All About Musandam Peninsula in Oman

On the Strait of Hormuz is where Musandam is located. It is separated from the rest of Oman by the east coastline of the United Arab Emirates. It includes the exclave Madha which is completely enclosed by the United Arab Emirates inside of which is a truly tiny exclave called Nahwa that is part of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The mountains have housed extremely isolated communities for centuries and many coastal villages can only be reached by boat. The population of approximately 29,000 is concentrated in the capital Khasab in the north, and the small port town of Dibba on the east coast. The distance of Musandam Peninsula from Muscat is 500 kilometres, taking around 6hours to drive and 45 minutes to fly. To get to this destination you need to reach Khasab which is the primary town in the region, you should travel by car to the Batinah coast for a 6 hour drive. To drive the whole way through Khasab it requires you to drive through the UAE where you will need a road permit from the Oman Police as well as a potential visa depending on your nationality. There is possible road acces fromRas Al Khaymah on the West coast of the United Arab Emirates, Fujairah (Limted to GCC Nationals), and Dibba, Sharjah on the East Coast. For none GCC Nationals it isn't possible to get between these border crossings within Musandam itself by vehicle, however daily flights from Muscat are operated by Oman Air and no visa is required for the short trip. An entry visa is required if you are entering from the United Arab Emirates at Ras Al Khaymah. The emigration offices on both sides of the border are known to take their time with processing the visa and the whole process can take up to four hours. 

Musandam is on the Strait of Hormuz, separated from the rest of Oman by the east coastline of the United Arab Emirates. It also includes the exclave Madha which is completely enclosed by the United Arab Emirates, inside of which is a truly tiny exclave called Nahwa that is part of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The mountains have housed extremely isolated communities for centuries and many coastal villages can only be reached by boat. The population of approximately 29,000 is concentrated in the capital Khasab in the north, and the small port town of Dibba on the east coast.

Tarmac roads allow easy access up the west coast to Khasab, and 2 separate tarmac road networks exist on the east coast, one connecting with the United Arab Emirates at Dibba, and one isolated at Lima. Tracks link up the 3 border points connecting to the United Arab Emirates. However a military base in Wadi Bih, in the centre of Musandam prevents none GCC nationals from passing in any direction. The base sits on a T-junction with routes going in each direction, to the 3 border points.

On the West Coast passports are stamped, however on the east coast they are not. Therefore if this Militry base is avoided, when travelling on foot in the mountains (challenging), then an exit stamp is either missing in your passport (Entering west coast; exiting east coast), or not given because of no entry stamp (Entering east coast; exiting west coast), and you will be turned around. To add to this, additional problems can occur if the West Coast route is crossed on a passport, with United Arab Emirate residential visa applications in process and they will be cancelled. Therefore the majority of the arid mountainous country can be visited from the Khasab side, but will involve a turning back. A smaller arid mountainous area, although more popular, is accessed from the east coast. There are no fuel stations off the tarmac roads, therefore monitoring fuel levels, among other things, is vital.

What to see

Barren mountains that rise up to 2,000 metres or 6,500 feet above sea level jut out like fingers into the sea, creating countless fjord-like inlets and yield spectacular views. Mountains. Starting from the principal town of Khasab, a graded road straddles a ridge, high above valleys on either side. This is near Jabal Harim (Mt. Harim), the highest point in Musandam. It's used for military purposes, so the road doesn't go over the top, but veers off about 1/4 mile from the summit.

Seacoasts. Out on the water is where to get a closer look at the fjords of Musandam. Huge chunks of rocks towering over the serene waters and little villages that are only accessible by boat.One of the striking geological features of these mountains is all the twisting and turning they've gone through over the years. It is possible to catch many of these boat trips through agencies in Dubai. The drive from the UAE, especially after passing the Omani borders, is great, as it goes through breathtaking landscapes. Dhow cruises take you out to the Hormuz Strait.

Musandam offers both spectacular sea and mountain views.
Due to the sparse population of the Musandam Peninsula coast, wildlife is abundant in the waters along the coast. Scuba diving is one of the main and most popular tourist activities in this region, with a very competent dive center based at the Golden Tulip Hotel located immediately to the west of Khasab.
Dolphin watching on a traditional Omani Dhow - This is a wonderful experience - the dolphins respond to the sound of the Dhow captains' whistles, and they come soaring along side the Dhow, putting on a show. They are incredibly agile and love to perform.

The journey by air to the Musandam, dubbed as the ‘Norway of the Middle East’ because of the inlets likened to Norway's fjords, provides a spectacular bird's eye view. The stark mountains of this region rise 2000 metres out of the Arabian Gulf. The patterns and textures of the mountains are altogether striking. From November to March is particularly an ideal time to visit the Musandam.

Upon your arrival you will want to book a dhow to visit Khawr Ash Shamm. Here you will find placid waters, marine life, secluded beaches and isolated outposts. A stop over at Telegraph Island is a highlight of this trip. Dhow trips can also be arranged to visit the cliff side village of Kumzar. By land you can rent a 4-wheel drive to see Khawr Najd, Jebel Harim (the highest point in Musandam) and the Acacia forest near Sal Al Ala.