Musandam Peninsula

Musandam is a peninsula of steep rocks that jut north from the Arabian mainland towards Iran. Separated from the rest of Oman by a tribal decision in the late 1960s, it remains an isolated, remote region known principally for its stunning fjords.

The main town is Khasab (only linked by road to the rest of the region in 1980) and just a few other towns and villages which cling to bays at the foot of near-vertical rock walls that soar to over 2,000m. Deep fjord-like channels cut into this rock and provide the playground for divers and those exploring by dhow.

Inland the mountain roads are a relatively new addition with seasonal villages historically being linked by a network of footpaths. These and the coastal villages are settled by the region's semi-nomadic Shihuh tribe who, somehow, make a living farming goats, terraced fields and fishing, whilst retaining a very traditional lifestyle.

If you visit the Musandam you'll not only enjoy some of the region's best land and seascapes, but meet hospitable people who live their lives in a way found in few other places on earth. Diving for both beginners and the more experienced is possible from Khasab with large fish common in the area.