Khasab, Oman: travel guide
Capital of the Musandam peninsula, an Omani exclave of dramatic fjord-like khors jutting into the Strait of Hormuz. Base for traditional dhow cruises past Telegraph Island, mountain safaris to Jebel Harim, and the isolated village of Kumzar.
- Country
- Oman
- Currency
- OMR
- Time zone
- Asia/Muscat
- Nearest airport
- KHS
Top places to visit in Khasab
Kumzar Village
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h
A remote, boat-only fishing village at the tip of the Musandam peninsula, with its own unique Kumzari language.
Bukha Fort
Fort · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry OMR 1
A 16th-century fort on a crescent bay about 35km west of Khasab, notable for its unusual round tower and sea setting.
Khor ash Sham
Nature · about 5 h
A roughly 16km fjord (Elphinstone Inlet) walled by cliffs over 1,000m high, the main dhow-cruise route and a haunt of dolphins.
Khor Najd
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
The only fjord in Musandam reachable by road (a steep graded track), a popular sunset and camping overlook.
Khasab Castle
Fort · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry OMR 1
A restored 17th-century Portuguese fort beside Khasab harbour, now a museum of Musandam heritage with dhow and traditional-house displays.
Jebel Harim
Viewpoint · 4.1 rating · about 3 h
The highest peak of Musandam at 2,087m, reached by a 4WD mountain-safari road past fossils, petroglyphs and Shihuh villages with sweeping fjord views.
Telegraph Island
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
A small island in Khor ash Sham holding the ruins of an 1860s British telegraph relay station, a favourite snorkelling stop on dhow cruises.
Things to do
- Full-Day Dhow Cruise — Khor ash Sham Water · 6 h · from OMR 23 per person
- Half-Day Dhow Cruise Water · 3 h · from OMR 18 per person
- Musandam Mountain Safari (Jebel Harim) Adventure · 3.5 h · from OMR 25 per person
- Sea Kayaking in the Fjords Water · 2 h · from OMR 18 per person
Day trips and tours
- Musandam Full-Day Dhow Cruise 6 h · from OMR 23
Where to stay in Khasab
- Khasab Town & Corniche about OMR 45 per night
Compact harbour town with the castle, dhow jetties, restaurants and most hotels.
- Zighy Bay (Dibba) about OMR 300 per night
Secluded west-coast bay reached over the mountains, home to the flagship luxury resort.
Hotels
- Six Senses Zighy Bay 5-star · OMR 280 to OMR 450 per night
- Atana Musandam Resort 4-star · OMR 40 to OMR 65 per night
- Khasab Hotel 2-star · OMR 20 to OMR 30 per night
Where to eat
- Al Shamaliah Grill & Restaurant Omani, Seafood, Indian · about OMR 7 per person
- Atana Musandam Restaurant International, Omani · about OMR 13 per person
Getting around
- Boat main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Speedboat main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Dhow cruise "extras"
Khasab harbour
A few informal operators advertise a low cruise price then add charges for lunch, snorkelling gear or the Telegraph Island stop.
How to avoid it: Confirm exactly what is included (lunch, gear, stops) in writing before you pay.