Khasab is a port city on Northern Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Khasab is located close to UAE border at about 200km from Dubai. From Khasab harbor, ancient styled wooden boats named as “Dhow”(Arabic word for wooden boats) cruises the Strait of Hormuz, offering rugged coastal views surrounded by rocky mountains and dolphins sightings in ocean. Let’s go for Long weekend getaway to Khasab(Oman) from Dubai.
Musandam Peninsula has an enchanting Fjords or Khors, created by fragmented rocks stretching like a claw into sea and huge cliffs standing besides are splendidly reflected in the blue waters of Strait of Hormuz.
The coast which meets Strait of Hormuz extends some 600 kms. These stunning Fjords have been named as “The Norway of Arabia”. Musandam area is divided into four parts – 1.) Khasab ( we stayed in Khasab)
2.) Bhuka
3.) Dibba
4.) Mudha.
10 Things to do in Khasab Musandam | Weekend trip to Oman from Dubai
1.) Dhow cruise Trip to Musandam Fjords- One full day tour by Dhow through a traditional Omani decorated dhow where visitors are comfortably seated on the floor on cushions and carpets. Visitors are given the opportunity to find the ancient towns and snorkel the waters of Telegraph Island & Seepi Island, going to Khor Shem, Qanaha & Maqlab along the way. Also, dhow stops at dolphin sighting view in the middle of the sea where dolphins come along with us. Buffet lunch and refreshments are served on board. Snorkeling gear and towels are provided on board. Timings of Cruise:- 10: A.M. TO 4:00P.M.
2.) Camping in Musandam Beach- People take camping stuff and do overnight camping on the beach beside sea and mountains. People take their caravans also.
3.) Overnight staying at Dhow cruise under moon-light to enjoy nights in the sea surrounded by cliffs. Dinner and breakfast provided onboard.
4.) Mountain Safari to top of Fjords – You will need a 4 X 4 vehicle for this to reach Jebel Harim which offers a most beautiful view from the top at 2087m above ocean level. Visitors enjoy the beautiful views of the Hajar Mountains.
5.) Snorkeling & Swimming in Clear Waters- Dhow Cruise stops in the middle of the sea for an hour and offers snorkeling and swimming in between the sea.
6.) Natural Dolphin Watching along the Dhow Boat-
7.) Banana Boat ride, Local Beach Access with seagulls – Local beach of Khasab is good for beach lovers and can access water sports.
8.) Kayaking and Fishing- There are many fishing points in Khasab area. Also, lots of Kayaks can enjoy kayaking.
9.) Khasab City Tour – A Very small city on the borders of UAE & Oman with local Arabic Culture and a small fort in Portuguese style.
10.) Trekking – Explore the Mountains of Musandam. From the top of the mountains have stunning views of the Gulf of Arabia and the Gulf of Oman. On top of the mountains, camping can also be done. Many people lay down their tents and stay here.
Nearest International Airports – Dubai in UAE and Muscat(Oman)
From Dubai it takes around 4 hours to reach here covering a distance of around 200kms by road.
Read more about visa and other practicalities for Musandam Trip Oman by clicking here.
Between UAE and Oman border there is a checkpoint at the border where our visa and passports are checked. Read more about 7 reasons to love Oman. Sometimes it takes a lot of time because of the huge rush on long weekends, so it is better to start early from Dubai so that Queue can be avoided. This place is favorite from UAE for day trips and long weekend trips. Check visa formalities on Oman official site or go for an online visa before going. Driving after crossing the border to the Khasab city is very scenic. If you are spending a week in Oman, then check this Oman itinerary for a one week trip.
After reaching to Khasab we stayed in local 4-star hotel Atana Khasab hotel offering the views of the sea with mountains and swimming pool. Many rooms are facing the sea and many facing only mountains. Hotel is located on the rocks facing the sea. It offers professional diving course also with professional instructors. Parking is free in the hotel. Check below deals on many other stays in Khasab(Oman).
Booking.com
Currency – Omani Rial
Food – Arabic and Continental
Atana Khasab hotel arranges cruise service and mountain safaris. These services pick up from a hotel and drop also. Oman is a great place for photography.
Muscat is the capital city of Oman and it is also worth visiting a place. Read about what to do and see in Muscat.
Read about Complete Guide to Oman by clicking this
Thanks for reading… Love traveling……Love ADVENTURES………
Coming soon with new experiences.
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Khasab is attraction for the tourist from UAE and visitors across the world. Its crystal clear water, mighty mountains and un-spoilt beaches are a great destination for many tourists.
Khasab Musandam does look quite spectacular. I particularly like the photographs where the dull grey of the desert is contrasted against the deep blue of the ocean.
The place is awesome in mostly in adventurous one and they love mountains ., Those view in the top of it was breath taking ..
Oman is really high on my list of places to get to – and I’ll def be keeping this guide in mind for when we do actually make it there! 🙂
Yes, Shelley, Oman is really worth visiting
Thanks for the information. I am always looking at something different to do from Dubai and this would be perfect. I am glad that you included visa tips etc, that really helps when planning.
What a fantastic blog, Yukti! Would you recommend booking the tours via the hotel or separately on our own? Also, whats better – in person booking, when one gets there, or booking online whilst here..
I took guided dhow tours from hotel as they have nice and affordable tours which are reliable also. You can check online ones also and if they have good rating then go for it. But tour operators have their desk in front reception at hotel too.