Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thirty thousand come ashore each year, making Masirah the largest
loggerhead turtle-nesting
site
in the world . The favourite nesting beach is near the Masira Island Resort.
For their sheer diversity, the shells of the island are hard to beat. Spiny whelks (murex)
used to be harvested here for their purple dye, and ancient shell middens near Sur Masirah
indicate that clams were an important food source for early settlers. Latterly, the island
has become famous for the 'Eloise', a beautiful, rare shell unique to Masirah. The collec-
tion of live specimens of mollusc and coral is strictly prohibited.
Nightlife on Masirah is limited to 'labour and delivery' among the turtle population -
all other entertainment is left to the imagination. High tide on the southwestern shore of-
fers idyllic
swimming
, but the other coast should be treated with caution due to strong cur-
rents.
Bait is available from the fish factories - during winter you can expect to catch
something using the simplest hand line.
Sleeping
With a 4WD, camping in any of the deserted bays on the west coast or at the southern tip
is recommended. If you choose the east coast, don't forget you cannot light fires on a
turtle beach.
There are now four hotels on the island, three of which are in Hilf and within walking
distance of the ferry jetties.
Danat Al-Khaleej Hotel$
HOTEL
( 25 504533;
www.danat-hotel.com
; Main Rd, Hilf; r OR25; )
The 10 rooms of this new little
hotel, 1km from the jetties on the road leading southeast out of town, sport large, fancy
rooms with exotic repro furniture. The custard-yellow walls and red carpet are an unusual
design choice but the management is friendly.
Serabis Hotel$
HOTEL
( 99 446680; dira2008@omantel.net.om; Corniche, Hilf; s/d OR18/25)
The gloomy lobby of this
Egyptian-run hotel is a bit dispiriting, as are the basic, cavernous rooms. It is clean,
however, and the location at the end of the corniche (next to Al-Maha petrol station) is
convenient for night-time strolls in the town.
Masirah Hotel$
HOTEL
( 25 504401; booking@omantel.net.om; Main Rd, Hilf; r OR21; )
With multiple beds, commodi-
ous bathrooms and a lot of Arabic chintz, you can forgive the goats sitting on the door-
