Kayaking in the fjords of Arabia
This short stay in Oman is an opportunity to explore Sham Fjord under the pleasant rays of the warm winter sun. Discover one of Musandam Peninsulas most fascinating breathtaking fjords to the gentle rhythm of your kayak paddles. Glide through the rugged scenery and enjoy regular stops to delve into the beautiful blue waters, to swim and snorkel amongst a rich variety of marine fauna. This trip includes hiking along the narrow strip of land between Sham and Habbalayn Bays to discover a magical hinterland of ancient villages lost in the mountains. Then, on the last day we visit Dubai. This vibrant city which is constantly pushing the boundaries and striving for excellence is strikingly different to the peaceful Musandam wilderness.
Itinerary
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Day 1 Meet in Dubaï in the evening.
We will greet you in Dubai. Evening transfer by private vehicle to Khasab where we spend the night.
Transport: 3 hours
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Day 2 Khor Ash Sham
Preparation for our departure - we leave in the late afternoon or early evening in kayaks. We paddle around 2 hours to a secluded spot and set up camp at the edge of the sea in a creek bordered by a sandy beach. Once camp is installed we can go swimming under the stars.
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Days 3 to 6 4 days kayaking in Khor Ash Sham
This morning we load our boats and prepare for 4 days of autonomy in Sham Fjord. We paddle among cliffs, incredible little coves and the occassional traditional fishing village. The bay is renowned for its exceptional wildlife including green turtles, dolphins, eagle rays and reef sharks (harmless).
In the mornings, we glide quietly through transparent waters sheltered from the tumult of the open sea. In the afternoons, when the sun is at its hottest, we enjoy swimming and snorkeling among corals in the clear warm waters. In November the sea temperature is around 30°C! A dramatic contrast to the raw mineral scenery of the mountains of Oman, the seabed displays an extraordinary diversity. If luck is with us, we will meet dolphins and other fabulous marine life... In the late afternoons/evenings, we invite you to learn how to fish: in these waters fresh fish is guaranteed for our evening meals. In addition, one or two 40 minute hikes will unlock stunning views of the entire bay. -
Day 7 Khasab
Enjoy a last kayak outing exploring the rough rocky coast and a final swim/snorkel at noon.
This afternoon we return to Khasab to finish this beautiful Omani adventure together. -
Day 8 Khasab - Dubaï
Transfer to Dubai; arrival in the early afternoon and guided tour of this incredible city of all challenges. First, we start by inhaling the rich aromas of the souqs, then we make the short crossing to the other side of the 'creek' by taxi boat. We begin to really understand the great adventure the faced by construction workers here as we journey to the historic heart of the city, the heritage district where it all began. Next, we look to the future from the foot of the skyscrapers of the 2000s. Our journey takes us to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world and a beautiful end to our trip.
We can enjoy dinner at a restaurant to end our trip. If your onwards travel is scheduled for late tonight or tomorrow, contact us and we can extend your stay in Dubai with Altai Oman.
Please note that this itinerary, including walking distances and times, is indicative. Our guides aim to provide the adventure that is best suited to the weather, your interests and the demands of the group. Please be aware that in order to achieve this, changes to the programme may be made.
This trip is possible in single or double kayaks depending on your kayaking experience and desires. Please note that we will not exceed a maximum of 6 kayaks so group sizes may vary.
Dates & prices
International departures:
No departure for now
Trip code: POKA-UK
Included
- All transfers as detailed in itinerary
- Full board excluding the final evening meal in Dubai
- Kayaking equipment (double kayaks)
- Camping equipment (2 per tent)
- Full supervision by a qualified expert guide
Not included
- Flights and air taxes
- Your Oman visa: around €15, you can reserve this online at https://evisa.rop.gov.om before your departure
- Your final evening meal in Dubai
- Snorkelling equipment
- Tips, drinks and personal expenses
Additional Options
- Single supplement: Contact us
- Accommodation in Dubai before and/or after your trip: 110 € per room, prices may vary please contact us
Terms and conditions
Booking conditions
Booking a trip with Altaï Oman implies acceptance of the terms and conditions of sale. Each customer is required to complete a registration form and, subject to availability at the time of registration, travellers are expected to pay a deposit of 30% of the total price to complete their booking. Payments can be made online or by bank transfer. You will receive an e-mail with your booking confirmation.
Invoice procedure
Once your booking is confirmed you will receive an invoice by e-mail. The full balance of the trip must be received at least 30 days before your departure date. Altaï Oman reserve the right to cancel your booking, free of charge, if this deadline is not respected.
Cancellation policy
If for any reason you have to cancel your trip, Altaï Oman require written confirmation of your decision. The money you have paid will then be refunded according to the following deductions:
- Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
- Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained
Special cases:
Please note that, regardless of the date of cancellation or modification if you have agreed to pay for services such as hotel reservations, flights or additional activities, these services are usually non-refundable so additional fees may apply.
- Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.
- Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.
- Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.
Please note that fees apply according to the date Altaï Oman receive your cancellation or modification request in writing.
If we have to cancel a departure due to an insufficient number of participants, you will be informed no later than 21 days before departure and a full refund will be issued, you will not be entitled to further compensation. We reserve the rights to cancel departures due to exceptional circumstances which may impact the safety of participants. Such circumstances include those amounting to 'force majeure' in which case participants will receive a full refund but they will not be entitled to any compensation.
Changes to travel contract
If you wish to make a change to your booking please contact us in writing; you will be expected to pay any fee which might arise from this change. In the event of unforeseen external events, Altaï Oman may change some aspects of the travel contract. If any changes are necessary you will be informed as quickly as possible.
Pricing
The prices on our website are updated regularly and all of the prices we advertise are accurate when published. We reserve the rights to make changes to any of these prices. Before you make a booking we will give you the up-to-date price of your chosen holiday including any supplements, upgrades or additional activities you may have requested. If the number of travellers is fewer than the indicated number of participants on the website, a small group surcharge may be applied. For all of our trips we include details of services, prices and what is/is not included but please be aware that changes to the prices may be necessary in accordance with exchange rates or price changes of various components of the journey.
Contract transfer
If you are unable to travel for any reason with Altaï Oman, you can transfer your booking to another person in which case our modification conditions apply. Both the transferor and transferee will be jointly and severally liable for payment of the total holiday price and other associated expenses. Some airline carriers treat name changes as cancellations and you may be required to pay for the cost of a new ticket.
Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out personal travel insurance for your trip with Altaï Oman as soon as your booking is confirmed. We advice you to purchase a travel insurance policy which covers flight cancellations, luggage loss and emergency health care. Please look carefully at which activities are covered by your insurer and do not forget to bring all necessary documents and information with you (name of the company, name of the contract, insurance policy number, telephone number...)
Practical info
Staff
You will be greeted in Dubai by an English-speaking representative from our local team and accompanied for the duration of your stay. You will be accompanied by a Altai Oman sea kayak guide with flawless knowledge of both the sport and the destination. Please be aware that you will be expected to help your guide with certain tasks like loading and unloading kayaks, your involvement is based on mutual respect and creates a friendly atmosphere as well as a nice relationship between yourself and your guide.
Altai Oman is a member of the Altai Travel Group, a network of local nature and adventure agencies found in nearly 30 different locations around the world. Altai Oman has been established in Khasab for many years now and is able to guarantee you a sucessful active adventure primarily thanks to expert guides as well as our quality logistics.
Food
We love the local cuisine here in Oman. It is not always easy to carry fresh products on board boats but we are proud of the hearty and varied menus we manage to offer. Fishing enables us to eat fresh fish very regularly. You can expect buffet style lunches, hot evening meals and seasonal products including houmous, pita breads as well as fresh fish, caught daily, perhaps by yourself!
Please let us know about any dietary requirements when you book the trip and we will work with you to cater for your needs.
Accommodation
Camping: We provide quality tents, sleeping matts and blankets.
In Khasab, we work with an hotel providing appartments with two twins rooms with shared bathroom. There is a swiming pool at the hotel.
Transportation
Transfers from Dubai to Khasab are in a minibus, a private vehicle driven by a local driver. When kayaking: we use our boats to transport our belongings.
Please note that basic kayaking techniques are very fast to learn. To take full advantage of this activity, it is best to be a little prepared, notably a certain level of strength and flexibility in your lower back and abdominal muscles can help.
Budget & exchange
The official currency is the Omani Rial (OMR) and the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) is commonly used in Musandam.
Visit http://www.xe.com for the latest currency converter and exchange rates. ATMs are fairly common, we advise you to use Dirham and to withdraw money at Dubai Airport.
Tips
Tipping is always appreciated - it is not obligatory and should be left to the discretion of each individual. We recommend an amount between 35 and 45 € per participant according your satisfaction and the attention to detail of your local team.
Supplied equipment
- A quality tent per two people
- A comfortable sleeping matt for on the deck of the dhow and in your tent
- Equipment on board the dhow
- Kayaks and all technical paddling geaer including paddles and life vests
Vital equipment
This kit list is for all seasons - you may not need all of the warm clothes listed.
Important
- A sleeping bag - comfort 10°C
- Quality sunglasses (filter lenses)
- Water bottle(s) - min 1L
- Sun cream - waterproof
- Head torch and spare batteries
- Personal toiletries - think small and biodegradable if possible, shampoo for saltwater recommended
- Toilet paper
From head to toe
- A sunhat
- T-shirts - some long-sleeved for the sun - synthetic, fast drying materials
- A warm jacket for evenings by the sea
- A lightweight wind proof waterproof jacket - breathable (Gore-Tex...)
- Light weight trousers or cropped pants
- Sarongs / long skirts for women are welcomed
- Socks - for walking
Shoes
- Sports sandals are great in the water and for camping on the beach
For Kayaking
- A swim suit
- Swimming shorts
- Rash vest / lyra t-shirt
- Shoes which can go in the water
- A small towel - fast drying micro fibre towel recommended
- Snorkelling equipment - mask, snorkel and flippers
Helpful equipment
- A pocket knife
- A personal first aid kit
- Wet wipes
- Anti bacterial hand gel
- Matches / a lighter
Luggage
Your luggage will follow you for the duration of your stay.
Medicine
We recommend that you bring a small personal first aid kit containing any medication you may need such as inhalers, plasters, antiseptic, painkillers, anti-diarrhea medication, antibacterial hand gel, eye drops, anti inflammatories...
Passport
To visit Oman, travellers may need a passport which is vaild for at least six months after the last day of their stay, It is your responsibility to confirm your specific passport requirements and please be aware that proof of onwards travel may be required.
Visa
Express and tourist visas can now be added on the site https://evisa.rop.gov.om and are accepted at the customs of the Sultanate of Oman.
To complete the electronic visa application, the following steps must be followed:
1. Go to the site https://evisa.rop.gov.om
2. Click on "Apply for a tourist visa" (be careful, not on "Sponsored Visa")
3. Click on '' Register a new user ''
4. Click on Tourist login (e-mail) & password (create an account)
5. Click on "Visa application"
The cost of the single entry tourist visa:
Stay up to 14 days: Free
Stay between 15 and 30 days: 20 Omani Rials (around 45 euros depending on the exchange rate)
Warning ! The use of the visa is valid for 1 month from the date of issue, so do not apply too long before your departure (You need a minimum of 1 month between your visa application and your departure date).
The visa for the United Arab Emirates is done on site and is free.
Please note that this website is designed and managed directly by the Omani Police. For e-visa assistance please contact: L1.SGS.Oman@sita.aeroor +968 99537194.
Visas for the United Arab Emirates can generally be acquired in-country and are free.
Mandatory vaccines
Recommended vaccinations include: Hepatitis A and Typhoid.
Malaria, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Yellow Fever vaccines are also advised.
Health information & recommendations
It is your responsibility to check that your personal health insurance covers everything in this trip. A consultation with your doctor is a prerequisite for any trip. Due to the remote location of this trip we must stress the difficulty of an emergency evacuation, radio connection is almost non-existand and health centres are often very far away.
Weather
The Sultanate of Oman is relatively mild in the winter. In the mountains, there are large temperature variations between day and night. At sea level the evenings are pleasant. Thunderstorms are possible in the winter.
Electricity
In Oman, type C / G plugs are used.
Please note that you will not have access to electricity when camping. A small powerbank can be useful for recharging cameras or phones.
Local time
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)/ Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +4. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not observed here.
Sustainable tourism
Altaï always aims to have as little impact on the environment as possible. As adventure and wilderness travel experts who run trips to some of the most remote parts of the world, we take responsible tourism very seriously.
Since the beginning, we have advocated for responsible tourism and the importance of equitable and sustainable principles. Harmonising these fundamentals ensures a fair distribution of economic benefits, improved working conditions for local teams and an increased awareness of the importance and practice of environmental protection.
We kindly request that you adopt the following simple actions when travelling with Altaï Oman in order to support our ethical, sustainable and responsable tourism policies:
Culture
The Omanais are very welcoming and smiling by nature but keeps keep their distance, not out of spite towards tourists but out of wisdom and respect. It is very important to be respectful of places of worship and to wear non-provocative clothing as is custom here.
Leave No Trace
This ethical code can be summarized in 7 simple steps which we hope you will follow during ourtrip...
1. Be prepared
2. Stick to trails and camp overnight right
3. Stash your trash and pick up waste
4. Leave it as you find it
5. Be careful with fire
6. Respect wildlife
7. Be considerate of other visitors
Litter
The ecological balance of this region is precarious and garbage degradation is almost zero. Each visitor is responsible for the cleanliness and condition of the places visited and camping locations used. Let's leave the landscape as pristine as we had the pleasure of finding it. These are completely wild and uninhabited places so no cleaning is provided by the local authorities. We count on your involvement to leave the place as clean as possible after your visit. If rubbish is washed ashore by the sea let's leave the beach cleaner than we found it!
Over the years we have built up good relations with our local suppliers and we are keen to support local businesses as much as possible. We are a small company with a local basecamp so we have no need for mliddlemen; we pay our local partners and suppliers directly insuring fair rates for everyone.
Our small group sizes not only provide a more intimate adventure but also cause less impact on the environment and local communities.
We expect all who travel with us to support and uphold our Sustainable and Responsible Tourism philosophies.
My local agent
Mohamed
- Sea kayaking specialist
- Qualified expert guide
- Passionate about the local people and wildlife in Oman
- Region
- Musandam
- Activity
- Kayaking
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group
- 1 to 6 people
- Code
- POKA-UK
- Price
- From €1,350
- Level
- 2/5
- Comfort
- 2/5
- Language(s)
- English
Strengths
- Immersion in the unspoiled wild Khor Ash Sham
- Kayaking, swimming and snorkelling among amazing marine life such as dolphins and turtles
- Relax and enjoy our quality equipment and the expertese of our professional guides
Required level
This trip includes 5 - 6 hours of activity per day. Hikes do not exceed +600m. Previous kayaking experience is not necessary but you must be able to swim.