When to Go in Masirah Island

Just off the coast of Oman lies Masirah Island, a rugged strip of coastline about 95 km long and 14 km across. Masirah Island has gained a reputation as a tourist destination for a few reasons. The island is home to some great surfing, and is also a favored destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers. It's also home to a wealth of wildlife, including several species of sea turtles. And finally, this small island represents a nice combination of the past and present on the Arabian Peninsula. The tourist trade is just starting to pick up on the attraction of the island, so while there are definitely enough amenities for any traveler, the island remains relatively unspoiled by man.

Climate

Oman enjoys more temperate weather than the rest of the Arabian Peninsula because of its coastal location. It should still be noted, however, that it is a desert. During the summer months, Oman is struck with a seasonal monsoon, which makes it very humid, and also severely limits coastal and water-based activities. The best time to go to Masirah Island is between November and April, although depending on why you're going, this may vary.

Looking for Wind?

One of the first groups of people to discover Masirah Island's surf friendly coastline were windsurfers and kite surfers. If that's your recreation of choice, the prime time to head to Masirah Island is during the summer. The monsoon season brings with it heavy winds, which attract wind and kite surfers from all over the region and the world. The best places to surf during these windy months are on the western side of the island, in the large bay between Dawwah and Sur Masirah.

See Some Turtles

The other main attraction that draws people to Masirah Island is its position as one of the prime nesting grounds of four distinct species of Sea Turtle. Because these turtles nest at different times of year, there is not necessarily a best time to go. The Olive Ridley turtle nests between February and May, and the eggs hatch between April and July. For the more common but equally impressive green turtle, the nesting period is between July and October and the hatching period runs from September to December. The loggerhead nests from May to September and hatches between July and November, and the hawksbill can be found nesting between February and June, and the eggs hatch from April to August.