Musandam

Jutting into the Strait of Hormuz and completely separated from the rest of Oman is Musandam, a small Governorate of Oman.

Travel to Musandam from Muscat is either by plane or boat, taking between 1 and 3 hours respectively. The quickest route by car is actually from Dubai, taking about 2 1/2 hours.

The Hajar mountains take prominence across the whole Musandam area, spanning over 300 miles and rising to over 2000 metres above sea level. These rugged mountains are awash with traditional mountain and fishing villages where time seems to stand still.

The coast is made up of a series of rocky inlets called Khors. The sea is clear and blue, with excursions on traditional boats for swimming, snorkelling and diving a very popular past time.

The regional centre of Musandam is Khasab, with Khasab Fort taking centre stage. The Fort was originally built by the Portuguese in the seventeenth century to provide supplies and nourishment for their sailors, it has since been renovated by the Omani's and now includes a museum and a historical portrayal of Omani life, culture, their customs and habits.