Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a day pottering along the road, enjoying a swim at one of the many glorious sandy
beaches - and watching very large sharks basking in the shallows.
About 8km from Khasab harbour lies the village of Tawi, site of a few
prehistoric rock
carvings
of boats, houses and warriors on horseback. To reach these petroglyphs, follow a
track up Wadi Qida, just before Qida village, for 2.3km. The petroglyphs are etched into
two rocks on the left, just before a large white house with outdoor ovens.
Scenically positioned
Bukha Fort
commands a good view of the bay halfway along the
Khasab-Tibat road. Prisoners used to be pegged to the lower courtyard and drowned by
the incoming tide. The view from the fort (closed to visitors) above town shows the clas-
sic Musandam landscape of steep-sided cliffs sheltering 'bowls' (cul-de-sac plains) of
flat-topped acacia trees. Often the beachside settlements are inundated by the listing
flanks of sand dunes blown back from the shore.
The road ends in Tibat at Al-Darah border with the UAE; the post is open 24 hours and
passing through customs on either side is quick and efficient.
TOP OF CHAPTER
The Musandam
Khors
A dhow trip around the
khors
(inlets) of Musandam, flanked by dolphins, is a must and
well worth the expense. Trail a fishing line from the back of the traditional Arabic boat,
and your skipper will cook what you catch for lunch. So remote are some of these
khors
that people still have their water delivered by boat and speak a dialect almost unrecognis-
able to Arabic speakers from Muscat.
Note that you will need a permit (which can be arranged by pre-booking with a tour
company) to enter any village in the Musandam
khors
.
Khor ash-Sham
This beautiful inlet is interesting for its stone
fishing villages
, accessible only by boat, and
for
Telegraph Island
, which you can land on at high tide. Snorkelling and swimming in the
pristine surrounding waters is a highlight as are the dolphins which swim alongside the
boat. It is the most popular dhow tour from Khasab.
