If you’re looking for a luxurious Middle Eastern escape, look no further. Alila Hinu Bay Resort in Mirbat, Oman is the perfect place to relax and restore. From incredible food to indulgent spa treatments, you won’t even need to venture outside of the hotel to enjoy a blissful holiday, but if you’re looking for a touch of adventure, there’s plenty to explore in this stunning corner of the Omani coast. Alila Hinu Bay is the new sister hotel of the famous Alila Jabal Akhdar, the stunning luxury hotel in the heart of Oman’s Hajjar mountain range. The Hinu Bay resort is still in its soft opening phase but is open to guests and still has that brand-new, undiscovered gem feel!
Set right on the rugged Dhofari coastline, this sleek and modern resort draws colours and textures from its surroundings to create the ultimate Middle Eastern retreat. A far cry from the more-is-more glitz of traditional Khaleeji design, the Alila Hinu Bay is a masterclass in understated luxury, with beautifully minimalist interiors that compliment its serene beachside setting on the shores of the Arabian Sea.
Neutral colours are offset with statement lighting and traditional Omani handicrafts, from baskets woven from palm fronds to terracotta pots and handmade silverware. The rooms are no less beautiful, and always impeccably clean. Choose from pool and lagoon view terrace rooms, or a villa with a private pool and gorgeous outdoor bathtub for the ultimate Omani getaway.
Alila Hinu Bay also boasts a stunning spa, which gleans inspiration from Salalah’s history as the centre of the frankincense trade. Frankincense has been treasured for hundreds of years for its health and beauty benefits, and where better to enjoy them than a spa in the Land of Frankincense! The decadent frankincense oil massage is to die for, and they also offer a range of other massage treatments, manicure services and even meditation classes – it’s a beautifully serene place to relax and unwind.
You can even take home a luxurious reminder of the Land of Frankincense with the frankincense products on offer in the Spa Alila shop, produced with the best quality natural ingredients and including products by Sacra, one of our absolute favourites! Shop Sacra soaps and skin salve in the Pink Jinn Souq!
After your session at the spa, you can hop over to the poolside bar (literally – there are stepping stones) to sip a cocktail in the moonlight before having dinner under the stars. Alila’s on-site restaurant SeaSalt offers a varied Asian-inspired menu, and their second restaurant, The Orchard, will be opening soon with an Omani and Mediterranean menu focusing on locally sourced ingredients. The staff are incredibly friendly, and the next morning they’ll be only too happy to advise you on SeaSalt’s delicious breakfast menu, full of Omani and international options.
Just over an hour’s drive from Salalah Airport, the hotel is the perfect base for a relaxing holiday – far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city to really unwind, but with the sights of Mirbat and Salalah within easy reach! Should you ever tire of lounging by the pool and getting pampered at the spa, plenty of adventure awaits you outside of the hotel.
The Alila staff can help you organise a hiking trip to Wadi Darbat, a stunning valley with waterfalls cascading into clear blue pools. They can also organise a luxurious picnic to round off your trip. You might even spot a hyrax, a little furry creature whose closest relations are elephants and dugongs!
For a dose of history, don’t miss a trip to the sights around Mirbat and the nearby town of Taqah. There’s plenty to explore, from the imposing Mirbat Fort to the Tomb of Bin Ali. We would say that the Alila Hinu Bay is a bit too far from Salalah to explore the town on every day of your trip (it’s about an hour’s drive away). So if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in Salalah itself, you might be better staying at the Alila at the end of your time in Dhofar for some well-earned relaxation after seeing all the sights. You can read our roundup of the best things to do in Salalah here!
If serenity is what you’re after, the hotel also offers sunrise and sunset picnics on the beach, with a picnic basket bursting with Omani and international treats. You can even enjoy a private yoga session while you watch the sunrise! For the energetic among you, the gym at the resort is state-of-the-art.
We adored our time at the Alila Hinu Bay, which was made even better by the atmosphere around the resort – all the staff were so welcoming and helpful. From the cleaning staff to the waiters at the restaurant, and the staff at the spa and reception, everybody was so happy to help with anything we needed. If you’d like to visit, you can book your stay here!
Disclaimer: We were not paid to write this review but were offered a media rate on the basis that we would write about our stay. 🙂
Here’s some more articles to help you plan your trip to Oman!
8 Things To Do In Salalah Outside Of Khareef
Misfat Al Abriyeen: A Peaceful Oasis In Oman’s Hajar Mountains