An awesome place : Musandam

Top travel locations to visit in Musandam: The Strait of Hormuz, a water body separating Oman from Iran, is one of the world’s busiest strait with nearly 20-30 tankers and ships traversing everyday. There are magnificent islands and rocky formations that make the place extremely scenic. Among other things to do in Musandam, make sure you savour a cruise on a traditional dhow boat. Tourists can take a day or a night cruise too. They sail from the port in Musandam to small villages like Nadifi, Qanah, and Maqlab. These cruises are a perfect way to admire the ancient houses and the local culture and lifestyle of the fishermen. There’s also a cruise that takes you to the Telegraph Island. In the Khor Shem Fjords, stop to admire rock formations that resemble wild animals. Avid bird-watchers can spend some time at Bird Island. Dolphin watching is a favourite amongst tourists.

Sail around the Beautiful Fjords of Musandam, As a coastal governorate, the locals of Musandam have built lots of traditional boats and dhows that they use for fishing, among other pursuits. More importantly, going for a boat ride with visitors and tourists is a must-do activity in Musandam. Going through the gulf waters, visitors can enjoy watching the unique fjords, while drinking Omani coffee (Kahwa) and dates, and chatting with locals. Visitors can also ask drivers to stop the boat so they can have a swim in the crystal turquoise waters of Musandam and enjoy the refreshing weather.

Khasab Castle is located in the Musandam Peninsula’s capital, the Khasab Province. The Portuguese built this castle in the 17th-century, as part of their undertaking to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and colonize the Khasab Province. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Arabian Gulf to the Arab Peninsula and is a prominent trading route, entry into the Arabian Gulf. The castle was used by the Omanis during their battles with the Portuguese during 1624, after which it became Governor Walli’s residence. The castle also served as a prison. Today it is a museum, which hosts several exhibitions on the history of Musandam. There’s also an exhibition of old documents, clothes, weaponry, jewelry, and other household items from those distant times. Use our blog post as a guide and check out this wonderful museum’s secrets for yourself.

Musandam is historically one of Oman’s most remote and impoverished areas, home to tribes who had little in common, either culturally or linguistically, with those further south. The inhabitants of Kumzar continue to speak a unique language – Kumzari – based on Iranian blended with elements of Arabic, along with numerous loan-words from Hindi, English, Spanish and French – said to be the result of sailors shipwrecked along the coast who settled in the village. The region has also enjoyed close connections with Iran, just a short boat trip away over the Strait of Hormuz. Until recently a flourishing smuggling trade connected the two, and the influence of Iran continues to be strong to this day. Find even more info on Musandam Tour Deals.