Khor Sham
The longest of the Musandam inlets, best explored by dhow with a stop for swimming and lunch on board.
Oman
Musandam
Fjords, fishing villages and limestone cliffs at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
Musandam feels like a different country. The road climbs through bare rock, then the sea appears in inlets so still they look painted. Dhows move slowly between villages that are only reachable by water, and the evenings are quiet enough to hear the water against the hull.
Worth seeing
Telegraph Island
A small island with the remains of a British telegraph station, surrounded by water clear enough to see the reef.
Kumzar
A village reached only by boat, where the old language and fishing rhythm are still part of daily life.
Before you go
Musandam is an exclave of Oman, separated from the rest of the country by the UAE. Carry your passport even on a day trip, and plan around boat schedules rather than driving times.
- Light layers for the boat, reef-safe sunscreen, and cash for small villages. Roads are good but mountain sections are slow after rain.
Musandam
