Musandam Dhow Cruise from Dubai: Khasab Fjords & Snorkeling

The Fjords of Oman Start with a Dhow's Wooden Bow Cutting Turquoise Water

You're picked up from your Dubai hotel early and driven to the Omani border, where you board a traditional dhow in Khasab for a six-hour cruise through fjord-like inlets. You snorkel at Telegraph Island with included gear, spot dolphins from deck, eat an Arabic buffet lunch onboard, and return to Dubai by evening. Visa, exit fees, transfers, and all onboard refreshments are included; you bring swimwear and sunscreen.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Drive from Dubai to Khasab
• Cross Omani border
• Board traditional Omani dhow
• Cruise through fjord-like inlets
• Enjoy drinks and fresh fruit
• Watch for dolphins
• Anchor at Telegraph Island
• Swim and snorkel
• Eat Arabic buffet lunch onboard
• Relax and sunbathe on deck
• Sail back to Khasab
• Return to Dubai

The Experience

The boat's engine hums as you leave Khasab harbor, and the cliffs rise up around you—steep, rust-colored, nothing like the flat desert you left behind in Dubai. This is Musandam, the northeastern tip of Oman, and it looks nothing like the rest of the Arabian Peninsula. The dhow cruise takes six hours total, but the real shift happens in the first twenty minutes, when the water changes from harbor-brown to that almost-unreal turquoise and the mountains close in on both sides. Your guide points out the inlets ahead, the ones that gave this place its nickname: the Norway of Arabia. It's not hyperbole once you're actually there.

The boat itself is traditional—wooden, low-slung, built for these waters—and the day moves at the pace of the water. You'll anchor at Telegraph Island around midday, where the snorkeling happens. The marine life isn't sparse; you're swimming among actual fish, actual coral, not just hoping to see something. Snorkeling gear is included, as are towels, so you're not fumbling with logistics. Before that, though, there's time on deck: complimentary drinks, fresh fruit, the sun doing its work. The crew keeps watch for dolphins—humpback and bottlenose species show up about 99 percent of the time, which is a number worth noting because it's not a maybe. They're there or they're not, and most days they're there, moving through the water in groups, close enough that you stop talking and just watch.

Lunch comes onboard: an Arabic buffet with grilled chicken, hummus, fresh salads, the kind of food that tastes better when you're sitting on a boat in the middle of fjords. Vegetarian options are available if you request them at booking. The afternoon is unstructured—swim again, stay on deck, read, sleep. The return to Khasab takes the same route back, and then the drive to Dubai begins. The whole day, including transfers from your hotel, takes roughly ten to eleven hours door-to-door, depending on border traffic. That's the constraint: it's a full day, not a half-day. But that's also what makes the six-hour cruise possible without feeling rushed.

One practical thing: you'll need a valid passport, and depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to cross into Oman. The visa and exit fees are included in the price, and the supplier handles the paperwork—but you do need to send a copy of your passport in advance so they can prepare the border authorization. Hotel pickup happens early, and the air-conditioned car or minivan waits at your door. If weather turns bad, the tour can be rescheduled or partially refunded, though visa and transfer costs paid at the border don't come back.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Dubai.
• air-conditioned car or minivan transport to Khasab.
• visa and exit fees for Oman border crossing.
• six-hour traditional dhow cruise through Musandam fjords.
• snorkeling equipment and towels.
• entry to Telegraph Island.
• Arabic buffet lunch onboard.
• unlimited onboard soda, mineral water, tea and coffee.
• local guide throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Musandam Travel Tourism LLC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Musandam's fjords and snorkel without arranging your own transport, border paperwork, or lunch—the pickup from Dubai and included visa mean you show up at your hotel ready to go, and the fixed schedule keeps everything inside one full day.

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Top questions

Do I need a visa to cross into Oman?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. If your passport allows entry to Oman, the visa and exit fees are included in the tour price. If a visa is required, it's also included. You must send a passport copy in advance for border authorization.

How long is the actual dhow cruise?

The dhow cruise lasts six hours. The full day, including hotel pickup, border crossing, and return to Dubai, takes approximately ten to eleven hours depending on traffic at the border.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and towels are included. You'll use them at Telegraph Island during the cruise.

What are the chances of seeing dolphins?

Dolphins appear on approximately 99 percent of departures. You'll typically see humpback and bottlenose dolphins in the fjords.

What's included in the lunch?

An Arabic buffet with grilled chicken, hummus, fresh salads, and other dishes. Vegetarian options are available if requested at booking.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun hat, and sunscreen. Casual clothes are recommended. A valid passport is required on the day of travel.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dubai are included in the tour price.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you can choose an alternative date or receive a partial refund. Visa, transfer, and border fees already paid are not refunded.