Travel to the Arabian Fjords

The excursion from Dubai to Oman, namely to the Musandam Peninsula, traditionally remains one of the most popular among Russian tourists who are offered to touch the history of the ancient land, soak their feet in the Indian Ocean, swim with dolphins and enjoy the Arabian fjords. however, first things first.

Land with a glorious history

The province of Musandam, where about 40 thousand people live, is an exclave, separated from the main Oman by the territory of the United Arab Emirates. Due to its exceptionally convenient position at the Strait of Hormuz - an important navigable and commercial artery - these places have a glorious history of victories and defeats. Alternately, these lands were dominated by the Persians, Portuguese and English, who did not miss the opportunity to profit from passing ships. After all, we remember the simple principle of all times: whoever owns the straits controls the economy.

If earlier oil, silk and dates were transported on wooden boats from the Persian Gulf and further along the Silk Road, today powerful tankers transport tons of various energy carriers from here daily, and merchant ships bring back the food necessary for supplying residents of the Persian Gulf countries.

And almost everyone who lives in these countries has already heard Iran’s threats to block this waterway and arrange an economic blockade for its neighbors.

Meanwhile, while everything in the paradise is quite calm, and life flows smoothly and measuredly. Which, in principle, attracts many tourists here who want to escape at least a day from a noisy metropolis. The journey from Dubai to Musandam takes about 2.5 or three hours (depending on how quickly you go through border control). The road is calm and tireless: the yellow-red sands of the desert are gradually replaced by rocky mountains, and urban-type villages become very small Bedouin villages.

On the northernmost border with Oman is the ancient settlement of Dibba (you will definitely pass it).

According to some historical sources, in 633 AD it was here that the historical battle of warriors led by Khalifa Abu Bakr took place, after which the rule of Islam was established on the Arabian Peninsula. A testament to the legendary battle is the local cemetery, where, according to legend, at least 10 thousand soldiers of those times are buried.

On the pirate shores

And so, we still crossed the border and entered the Musandam Peninsula. The land where the mountains, led by the highest peak Jebel Hajar, are drowning in the turquoise sea, was named Arabian Norway for its similarity with the Scandinavian fjords. However, with the same success, it can be compared with the southern coast of Crimea in the Kara-Dag region or even Ladoga skerries. Mountains, sea and absolute, almost ringing silence, followed by the noise of motor boats of local fishermen. This is the first thing you notice when you are off the coast of the Gulf of Oman. It is believed that the best season for a trip to Oman is from October to April, but I will tell you differently: swimming in April in the Gulf of Oman is still chilly. Especially for those who are used to the 50-degree heat in the summer months.

The ship is sailing rather quickly, but along the way you have time to see the labyrinths of the mountains, and small fishing structures in the cliffs. As you know, it was in the lagoons between the mountains that pirates often hid passing ships, for which this region was called the "Pirate Coast" (quite often the whole Persian Gulf coast, occupied by the modern Arab Emirates, is also called that).

If your ship has a glass bottom, you can also admire the underwater fauna: colored corals, fish of various sizes, turtles, stingrays and sea urchins. If you're lucky, you can see a flock of dolphins. We were lucky during the trip, we can say: we saw a flock of geese.

Although there were no identification marks on the birds, Russian tourists traveling with us immediately decided that it was “our” geese that fly “home” for the summer.

A significant part of the one-day excursion is snorkeling in a cozy lagoon or skiing along the cliffs in a single kayak. Of course, here the underwater world is not as rich as, for example, in the Red Sea, but it is also interesting to study previously unexplored sea open spaces. The absence of exotics is compensated by the rich imagination of the guide: as a rule, while tourists splash around the rocks, he sinks to the bottom to bring them a couple of oysters, butchering of which is a fascinating ritual. No one doubts that in one of them there will be a treasured pearl. After all, I want to believe in a fairy tale!

The surroundings of Musandam are also a popular place for scuba diving, which is also best done from October to May. Mountain caves are no less picturesque under water. Tourists are often taken to the Khor Shamm fjord area (10 kilometers long) or to a quiet bay with a sandy beach where you can chat with local Bedouins. If you travel on your own boat, you should not anchor wherever you want: as a rule, all the lagoons are occupied by local fishermen, who are not always welcome by uninvited guests.

We will tell you about fishing in the next issue, however, in this story I would like to dwell in more detail on the ritual of greeting the evening catch. After about three in the afternoon, a fish market opens in the port of Musandama, on which all the local residents “flock” - from small to large. Fishermen lay out their entire catch on the shore - from small Sultanka fish to meter sharks. And for each of them an auction is held that sets a price for offshore production. Watching an elder cast a ballot is a truly priceless sight to see rarely and certainly worth a look.

Time flew by. The time has come to return home. It’s nice when border guards meet the car in Dubai’s license plates with a smile on their faces. And it’s even more joyful when, right after entering your home territory, a message comes from a friendly mobile operator: “Welcome home to the UAE! We hope your trip was pleasant and safe.” Do not even hesitate!

Thank you for the trip to Musandam by Al Marsa Musandam!

Watch the video: Musandam -- Norway of Arabia. Oman Fjords (March 2024).