Sights in Masirah Island

Masirah Island is a small Island off the coast of Oman. Although it has long been an afterthought for tourists more interested in the capital city of Muscat or the monsoon-soaked greenery of Salalah, Masirah Island has slowly been gaining ground as a tourist destination. The rugged island has long been a well known destination for surfers and nature lovers, with its rugged beaches and abundant wildlife. Although the island is small, there is a lot to do and see here, for adventurers, nature lovers and even the more casual tourist.

Trekking

One of the great things about Masirah Island is that its small size makes it very easy to explore. Trekking, another name for hiking, is a popular activity in Oman and is a great way to explore the island. Because of Oman's coastal location, the island has a much more reasonable climate than is common in the area, making it tolerable to be out and about for most of the year. Explore the beaches and mountains of this mostly unspoiled Middle Eastern island.

Bring on the Sea Turtles

Masirah is home to four distinct species of sea turtles, making it one of the best places to observe these fascinating creatures in the entire region. While they live most of their lives in the water, sea turtles nest on land, so depending on when you are on the island, you may see them coming in to lay eggs, or you might see the hatchlings heading back out to sea. Because all four species nest at slightly different times during the year, you have a fairly good chance of catching one of these exciting sights.

Loggerhead turtles nest between May and September and their eggs hatch anywhere in between July and November. For the green turtles, the nesting period lies between July and October and eggs hatch from August to September. Hawksbill turtles nest from February to June and hatch between April and August, and the rare Olive Ridley turtles nest between February and May and hatch around April to July.

The small size of the island makes it relatively easy to watch for the turtle's activities, and some of the hotels are even situated particularly so that guests are nearby the hatching/nesting grounds. Oman has long been an advocate for the protection of sea turtles, making it an essential destination for conservationists and plain-old nature lovers alike.