Family Travel Ideas in Masirah Island

Masirah Island is not your normal tourist destination. There are no big cities, no sprawling resorts, and no theme parks. What you will find, however, is a beautiful island filled with some of the finest natural beauty that the Middle East has to offer. The island is a prime spot for bird-watching, and is also home to four different species of sea turtle. Masirah Island is also a well known destination for surfing and wind-surfing, although this is certainly not a destination to take your aspiring surfers. Shipwrecks of the local boat of choice, the Dhow, dot the rocky coastline. Tourism is making headway into Masirah Island, however, and a new Swiss-Belhotel Resort is just the most recent evidence of that. For now, Masirah Island remains fairly unspoiled, a great destination if you want to avoid the clustered tourist traps of the big cities. If you have small children you should be aware that your options will be somewhat limited, as a great deal of the activities revolve around extreme sports and off-roading. This is a great opportunity to educate your kids on the beauty of the natural world, however, if you choose to take it.

Masirah Resort

A recent addition to the island, the Masirah Resort provides a good alternative to the other hotels on the island, most of which are quite small and basic. The resort is run by the Swiss-Belhotel chain, which has locations all around the Middle East and Asia. It is in a good location to explore the natural treasures of the Island, situated near to the breeding grounds of the sea turtles and within easy traveling distance of the beaches and bird-watching destinations. Equally important to the family vacation, the resort has all the amenities needed to keep a family entertained and occupied. There is an outdoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, a kid's club and, equally if not more important to families, express laundry service.

Exploring the Island

The best way to get around Masirah Island is in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. It isn't completely necessary, as there is a respectable network of paved roads, particularly in the more populated Northern half of the Island, but it is still the only way you're going to be able to really see all of Masirah. Be cautious when enjoying the beaches, as the Masirah surf is home to a variety of sharks and jellyfish. In all, Masirah Island is more to be observed and appreciated than participated in, particularly for families, but it is a beautiful place to observe the richness of nature.