Oman

I had the choice or arriving at the resort in a 4×4 or on a paraglider from the adjacent mountain top, or by speedboat from a nearby harbour. From the ‘photos the mountain looked far to steep for a 4×4, and I had too much luggage to strap to my back on a paraglider so I opted to arrive by ‘speedboat’. I put the word in inverted commas, because I was expecting a 400hp powerboat, and got a 100hp pleasure cruiser. Still, it was a pleasant way to arrive, although not quite the ‘James Bond’ style of entrance I was anticipating…..

On entering the Six Senses resort I was struck by an amazing sense of déja-vu. It was eerily like Soneva Fushi on the Maldives where I stayed two weeks ago, but modelled on an oasis in the desert instead of a tropical island.

In fact it turned out not to be a coincidence. The founder of the Six Senses group was Sonu Shivdsani. When he first visited the island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives in 1994 with his new wife, model Eva Malmstrom, they fell in love with it and bought the island (as you do…). On it he built the Soneva Fushi resort, and many of Soneva Fushi’s unique design elements were incorporated into Six Senses Zighy Bay, which opened in 2008. In 2012 he sold his interest in the Six Senses group to Pegasus Capital to concentrate on the Soneva brand.

My villa

: Villa 53

Other than relaxing in unadulterated luxury for a few days, there was little to do other than stroll along the beach and get a massage in the spa – which I have to say was the most painful, and effective, massage I’ve ever had!

But the one thing that I was tempted by was a trip around the bay in a microlight……

On my final night in Oman, and of my fantastic first adventure, I was transported 500 metres up the mountain by 4×4 to dine at what is possibly the best restaurant I have ever been to, Sense on the Edge.