Advertisement

Is this fantastically luxurious hotel in Oman set to star in the next series of BBC Two's Amazing Hotels?

Amazing Hotels presenter Giles Coren has hinted on social media that the next series will feature an episode on Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort in Oman.
Amazing Hotels presenter Giles Coren has hinted on social media that the next series will feature an episode on Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort in Oman.

As Giles Coren and Monica Galetti continue their journey across the globe, seeking out extraordinary properties for the second series of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, so too does social media's attempts to second-guess their every move.

So far we have deduced from various tweets and Instagram posts that the upcoming series will be taking us to The Brando, a luxurious tropical island retreat in French Polynesia, and Schauenstein Schloss, a three-star Michelin restaurant-with-rooms in the Swiss Alps.

In fact, the Amazing Hotels team appears to have realised that the intrepid presenters have been giving the game away, as suggested by this tweet from Coren:

Dutifully, of course, we have taken a look at the Times food critic's social media accounts and have indeed discovered an Instagram Story, taken in an apparently Middle Eastern setting.

"Off to breakfast now in my undisclosed location," he says, before panning the camera 360-degrees, all the while singing: "It's an undisclosed location/no-one gives a s*** anyway," to the melody of 'Tis the Season to be Jolly.

However, his location is seemingly disclosed by a distinctive turret-like structure in the background, which appears to place him at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort in Oman.

It would make a fitting inclusion. The hotel is perched amidst sensational mountain scenery, 6,500ft high on the Saiq Plateau of Jabal Ahkdar (Green Mountain) and close to the ancient city of Nizwa.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
Anantara al Jabar's exterior: the distinctive tower on the right appears to feature in Giles Coren's Instagram Story.

The 50 greatest hotels in the world

Several of the 82 guest villas come with private balconies and infinity pools, not to mention striking views over the peaks and canyons of the Hajar Mountains.

Perhaps it's a coincidence, but a second Instagram Story from Coren shows him in just such a pool, with a glimpse of mountainous scenery in the background. He tunefully suggests he's in Scotland or Ireland, but the bright sunshine and arid landscape suggest otherwise.

But aside from the remarkable vistas, it's the activities menu that makes Anantara al Jabal stand out: guided hikes, mountain biking, abseiling, archery and sunset yoga are all on offer, as are a number of cultural experiences, including a tour of Nizwa souk with a local chef, followed by a class in Omani cooking.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
A number of Anantara's guest villas come with private infinity pools.

The world's best hotels for spa breaks

It's also notable for its spa, Himalayan salt steam room, aroma-infused sauna, experience showers, and a vitality pool. It also offers several signature treatments, such as the Rose Rescue Ritual and the Revitalising Pomegranate Journey.

This may be all be a bit of mischievous misdirection. After all, the equally lavish Alila Jabal Akhdar is just a 30-minute drive away, and is certainly worthy of an episode in its own right.

In either case, it will be the first Middle Eastern hotel to feature on the programme, which, in its first season, covered such incredible properties as Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Giraffe Manor in Kenya, Royal Mansour in Marrakech and Icehotel in Lapland.