiye, Malaysia and Thailand, which are recorded on his YouTube channel @Das_VK_Vlogs. Krishna hopes to revisit Oman and experience the 'warmth and hospitality' of the Omani people once again. 'The people were so nice, especially in the smaller villages, which added a deeply personal touch to the adventure. Their kindness and quiet pride in their heritage were truly moving,' he said. 'I would like to thank Noushad Rawther, who guided me to all these incredible spots. His support made this journey more memorable,' he added.
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