Oman holiday, Fjords cruise
| country: | Oman |
| location: | Middle East |
| departures: | 2009: 25 Dec |
| price: | £2195 (9 days) excluding international flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Oman holiday, Fjords cruise
Oman holiday, Fjords cruise:This new trip provides the chance to get away from it all for Christmas & the New Year! There’ll be ample time to swim and snorkel from our privately chartered dhow as well as the chance to explore on foot and by 4WD one of the Middle East’s least-known gems – the dramatic fjords of the Musandam Peninsula.
Lying at the gateway to the Arabian Gulf, the Musandam Peninsula, which is officially part of Oman, but separated from it by the UAE, has developed its own unique character and during our time here we intend to discover a little of what makes it so special.
With its deep fjords, for centuries contact with the outside world has only been possible by boat and even now, as we will find, many of the villages can still only be reached in this way. Special Highlights:
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Dubai (UAE): The tour starts on Christmas morning in vibrant Dubai! While you may not find Santa here, we can pretty much guarantee that you’ll find beautiful winter sunshine and as it’s a “normal” day here in Dubai, there’ll be the opportunity to see as much or little of the city as you want. Relax by the pool, head to the beach, shop in the souks – the choice is yours! Hotel (LD) |
| Day 2: | Dubai – Khasab (Oman): Leaving Dubai this morning we head north over the Omani border via the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Taking the panoramic coastal road to Khasab, the only town of any significance on the peninsula, we will check into our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day in this small but bustling town right at the edge of the famous Straits of Hormuz. Hotel (BLD) |
| Day 3: | On the dhow: After breakfast we transfer to the harbour and board our privately chartered traditional Omani dhow. This is still the only way to access many of the towns and hidden bays of the Musandam peninsula and we will spend our time exploring small fishing villages, as well as visiting famous Telegraph Island. There will be ample opportunities to swim and snorkel in the clear waters of the Gulf and if we are lucky we may even catch sight of some of the dolphins who inhabit these waters. Overnight on the dhow – please note that as we use a traditional dhow, conditions on board are quite basic with shared facilities only. However we feel that any lack of luxury is more than made up for by the rewards offered by the tranquility and beauty of the landscape. Tonight we will sleep on deck, gazing up at the Arabian night sky. (BLD) |
| Day 4: | On the dhow: Today we cruise northwards passing Musandam Island, and arriving in the village of Kumzar. Although geographically isolated, it is home to a sizeable community of approx. 3,000 people and yet has no landward approach. The approach to Kumzar, much longed for in rough weather, comes unexpectedly. The town appears tiny, overshadowed by the forbidding mountains that seem to be squeezing it into the sea. The town is wedged into a small area at the base of a steep gorge, and a channel created by the gorge runs directly through the centre of town. The densely packed houses are built on raised sections of land on either side of the channel, and are accessed by paths that lead along narrow rock ledges and through winding alleyways. The Kumzaris speak their own dialect, believed to be mainly a mixture of Arabic and Farsi, with the possible influence of Hindi, Baluchistani and Portuguese. Fishing is the main economy here. From small clay ovens along side the houses there arises the delicious aroma of fish cooking over an acacia-wood fire. It is not unusual to spot fishermen mending their nets on the beach and fish spotters, positioned high in the cliffs above the town, can often be heard calling out instructions to the crews of small fishing skiffs out in the bay. We leisurely explore this wonderful village today. Dhow (BLD) |
| Day 5: | On the dhow: With another full day on our dhow, we cruise today towards Khawr Habliyan, passing the villages of Shaboos and Al Balad en route. Along the way there’ll be opportunities to swim and snorkel. Dhow (BLD) |
| Day 6: | Khawr Habliyan – Khasab: Continuing down the east coast of the Musandam peninsular today we arrive at Lima, a remote, but fascinating village accessible only be sea. Here, traditional artisans continue to practice ancient crafts that have long since been abandoned elsewhere. Hand-forged axes and knives can be purchased in the village (subject to availability) along with terracotta incense burners and goat-skin drums. After cruising back to Khawr Najd we finally bid farewell to our dhow and head back to Khasab in 4WDs. 3 nights x hotel (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Khasab: Today we will have a full day 4WD trip to Jebel Harim (1980m), the highest point on the peninsula, where there’ll be the opportunity to stretch our legs and do some walking in the mountains before returning to celebrate New Years Eve. (BLD) |
| Day 8: | Khasab: After a tour of Khasab, visiting the fort and museum we’ll head out to Wadi Tawi to see some of the region’s pre-historical rock paintings. The afternoon is free to relax and recover, if you need to, from last nights activities. (BLD) |
| Day 9: | Khasab – Dubai (UAE): Today we return to Dubai (approx 3hrs) where the tour ends. (BL) |
small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.how this holiday makes a difference
 In Oman we use local ground handlers who in turn book locally run hotels, providing employment for a number of members of staff and support families. The ground handlers also use local drivers and camp staff, and ensure that all supplies are purchased locally for the journey. This means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy, and benefit the local community. We also have a strict environmental policy to make sure that the fragile eco-structure of the peninsula is not damaged or spoilt in any way. Our guides are trained to uphold this policy and all clients are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behaviour whilst in wilderness areas. Our “Leave No Trace” ethic is applied to all trips in all regions, and as tour operators is something we are careful to promote. In each area we employ and develop close relationships with drivers, staff and guides. We feel the interaction between our friends and our clients offers both parties a valuable understanding between cultures. When you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation who work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint and reduce their carbon emissions. We also support several NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, A-Cet and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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