The Musandam Peninsula

The Musandam Peninsula, a rugged Omani exclave jutting into the Strait of Hormuz at the very tip of Arabia, is often called the Norway of Arabia for its dramatic scenery, where sheer, barren mountains plunge straight into deep, fjord-like sea inlets known as khors. The classic experience is a leisurely cruise aboard a traditional wooden dhow among these spectacular blue inlets, watching for dolphins, snorkelling, and passing remote cliffside fishing villages.

History

In 1507 Afonso de Albuquerque took key points on the Omani coast, among them Sur, Muscat and Khasab, and until 1650 the Portuguese used Khasab as a supply point for the date trade and a safe anchorage for their ships. By the early 1600s local tribes were asserting more control and the Portuguese presence dwindled (Wikipedia, Musandam Peninsula).

Highlights

• The fjord-like khors - the sea inlets between sheer mountains.
• A dhow cruise - the traditional boat trip among the inlets.
• The dolphins - the pods often seen playing around the boats.
• The remote villages - the isolated cliffside fishing settlements.

When to go

October to April for pleasant temperatures and calm seas for the dhow cruises, as summers are extremely hot; the cooler season is ideal for the boat trips and snorkelling. Dolphins are seen year-round.

Good to know

The peninsula is geographically cut off from the rest of Oman by the UAE, so it is reached by a flight from Muscat or, more commonly, an overland trip from Dubai, which involves border crossings. It is remote and low-key, with the dhow cruise the main draw. It is a beautiful, tranquil escape rather than a place of many separate sights.

Nearby

Dubai and the UAE are the usual overland gateway; the rest of Oman is a flight away.

Key facts