Wahiba Sands: Oman’s Favorite Desert Holiday Destination

It is a world of rolling sand dunes some of which stand over a hundred metres tall. It is a world famous for its native desert flora and fauna. It is the favorite desert holiday destination in Oman. I am talking about Wahiba Sands that is named after the Bedouins who call this shifting land their home.



Wahiba sands or Sharqiya sands is where you head to if you are keen on some desert adventure. Dune bashing in 4x4s, Quad biking over dunes, dune boarding, camel rides to the deep pockets of the desert or simply sitting on the dunes in the night and watching the milky way, Wahiba sands packs all of it into one fantastic desert experience.



Add to it traditional Bedouin food, music and culture and rich Omani hospitality and you have a desert holiday package that will rival some of the best across the world. And that’s not that, it also makes for a great adventure honeymoon in a country that is a great honeymoon destination for Indians.



Right from the time you are welcomed with some local dates and some freshly ground qawwah coffee to the time you train your sights on the rolling sand dunes, you cannot think of anything buy adventure here. The tall mountains of red sand offer opportunities to people of all ages and those with different adventure needs. You could simply roll down the dunes, watch the sun set over the dunes, try your hands controlling the 4x4 in the steep shifting sands of the dunes, board on some tall dunes or just relax at the sight of one of the mother nature’s most interesting creations. Wahiba sands is such that it makes everyone feel special here.



So the next time you are looking at a desert holiday destination for some offbeat adventure, think of Wahiba Sands in south central Oman. May be, you could go there the next time you find yourself having a long weekend holiday or even better if you have more time at hand. I certainly loved my time here and can’t wait to return to discover these mighty sand dunes a bit more.



How to get Oman visa as an Indian citizen:

If you are an Indian passport holder with a valid US, UK, Japan, Canada or Schengen visa, then you can get visa on arrival in Oman. You can also apply for the Oman tourist visa from the Oman embassy in India. For full details, look up my article titled ‘Oman visa for Indians’.



How to reach there:

The nearest airport would be Sur airport and the drive from Sur to Wahiba Sands should take you a good 3 hours in a four wheel drive vehicle.

The nearest international airport with the best connectivity to India would be Muscat international airport and the drive from Muscat to Wahiba sands should take you about 5 hours in a four wheel drive vehicle.



Best season to visit:

If you can handle the heat, Wahiba sands is accessible all year around.

If you cannot handle the heat, it is best to opt for the winter months between October through February.



Where to stay:

Most of the properties located at Wahiba sands are luxury tented accommodation located right by the sand dunes. They cost a pretty penny, but offer great access to the sand dunes thus making for a fabulous desert holiday destination.



If you prefer something cheaper, yet more cultural, stay with the Bedouins in their traditional homes. Stay will be basic, but the experience will be rich. After all, they are true denizens of the desert.



Where to eat:

There are only two options to eat in the desert here. You eat either at your desert tent/hotel or you eat at a Bedouin household. To have food at the Bedouin homes, one needs to inform them in advance.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Sur: The coastal city with white houses where ships are handmade.

2) Nizwa: The historical heart of Oman



3) Muscat: The capital of Oman and a bustling metropolis with traditional souks and castles.

4) Al Hamra: The oasis settlement that is surrounded by date palms and mountains.

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Best things to do in Musandam, Oman

Musandam, the incredibly beautiful Omani peninsula is kept apart from the rest of the UAE by a piece of land. Musandam is surrounded by the bluer than blue waters of the Arabian and Omani Gulf. People throng to this area to admire its many natural and architectural wonders such as beautiful rugged mountainous, lacy fjords, lovely buildings, fantastic beaches and more. You may find that it’s not that easy to reach Musandam and not easy to find your way, but this amazingly, stunningly beautiful place is a must-see.

How to Get To Musandam

Fancy a road trip along one of the most stunning stretches from the UAE to Khasab, Musandam?

By Road: Follow the coast, overlooked by high cliffs, gazing at fishing boats and dhows and villages in the distance. Drive into Khasab, from Dubai via Ras al Khaimah. You’ll have to cross either the coastal Al Dara border which is open to everybody, or Wadi al Baih which is closed to expats, even those with Omani residence visa.

By Sea: Alternatively, you can travel to Musandam from Dubai by yacht, or by signing up for a dhow cruise tour.

By Bus: If you choose to get to Musandam from Dubai by public transportation, you can endure a very inconvenient bus journey from Deira in Dubai to Khasab via Ras al Khaimah.

Best Time to Visit Musandam

Throughout the Arab Peninsula, summers are hot and humid. Since most of the attractions in Musandam are outdoors – the fjords, the gulf, and the beaches – it’s best to avoid travel during summer. Summer is from June to September; the heat is high and there’s very little rainfall to provide any relief. Daily maximum temperatures can easily go up to 40°C or more.

So as long as you avoid the scorching summer months, you can visit during any other time. It’ll be mostly pleasant and warm. It is during this warm weather that you can watch the turtles nesting at Ras al Jinz.

Things to do In Musandam

1. Watch smugglers race across the Strait of Hormuz



If you want something different to do at Oman, get to the Strait of Hormuz at Khasab. Keep watch at night as many boats flee Khasab across the Strait towards Iran. Each day, hundreds of small motor boats make the hazardous journey, carrying loads of everything from electronics to sanitary items. It’s one of the
coolest things to do in Musandam, watching the boats run. Any item that’s not easy to procure in Iran is smuggled over to them via the Strait of Hormuz.

2. Explore the fjords of Musandam



Sign up for a dhow cruise of the Musandam coast to experience the spectacular fjords first hand. The fjords are beautiful and stunning waterways in the waters surrounding Khasab. You can kayak, swim or snorkel around the fjords. You may have to camp overnight on the beach and make this a two-day trip, but it’s a fabulous experience, sailing over the bubbling fjords in the waters as the mist rises up into the sky. Relish the thick Omani coffee (Kahwa) and dates on the cruise and a swim in crystal turquoise waters.

3. Explore Dibba



Dibba Al-Baya is a small picturesque town on the Musandam Peninsula’s southeastern corner. Dibba is your route to enter Eastern Musandam. The town is surrounded by unspoilt nature. The rugged cliffs and mountains are perfect for camping, trekking and hiking. The waters are perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling, owing to the incredible marine life in the coral reefs here. There are many deep sinkholes, which offer challenging dive spots to expert divers. Dibba is one of the top Musandam attractions.

4. Paraglide over Zighy Bay

If you’re into adventuring, get ready for some energetic paragliding over Zighy Bay in Musandam. The Zighy Mountain is 1000 foot tall, which provides the perfect height for paragliding. Launch off the beautiful mountain and paraglide over the beautiful Zighy Bay. The scenery is absolutely mind-blowing as you coast over the waters. You can enjoy parasailing behind a fast boat on Zighy Bay as well.

5. Enjoy Musandam’s waters



If you’re looking for turquoise and jade colored seas and sugar kissed white sands, head to Khasab Beach. It’s the most perfect beach in all of Musandam. You can enjoy a boat trip along the waters, go swimming, beach bumming, overnight camping and shell-collecting at this beach. You can also enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving in the beautifully-turquoise waters in Khasab Beach. Check out Telegraph Island, where you’ll find the ruins of an old British telegraph station. British sailors were left stranded in the heat on this island to man this station.

6. Play with the Musandam dolphins



Dolphin lovers never had it so good. You can find two kinds of dolphins in the Musandam waters. There’s the Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Aduncus) and the Humpback dolphin (Sousa Chinensis). The best way to get up close to them is to sign up for a boat or dhow ride, and sail around the dolphins. The dolphins are friendly and encourage visitors to play with them and touch them at times.

7. Visit Khasab castle



The Khasab Castle was constructed in the 17^th Century by the Portuguese colonists, who wanted control over the Strait of Hormuz. Today, the Khasab Castle is the Governor’s office, and also a prison. Visit the castle to see several historical exhibits including old documents, jewellery, old Arab kitchen equipment, and clothing, weapons and wedding decorations. The castle also comprises a Quran learning school, and models of date storage (Bait Al Quful) and a traditional elevated summer house. You’ll also find three old traditional Omani boats and some old canons at the palace.

8. Adventures at Jebel Harim



The 2087 meter tall Jebel Harim is the Musandam’s highest point. The phrase Jebel Harim literally means the ‘Mountain of Women’. The peak got its name because Omani women used to hide up in the mountains fearing kidnap by pirates when their men were away on fishing trips. Hike or trek up the mountain and enjoy the fabulous views from the top, of the surrounding valleys and villages. You can also camp on Jebel Harim.

9. Explore Kumzar

You’ll have great fun exploring Musandam’s remote villages, many of which can be reached only by boat. Kumzar is one such, on the northernmost corner of Oman, looking out at Iran across the Strait of Hormuz. Apparently, the locals here are descended from the soldiers of Alexander the Great, who left some of his troops behind on the island. You’ll need to arrange advance permits to get to this village as it is located in a politically sensitive area.

10. Admire the Khor Najd bay and mountains

Musandam has no dearth of remote and beautiful places to be explored. One such is Khor Najd, which you can reach only by road. This town is located around forty minutes away from Khasab, and you’ll have to drive via some mountainous routes. The road provides fabulous views across the fjords and the surrounding landscapes are mind-blowing. You can sign up for a Musandam tour that includes the Khor Najd area.

Conclusion

Loving Musandam yet? You will simply adore this part of the Arab world once you make your first visit to Oman. Then you’ll hanker each year for another visit to this splendid Middle Eastern gem of a region.

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Travel Photo of the Day: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman

One of the largest and the most decorated of all mosques in Oman, Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque named after its current sultan is quite a sight. This mosque is home to the second-largest single piece carpet woven in the world. It houses the second largest chandelier in the world. And the mosque can cater to an insane number of people. The next time you visit Muscat, do check out the opulence and grandeur of this mosque for yourself.

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Travel Photo of the Day: Wahiba Sands, Oman

Happy Monday!

Today’s travel photo is of a mundoos, some traditional coffee jars, the Sultan in the background and other traditional utensils from inside a Bedouin tent in the gorgeous Wahiba Sands desert of Central Oman. While I absolutely adored the desert with all the dune bashing, dune boarding and starry nights, my precious moments here were having a cup of bitter Arabian Coffee (Kahve) with really yummy dates offered to me in this very Bedouin tent.

Note: Click on the photo to share it or to download a higher resolution as your desktop wallpaper.

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Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: Stunning Monument of Worship

This mosque is one of Oman’s most iconic places. It is a great architectural marvel and also their most important place of worship. This is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque located in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Apart from being an important place of worship, this place has several credits to it.

 
It houses the world’s second largest single-piece hand woven carpet. Made in Iran and weighing at 21 tons, this carpet took 4 years to prepare. This mosque is also home to the second largest chandelier in the world. This was made in Germany.

 
Sandstone was brought in from the state of Rajasthan in India. Teak wood was brought in from Burma (Myanmar). Other raw materials were procured from all over the globe. Specialist workers were brought from all across the world to build this mosque. And all this was the vision of one man, Sultan Qaboos, the Sultan of Oman.


You can get a good feel of this opulence and attention to detail as you make your way through the corridors and prayer halls of this beautiful mosque. On my visit here, I simply remained astounded at this stunning architectural wonder where people pray.


The best thing about this mosque is the sheer feeling of peace it induces. You can gape in wonder for hours at the intricate work on its walls, pillars, doors and much more. Apart from being tastefully designed, the mosque offers a great setting with comfortable carpets, water and air-conditioning for its people to pray. I really liked this aspect about the mosque.


On regular days, all tourists are allowed into the mosque. The only exception to the rule are religious festival days when only Muslims are allowed. However, all tourists are required to wear clothes that cover that hands and legs completely. Women also are required to wear a head scarf.

 
The mosque is located somewhere in between the old city of Muscat and the airport. Hence, if you are staying near Mutrah Fort, you might need to take a taxi commute of 20 minutes to reach here.

 
Whether you are visiting Muscat for a short weekend trip or you are on a long holiday to Oman, do make sure that you spend at least 2-3 hours in this mosque exploring its different corners and making a connection with its spirituality.

 
Personally, I would love to return to this place. There is something about the carvings in the men’s prayer hall that have had me captivated!

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