Fazayah Beach

Fazayah is a series of coves west of Al Mughsail where the escarpment drops to the sea, reached by turning off the coast road and descending a steep unsealed track cut into the cliff, which is why the beaches below are usually close to empty. The sand is pale, the water clear, and rock stacks stand offshore. A few fishermen work from the shore and there is a small settlement. Camping on the beaches is the usual way to stay, and turtles nest here. Facilities are nonexistent. The track is the whole difficulty: steep, loose in places, and requiring four-wheel drive and some confidence, and it should not be attempted in a saloon car.

What you actually see

• The empty coves - the string of beaches below the escarpment.
• Rock stacks - the formations standing offshore.
• The descent track - the steep cut route down the cliff.
• Fishing activity - the small-scale fishing from the shore.

When to go

October to April for calm sea and safe swimming; the khareef from June to September brings rough water, mist and a dangerous track. Camping is the usual way to stay overnight.

Honest expectations

The track down is steep and demands four-wheel drive and experience; vehicles get stuck regularly. There are no facilities, water or shade. Currents are strong and there are no lifeguards. Litter from campers is an increasing problem.

Nearby

Al Mughsail lies east; the Yemeni border is west.