As summer turns to winter and the seasons pass, Salalah oscillates between bursts of verdant greenery and the dust-clad desert lands more often associated with Oman. It’s a curious natural phenomena that sees monsoon clouds from India lift off the Arabian Sea and shower day upon day of life-bringing freshwater on the arid landscape of karsts, cliffs and hoodoos that dominates this enclave on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. That means this Omani city brings a taste of the tropics, with papayas and mangos packing the cafes and restaurants, beaches situated in the shadow of mist-topped coastal mountains and camels wandering curiously between the lush pastures of the backcountry. What’s more, the city itself retains a perennial punch of culture, fusing the Arabesque and the African in a burst of bazaars laden with spices, oils and intricate hand carvings, palaces peppered with palms and souqs doused in the scents of saffron and dates. Salalah tour guides are also quick to highlight the region’s fantastic sands and diving spots, which are arguably some of the finest in all of Arabia.