Paddling along the arid coastline of Oman offers a vivid perspective on a region defined by its contrasts — towering deserts, vibrant seas, and human ingenuity in the face of challenging conditions. The Arabian Peninsula’s harsh climate, with summers soaring beyond 40 degrees Celsius and the absence of permanent rivers, has long shaped how people live, work, and move across the landscape. Yet this is also a place of deep maritime history: for centuries, Omanis harnessed monsoon winds to trade dried fish, frankincense, and other goods across the Indian Ocean, linking their communities to far-flung ports from Zanzibar to the Orient. Today, as I kayak past turtle nesting grounds and through waters that remain lively but diminished, I encounter both the ecological richness of this coast and the resilience of the Bedouin traditions that endure — rising before dawn, resting at midday, and treating every patch of shade as a precious resource in a land ruled by the sun.
