Musandam by Dhow
Explore Oman and the fjords of Arabia, as Sindbad would have done in the past and discover a paradise through the doors of the Strait of Hormuz... From a traditional Omani dhow and by kayak, explore an unforgettable location between a rugged mineral lanscape and a rich aquatic world. On the menu: swimming, hiking, fishing and snorkelling ... Meet dolphins, turtles and other exotic marine life, all under the glow of the bright Omani sun which bathes this brilliant coastline with its welcoming glow.
Itinerary
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Day 1 Meet in Dubaï
We will greet you in Dubai. Transfer by private vehicle to Khasab and night in our accomodation in Khasab.
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Day 2 Dubaï - Khasab - Khor Ash Sham Fjord
After breakfast at our accommodation, we join our dhow boat. Discover the joys of this traditional Omani boat as we depart to Sham Bay. The passage near the sugar loaf, which marks the entry into the fjords of Arabia, is a perfect spot to observe dolphins swimming in the eddies. Enjoy a swimming break to discover the rich local marine fauna before we anchor for a first night in the clear waters of the Persian Gulf.
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Day 3 Sham Island and the isolated village of Kumzar
A short hike to the top of Sham Island rewards us with spectacular first day views of the bay. From our rocky promontory, we may be able to see green turtles, dolphins, tiger rays and (harmless) reef sharks which populate the seabed. The lush marine life is a fantastic contrast to the raw mineral scenery of the mountains. We then drive north along the Musandam Peninsula towards the remote village of Kumzar. We set up camp near this unique village facing Iran which has its own dialect.
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Day 4 The heights of Kumzar
We leave our boat to discover this multi-faceted fishing village. After crossing the streets and meeting local Kumzaris, we take to the heights and climb to a plateau where many goats graze in the remains of an ancient shepherds village. We reach our dhow and Sham Bay and set up our first camp on a beach.
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Day 5 Kayaking and walking on the crests of Habalayan
We unload the kayaks and head towards the bottom of the bay. A short crossing in this sheltered site enables an easy discovery of how to handle our kayaks. We leave our boats for a short climb to discover the bay of Hibalayan, the second fjord of Arabia, which gives way to the Indian ocean. Possibility of swimming, green turtles are not rare here! Kayak back to our camp.
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Day 6 Kayaking and trekking to Maqlab
In the morning, we sail peacefully into the bay to the fishing village of Maqlab. This is the start point of today's walk which takes us up to the crests that dominate the two fjords of Arabia. We then go to the beautiful Telegraph Islands, the Bay's major snorkeling site does not disappoint. It is a short trip by kayak to our camp.
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Day 7 Khasab - Dubai
Return to Khasab in the morning and transfer to Dubai. We skirt the coastline, first near the mountains of Jebel Harim and its 2000m peak and then we enter the desert of Rub al Khali. This kingdom of the dromedary if found between Oman and the Emirates. Installation in our hotel in Dubai.
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Day 8 Dubaï
A full day devoted to visiting the incredible city of all challenges. Visit traditional Dubai with its souqs (jewelry, spices, textiles ...) and old clay houses. Then immerse yourself in a futuristic universe, at the foot of the skyscrapers of the 2000s. A journey that brings us from the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel, an iconic symbol of Dubai, to the artificial island of Palm Jumeira where the incredible hotel Atlantis is found. We will follow the track of 'Ski Dubai', an indoor ski resort. Dinner at a restaurant this evening before to get back to the airport.
If your plane is late in the night, or the day after, we can arrange an overnight in our hotel in Dubaï (extra cost).
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.
Dates & prices
International departures:
No departure for now
Trip code: POMBF-UK
Included
- All transfers as detailed in itinerary
- Accommodation in a hotel in Khasab, on board the dhow and in tents
- Full board excluding the final evening meal in Dubai
- Private group use of a traditional dhow boat
- Accompaniment by a captain and cook on board
- Full supervision by a qualified Altai Guide
- Quality camping gear
- All technical kayaking equipment
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
- This trip is possible in double kayaks: 250 € reduction per person
- 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.
On board: We sleep on the deck on comfortable mattresses.
Basic toilet facilities and an on-deck freshwater hose to shower/rinse off after swimming.
Transportation
Your belongings will be transported on board the dhow boat and then installed at your camp.
A boat will pick us up at the end of the journey to take us back to Khasab.
Between Khasab and Dubai, we travel by minibus.
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
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
- Family Traditional Sailing
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group
- 2 to 16 people
- Code
- POMBF-UK
- Price
- From €1,845
- Level
- 1/5
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Language(s)
- English
Strengths
- Benefit from our qualified guides expertise
- Go hiking and kayaking in the stunning Khor Ash Sham Fjord
- Visit traditional villages, remote islands and the vibrant city of Dubai
Required level
This multi-activity trip is accessible to all. It has been designed with active families in mind. No previous kayaking experience is required but you must be able to swim. Living conditions on board the dhow are basic. This is a participative trip meaning that from time to time you will be asked to assist your guide with tasks like preparing meal.