You must see Musandam at least once: 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.
The Khasab Castle in located in the Province of Khasab, which is the capital of the Musandam Peninsula. It was built by the Portuguese in the 17th-century, when they colonized the Khasab Province, as part of their plan to take control over the Strait of Hormuz, which is the narrow entry to the Arabian Gulf from the Arab Peninsula. Omanis used it when they were battling the Portuguese out of their country in 1624. Then, it was used as the house of the Walli (the governor of Khasab), and as a prison.
Musandam Oman is home to many beaches strewn with golden sands and blessed with crystal clear turquoise waters. The marine life is rich and varied which makes this place a welcome haven for divers and snorkelers. Enjoy swimming, water sports and beach bumming on the stunning beach or go boating if you will. You can even camp for the night in any of Khasab’s golden beaches. Visit the Wilayat Khasab wadi, and check out the site where the Jebel Hareem Fossils were found. These are fossils of fishes and other marine animals that are 250 million years old! Wadi Shab and Wadi Rawdha have canyons with water flowing around them; try your hand at cliff jumping, canoeing, and swimming.
Khasab is the starting point for dhow cruises down the wonderful Khawr Sham, the biggest fjord in Musandam, ringed with the craggy red-rock mountains. Half a dozen tiny villages lie dotted around the khawr, accessible only by boat. You’re also likely to see pods of dolphins frolicking around the khawr, chasing boats for fun. Halfway down the khawr lies the rocky little Jazirat Telegraph (Telegraph Island), named after the telegraph station established here by the British in 1864 along the route of the London-to-Bombay submarine telegraph cable. The foundations of the old British buildings can still be seen, and the island is a popular destination on dhow cruises. Discover more information at Musandam Trip Packages.
