Just two hours from Dubai lies a whole different world. Welcome to the Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman!

I am probably one of the biggest fans of Six Senses. The hotel brand is unique and nothing compares to it. And the Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman fits in seamlessly. In this hotel review, you’ll find out what makes the resort so unique and whether the Six Senses Zighy Bay is the right choice for you.

My Hotel Review of Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

The Location

Where exactly is the Six Senses Zighy Bay located?

The Six Senses Zighy Bay is located south of Oman, on the Musandam Peninsula, an exclave of the country. It is surrounded by the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf of Oman. The region is characterized by rocky mountain deserts where hundreds – if not thousands of goats live and small settlements. The coast line offers some exceptional views thanks to the surrounding mountains.

What’s the best way to reach the Six Senses Zighy Bay?

The easiest way to get to the resort is by car from Dubai. The transfer across the border by private SUV is organized by the resort and was completely hassle-free. It is only important to have your passport with you – Six Senses will take care of all the other formalities.

The drive from Dubai takes just over two hours and is mostly on a well-maintained road. Only the last part of the route leads through a rocky desert, up into the mountains, and ends in a quiet bay surrounded by impressive mountains: Zighy Bay! The location of the Six Senses is unique and incredibly quiet. Only a few locals also live in the bay, otherwise we are only surrounded by a unique landscape.

And now comes a real highlight of the resort: brave visitors can cover the last stretch from the mountain top to the beach at Six Senses Zighy Bay through the air on a paraglider! I opted for the thrill-packed route, together with an experienced paragliding pilot. The views over the landscape and the incredible blue water are beautiful and the feeling of gliding peacefully through the air is indescribable. This was definitely the most memorable hotel check-in I have ever experienced!

The concept of the Six Senses Zighy Bay

A stay at Six Senses Zighy Bay feels like immersing yourself in another world. Both the secluded location and the design of the resort make it seem almost fairytale-like. As usual for all Six Senses resorts, the focus here is on sustainability, wellness and the connection to nature. Care is also taken to incorporate the local culture into the resort. This includes, for example, Arabic dishes, the traditional design of the buildings and close cooperation with the locals.

Sustainability at Six Senses Zighy Bay

There is a recycling station on the resort grounds that recycles, composts or transforms almost all waste into something new. The drinking water for the resort is treated in the resort’s own water treatment plant. There is also a garden where all kinds of herbs, vegetables and fruit are grown. In addition, there are date palms all over the resort, which produce a huge amount of fruit that is harvested and processed at the resort.

The villas at Six Senses Zighy Bay

At Six Senses Zighy Bay there are only villas and all of them have a private pool. We ourselves stayed in a Pool Villa Suite Beachfront. Like all villas, it combines a rustic ambience with comfy luxury. Our private outdoor area offers plenty of space with a large pool and direct views and access to the beach and sea. Another special feature is the traditional majlis – a popular place in the Arab world to sit together, chat and drink tea.

In the villa, you first enter the living room with its own bathroom. This can be converted into a bedroom if more than two people are staying in the villa.

Behind it is the master bedroom with an open bathroom with a bathtub. My favorite thing to do in the morning was to use the outdoor shower, which can be reached from the bedroom. Of course, it is completely secluded for absolute privacy.

Beach & Pool

As the Six Senses Zighy Bay is located in a secluded bay, the resort’s beach is absolutely quiet. There is often not a soul to be seen and you feel like you are on a desert island. The water in the Gulf of Oman is pleasantly warm, the waves are very gentle and the soft sandy beach slopes gently into the water. Ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Although all villas have at least one small swimming pool, the resort also has two additional large swimming pools. The main pool is surrounded by pretty Arabian cabanas, which provide pleasant shade in the midday heat.

There is an additional pool near the beach, which is filled with salt water that is supposed to be good for the skin. Although the salt pool is very nice for photos, we hardly used it as we preferred to swim in the sea. However, it is a good alternative for inexperienced swimmers.

Six Senses Spa

Six Senses Spas are known worldwide and are subject to strict standards. Not only traditional massages are offered here, but also a wide range of holistic wellness treatments that harmonize body, mind and soul.  In the wellness area, there are separate wellness facilities for men and women, which can also be used without a booked treatment: a steam bath, a sauna and even an ice cave. Of course, a hotel in the Arabian region should not miss out on a traditional hammam. The Six Senses Zighy Bay even has two of these special baths, which can be booked with a relaxing wellness treatment. I also think it’s great that you can book multi-day wellness programs with different focuses, which include massages, treatments, consultations, meditations, yoga and much more. I will definitely try this out on my next visit!

Restaurants at the Six Senses Zighy Bay

Spice Market

The food at Six Senses Zighy Bay was excellent without exception. This began in the morning at breakfast in the resort’s main restaurant, the Spice Market, where an extensive breakfast buffet is offered that leaves nothing to be desired. With live cooking stations and an additional menu from which you can order à la carte. The majority of the selection consists of traditional dishes made from local produce as well as Feel Good Wellness Food for a healthy start to the day. 

The Spice Market is also open for dinner and offers an à la carte menu. Once a week, there is a traditional Omani evening where a very special menu is served: A spicy lamb dish that is covered in hot sand for several hours and thus slow-cooked in a very special way. The result is incredibly tender and juicy and is served with saffron rice as well as various dips, side dishes and bread.

Summer House 

The second restaurant at Six Senses Zighy Bay is the Summer House, which is open for lunch and dinner. The menu features Arabic and international dishes, using local produce as much as possible, often from the hotel’s own garden. On warm summer evenings, you can sit on the cozy terrace overlooking the resort and then enjoy a cocktail in the next door Zighy Bar.

Shua Shack

Outside the hot summer months, another restaurant, the Shua Shack, is open directly on the beach. Here you can enjoy Omani delicacies with your feet in the sand or simply a cool drink at sunset. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed during our stay in June due to the heat, so we were unable to try it out for ourselves. However, we hope that we will be able to do so again.

Special Dinner 

Whether a private dinner in the wine cellar or a picnic in the mountains, there are of course also numerous offers for dinners on special occasions, one of which we were able to try out for ourselves on a day trip… more on that in a moment 🙂

Experiences at Six Senses Zighy Bay

A stay at Six Senses Zighy Bay would not be complete without exploring the unique surroundings and fascinating landscape of the Musandam Peninsula. These activities are not to be missed during your stay at Six Senses Zighy Bay:

Jeep Tour with Sunset Picnic

Our jeep tour from the resort through the spectacular landscape was absolutely fantastic! After the midday heat in the afternoon, we started our excursion. The road leads through a breathtaking rocky gorge, where we were able to admire numerous goats and incredible views. During various stops, our guide told us interesting facts about the culture and history of the region. As an absolute highlight, we went to one of the highest points in the mountains, from where we had an incredible view of the sunset. We enjoyed a delicious picnic and non-alcoholic champagne (alcohol is not allowed in Oman outside the resort) while the setting sun colored the landscape in the most beautiful shades of orange and red – a truly magical moment!

Paragliding

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, you can ‘float’ to check-in with a paraglider when you arrive at the resort. However, if you prefer to experience this breathtaking activity on another day, this is also possible! However, you should definitely not miss out on paragliding – it’s an incredible experience!

Dhahab Boat Tour

I will never forget our private day trip in a traditional boat, called a dhahab, along the coast of the Musandam peninsula. I felt like an explorer discovering unknown regions. Gliding slowly on the blue water, surrounded by the beautiful mountain panorama and hearing nothing but the waves in the sea is an incredible feeling. We stopped at a small bay to swim, snorkel and kayak – and had the bay all to ourselves! And the best thing about it: the tour is even offered overnight! The wooden boat offers plenty of space, with luxurious sleeping cabins (even with a bathtub!), a living room and, of course, a kitchen where a chef prepares the private dinner. I can only imagine how incredible the starry sky on the sea must look at night!

When is the best time of year to visit Six Senses Zighy Bay?

In terms of climate, the weather in Musandam is similar to Dubai. Winters are mild, spring and fall are pleasantly warm, while it can get very hot in summer. I therefore recommend choosing a travel period between mid-October and mid-May. We ourselves stayed at Six Senses Zighy Bay in June and the heat often made it very difficult for us, even sunbathing on the beach was almost impossible. Of course, hotel prices are significantly cheaper in the low season, but you will enjoy your stay more outside the summer.

Résumé of my Six Senses Zighy Bay Review

Despite the hot summer weather in June, our stay at Six Senses Zighy Bay was unforgettable thanks to the unique design, incredible service, great food and memorable activities. We definitely want to come back in the spring or fall to see more of Oman and enjoy the Six Senses Zighy Bay in milder temperatures.

Although the Six Senses resorts are always special and unique, the Six Senses Zighy Bay goes one better. I felt like I was in an Arabian fairytale and was able to completely forget about everyday life for a few days. The resort is therefore perfect for anyone who wants to really switch off. A stay here is certainly also a great contrast after a trip to Dubai. Here you can enjoy complete tranquillity, wellness, nature and delicious food after the hustle and bustle of the city.

It certainly wasn’t the last time we stayed at Six Senses Zighy Bay and I fell even more in love with this special hotel brand, which manages to combine luxury and sustainability like no other.

We had a sponsored stay at Six Senses Zighy Bay, which does not affect my opinion or review of the resort.