(NEWS) DHOFAR, Oman, 2026-Aug-21 — /Travel PR News/ — Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is introducing a limited helicopter programme that gives guests a new way to experience Dhofar, one of Oman’s most distinctive natural and cultural regions.
The resort has partnered with Al Sharqiya Aviation, Oman’s first commercial helicopter service provider, to offer scenic flights over Salalah’s coastline, mountains, waterfalls and heritage landmarks.
According to details released by Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, the programme will be available for only four days, from 3 to 6 September 2026. Guests will be able to book either private charters or shared flights, making the experience suitable for couples, families and small groups.
The timing is central to the offer. The flights take place as Dhofar moves from the Khareef monsoon season into the locally known Al Sarb period. During this transition, the green landscapes left by the monsoon remain visible across the mountains and wadis, while the mist begins to lift and coastal views become clearer.
For travellers, that makes early September one of the more atmospheric moments to see Salalah from above. The region’s contrast is unusually dramatic: coconut-fringed beaches, freshwater lagoons, green plains, limestone escarpments and seasonal waterfalls all sitting within a short distance of one another.
The flights depart from a designated area at the resort, allowing guests to move directly from the property into the aerial experience. From take-off, the route passes over the beach and lagoon before opening out over Dhofar’s wider landscape.
The shorter option is the 15-minute Western Panoramic Flight, which follows Salalah’s western horizon from Al Haffa Beach towards Salalah Port, Khor Waterfall, Atin Plain and Ain Jarziz. The experience is priced at OMR 250 for a private charter carrying up to eight passengers, or OMR 42 per person on a shared flight.
The longer option is the 30-minute Coast and Mountains Panoramic Flight, which explores more of Dhofar’s coastal and inland scenery. The route includes views of Taqah, the ancient ruins of Samharam, the waterfalls of Wadi Darbat, Ain Sahalnoot and Ain Jarziz. It is priced at OMR 500 for a private charter carrying up to eight passengers, or OMR 85 per person on a shared flight.
Andrea Orru, General Manager of Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, said Dhofar is a destination that rewards perspective. He described the partnership with Al Sharqiya Aviation as a way to combine rare access with a deeper sense of place, allowing guests to see the coastline, mountains, waterfalls and ancient landscapes unfold from above.
The resort itself is closely tied to that sense of place. Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara sits beside Al Baleed Archaeological Park and the Museum of the Land of Frankincense, placing guests near one of the region’s key heritage settings.
Between excursions, guests have access to a 250-metre private beach, an infinity pool, a freshwater lagoon, Anantara Spa and the resort’s dining venues. The setting gives the helicopter programme a natural base, with the flight acting as one part of a wider stay built around landscape, history and relaxation.
For travellers wishing to stay at the resort during the programme, the Best Flexible Rate starts from OMR 168 per night and includes accommodation, daily breakfast and free cancellation up to two days before arrival.
Guests booking direct also receive additional privileges depending on their accommodation category. Room and suite stays include spa and dining credits, while selected villa bookings include resort credit, a complimentary extra bed for one child, and early check-in and late check-out subject to availability. Beach Pool Villa and Three Bedroom Royal Beach Pool Villa stays include further benefits such as a complimentary 60-minute spa treatment for two and afternoon high tea for two per stay.
The helicopter journeys are booked separately, allowing guests to shape the experience around their preferred route and flight style.
Advance reservations are required, and flight schedules, routes and durations remain subject to availability, weather conditions, aviation regulations and operational clearance. Shared flights are also subject to passenger availability and operational confirmation.
For Anantara, the partnership reflects the brand’s destination-led approach to luxury hospitality. Rather than treating Salalah only as a beach resort location, the programme places Dhofar’s wider geography at the centre of the guest experience.
For visitors, the appeal lies in seeing a familiar destination from an unfamiliar angle. From above, Salalah becomes more than a coastal retreat. It becomes a landscape of beaches, ruins, escarpments, waterfalls and seasonal green valleys — a rare view of southern Oman at one of its most visually compelling times of year.
