Dolphin watching on a dhow boat over the Arabian border in the beautiful, rugged Musandam peninsula. Only a 3-4hour drive from Dubai over the border close to Ras Al Khaimah. Read on for detailed information about a weekend in Musandam.
Location
Musandam is around a 3-3.5hour drive from Dubai, including the border crossing. You will need to cross into Oman at the Ras Al Khaimah border which around 1.5 hours from Dubai. During our trip we had to go in and apply for the visa in person in the border office. However, I do think it is possible to now get a visa online before travel. Going into the office and filling out forms took us around 30minutes in total.
After the border crossing it is around 45minutes to Khasab. It is a spectacular drive alongside the sea with the rugged mountains shadowing the background. A real contrast having come from the city of Dubai, a breath of fresh air glimpsing the natural beauty. There is lots to do on a weekend in Musandam.
Where to Stay
We booked to stay at the Atana Hotel in Khasab. There are only a few hotels in Khasab to choose from but this hotel was perfect for what we wanted. Two double beds, balcony, pool and restaurant with a bar. All we needed for a weekend in Musandam.
Booking.comDolphin Dhow Trip
We did some research online and booked the afternoon Dolphin Khasab Tour which has a trip that runs from 1:30-5:00pm. It is a good idea to leave Dubai early in the morning. This will allow for plenty of time to drive there and check in before the boat.
The dhow boat is pretty big with plenty of cushioned floor seating. We took my Dad who needed assistance getting on and off the boat. The guides were great with him and made sure he had everything he needed.
The weather at the end of April was pretty hot. Nonetheless, once we got out on the water and the breeze arrived it was perfectly comfortable.
The boat cruised through the fjords of Musandam, past the limestone cliffs whilst the guide pointed out ancient villages. It is often referred to as the ‘Norway of Oman’ – we haven’t yet visited Norway but have seen many pictures of the beautiful fjords and can understand the comparisons.
About 40 minutes into the tour the guide started shouting to us to come and look. Playfully swimming alongside the boat, jumping up and down and swimming all around us were 4 or 5 dolphins. Such a magnificent spectacle, a real goose-bump moment to see something so beautiful and natural up close. Throughout the rest of the afternoon we spotted many dolphins at various times swimming along with us and occasionally jumping out of the water.
Snorkelling
We got to Telegraph Island, a remote island which was once a crucial telegraph post for communications between India and Britain. It is said that the phrase ‘going round the bed’ came from soldiers who were stationed on this outpost in the middle of nowhere in the intense heat. However, it was a beautiful spot to stop and go snorkelling.
We saw many fish of bright colours – blues, oranges, pinks and yellows. Plus it was lovely to jump in the freezing water after being in the heat all afternoon.
Shortly after we headed back to the port, spotting a few more dolphins on the way. Drinking in the truly remarkable scenery which we also compared a few times to Halong Bay in Vietnam. A quick drive up the hill back to the Atana Resort and we headed straight to the pool. Finishing our day with a few sundowners watching the sunset and even spotting a few more dolphins on the horizon.
Other Activities in Musandam
There are many other amazing things to do besides the dolphins during a weekend in Musandam.
- A visit to Khasab fort
- Hiking in Jebel Harim
- Explore the wadis – Wadi Shab, Wadi Rawdah and the Rawdah Bowl
- Check out the beaches – Khasab Beach, Bassa Beach, Khor Najd
We will be heading back here again and updating with more travel pictures and detailed information once we have explored further.
If you enjoyed reading A weekend in Musandam have a look at a hiking and camping trip to Dibba also perfect for a weekend in Oman. Additionally, if you are happy to travel a bit further then check out how to spend a weekend in Muscat. Alternatively, here are 7 stunning places in Oman.
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