Day Trips in Masirah Island

Masirah Island is a great place for the nature lover. Located off the coast of Oman, the island is really very small, no more than 14 km wide and 95 km long. It is not extremely populated either, with no major cities and only 1 resort, which is fairly new to the island. The greatest attractions of Masirah Island have actually been there much longer than the villages, or the ferry, or really any human contact at all. Home to 4 different species of sea turtle and a great spot for bird-watching, the island's greatest attractions are the natural wealth of wildlife and the rugged coastline, which is home to many marine species as well as a prime spot for surfing and windsurfing.

Turtles, Beaches and Bird Watching

One of the great pleasures of Masirah Island is the wildlife. Take a day to enjoy the birds, beaches and the turtles. Masirah Island is home to the loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley sea turtles. They all nest at different times, which means that no matter when you visit the island you should be able to spot some turtles nesting. The Ras Al Hadd cape beaches are home to one of the largest nesting grounds of green turtles in the entire Indian Ocean. The rarest of the turtles on Masirah Island are the Olive Ridley turtles, which nest primarily between February and May. In addition to the turtles, Masirah Island is a great place to watch birds. Keep an eye out for egrets, spoonbills, crab plovers, flamingos, turtle doves and more.

Extreme Vacation Sports

If adventure is your game, Masirah has a lot to offer. With its remote location and lack of over-development, Masirah Island is the perfect destination. The island is well known for its surfing, although you should be warned it is definitely not a spot for beginners. Shipwrecked dhows dot the coastline. But if you crave that next life-threatening challenge, the waves are great around the island. Surf Beach, about 20 minutes East of Hilf, is a good first stop, and then you can continue to work your way down the coastline. The swells get bigger the further south you go. The strong winds on the western side of the island make it a favored destination for wind and kite surfers, particularly during the summer. Other activities on and around the island include game fishing, either in a modern boat or a traditional dhow, and trekking, or hiking. Because of the small size of Masirah Island, it is possible to see a variety of climates and sights in a single hike, and hiking is a great way to spend a day.