Posted by John Concrane on January 21, 2020 in Travel
Dubai Musandam trip: The Strait of Hormuz, a water body separating Oman from Iran, is one of the world’s busiest strait with nearly 20-30 tankers and ships traversing everyday. There are magnificent islands and rocky formations that make the place extremely scenic. Among other things to do in Musandam, make sure you savour a cruise on a traditional dhow boat. Tourists can take a day or a night cruise too. They sail from the port in Musandam to small villages like Nadifi, Qanah, and Maqlab. These cruises are a perfect way to admire the ancient houses and the local culture and lifestyle of the fishermen. There’s also a cruise that takes you to the Telegraph Island. In the Khor Shem Fjords, stop to admire rock formations that resemble wild animals. Avid bird-watchers can spend some time at Bird Island. Dolphin watching is a favourite amongst tourists.
There are several beaches in Musandam where visitors can enjoy golden sand, crystal turquoise waters and beautiful sea creatures and birds. However, the Khasab beach is the most beautiful of the Musandam Governorate. Visitors can enjoy a day on the stunning beach, go for a swim in the refreshing waters, take a boat trip, or even plan to camp for a night on the incredible beach. A day at the Khasab beach must be included in a visit to Musandam.
Two different kinds of dolphins pay a visit to the Musandam waters every now and then. These are the Humpback dolphins (Sousa Chinensis), and the Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus). The best way to meet with these dolphins and get to know them is to take a boat ride. The dolphins are friendly and curious and will come and say hello to your boat. Here’s some great news for adrenalin junkies. If you’re thinking Musandam is just for beach lovers, think again. It’s one of the best-known destinations in Oman for paragliding and parasailing. When you’re up at that height, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the beaches, valleys, bays, mountains and more. Get your straps on and take off from the Zighy Mountain, from a height of 1,000-feet above the ground. Glide over the pristine bay and enjoy the incredible views all around.
The 28km (17-mile) coastal road from Khasab to Bukha is Musandam’s only surfaced connection with the outside world, a spectacular feat of engineering which winds dramatically around the sea cliffs and khawrs of the coast. The first few miles out of Khasab are particularly fine, blasted out of the feet of the mountains around Khawr Qida and revealing vivid bands of sedimentary layering. On the far side of the bay, Wadi Tawi has petroglyphs featuring camels, sheep and hunters pecked into the rocks. From here the road climbs up to the village of Al Harf at the highest point of the ridge, offering spectacular views over the Strait of Hormuz – on a clear day you can see Iran. It is another 12km (7 miles) or so from here to the quiet town of Bukha, home to an impressive seafront fort. Find additional info on Musandam Trip Packages.