7 Night Treasures of the Arabian Gulf Cruise from Muscat

Unlike neighbouring metropolises, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman has chosen to ban towers and skyscrapers and to cultivate the peninsula's traditional and refined architectural style: low houses, domes, moucharaby windows, and wooden balconies. This authenticity adds to the charm of this small, formerly maritime city, protected by mountains and the forts constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. There is no doubt that you will fall under the charm of the treasures of Omani craftsmanship: the souk in the old district of Mutrah is a perfect example of this, as is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

Built on either side of a lagoon, Sur is a city and seaport in the north-east of the Sultanate of Oman on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. Connected to the sea by a channel, the port was very active for a long time, having regular dealings with Africa and India since the 6th century. Sur is renowned for being the only Omani city to have retained its traditional boatyards, where dhows (wooden sailing ships) are hand-crafted. The city's charm stems from its immaculate white houses dotting the seafront and from its fort erected on a hill along the road to Muscat.

Set atop the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman, the Dimaniyat Islands have been a nature reserve since the 1980s. Some forty kilometers (25 miles) off the coast from Muscat, the Omani capital, their craggy coastlines form natural pools home to an incredible biodiversity. The different types of coral reefs that dot this ecosystem, the turtles that nest there, and the numerous species of fish make this an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. This rocky landscape is also the favorite spot of many birds, both endemic and migratory.

Located in the country's north, on the Musandam Peninsula, Khasab is a city in the Sultanate of Oman. In the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, this small port built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and surrounded by a chain of rocky mountains was established at the mouth of Wadi Khasab. You will love its authentic scenery and particularly its fjords, which cut through the landscapes in a spectacular fashion and have earned it the moniker "Norway of Arabia". In the city, Khasab Castle and its atypical architecture are well worth a visit to discover the history and culture of Oman.

Vertiginous, excessive, immoderate... Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, stands out for its architectural follies, being home to the world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, with a total height of 828 metres, almost three times that of the Eiffel Tower. The city is also famous for the gigantic scale of the Palm Islands, artificial islands in the form of a palm tree. You can explore more traditional districts not far away, with visits to the souks of Deira or the Gold Souk. Or perhaps you would prefer to discover Dubai Museum: located in an 18th-century fort, it tells the city's history from Antiquity to the present day.

The political capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi stands out thanks to its exceptional cultural offering. In the Saadiyat Island district, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel as a museum town inspired by traditional Arab architecture, creates a dialogue between objects and works from civilisations from all over the world around the great universal questions. A little further, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque boasts a sumptuous decor of marble, gold, and glass. Abu Dhabi is also the gateway to the Al Ain oasis and its 150,000 date palms, a remarkable testimony to the settling of nomads in the region since Neolithic times, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the banks of the Persian Gulf, discover Doha, the capital of Qatar. Rising out of the desert, the city has managed to maintain its traditions in spite of a frantic race for modernity. The cliff bordering Doha Bay has magnificent views over the city centre's enormous constructions. The silhouette of the Museum of Islamic Art rises up near the quays, where the region's typical sailboats, known as dhows, are docked. This "fortress", designed by Ming Pei, the architect of the Louvre pyramid, is home to the finest collections of Islamic art in the world. Not far, the lively district of Souq Waqif and its colourful stalls are also an unmissable visit.