Musandam Half Day Cruise And Mountain Safari
Two experiences in one day from Khasab. Dolphins and Telegraph Island in the morning cruise, Khor Najd, Jebel Al Harim and the Bedouin village of Sayh by 4×4 in the afternoon.
⭐ 4.9/5 – 128 Verified Reviews
📍 Morning Cruise, Afternoon Safari
🔄 Private 4×4 · Shared Cruise
AED 470 Per Person
💳 Book Now, Pay Later
Season
Oct to Mid May
Solo Friendly
Yes
Tour Type
Shared
Duration
06:00 Hrs
Reporting Time
09:30 am
Meeting Point
Khasab Port
The Half Day Cruise and Mountain Safari combines two different sides of Khasab, Oman in a single day. The morning brings a shared dhow cruise through the fjords, with dolphins at the water and snorkeling at Telegraph Island. The afternoon shifts to a private 4×4 into the mountains, climbing past Khor Najd, Bait Al Qufl, and up to the summit of Jebel Al Harim.
The Details
Tour Overview
🗺️ Tour Activities
✓ Half day dhow cruise, 03 hours
✓ Dolphin watching while cruising
✓ Telegraph Island snorkeling
✓ Private 4×4 mountain safari
✓ Khor Najd viewpoint at the top
✓ Jebel Al Harim, 2,087m summit
✓ Bait Al Qufal and Wadi As Sayh
✅ What’s Included
✓ Water, soft drinks, coffee and tea
✓ Snorkeling gear, life jackets, towels
✓ Fruits, apples, bananas and oranges
✓ English speaking guide cum driver
❌ Not Included
✗ UAE exit fees AED 35 per person
✗ Oman visa fee, AED 50 per person
✗ Travel insurance
The Difference
A Day On The Water And In The Mountains
Morning on the water, afternoon in the mountains. The cruise leaves Khasab port at 9:30 AM aboard a traditional Omani dhow into Khor Sham. Spinner dolphins are common at the fjord entrance. The stop is Telegraph Island — snorkeling and kayaking around the ruins of the 1864 British relay station. Back at Khasab port by 12:30 PM.
The safari picks you up at 1:00 PM by private 4×4. Khor Najd viewpoint, Bait Al Qufl, the Bedouin village of Wadi As Sayh at 1,100 meters and Jebel Al Harim summit at 2,087 meters where marine fossils dating back 50 million years sit in the rock face. The guide explains how shells and coral ended up pressed into limestone at the highest point in Musandam. The vehicle is yours for the afternoon, no other guests, no fixed pace. Back in Khasab by 4:00 PM. AED 470 per person covers both, minimum two guests.
Hour By Hour
Half Day Cruise And Mountain Safari Itinerary
09:15 AM — Dockside at Khasab Port
Your dhow and crew are ready at the dock. Board when you arrive, get settled on deck and the crew serves Arabic coffee, tea and fresh fruits while the boat prepares to leave.
09:30 AM — Dhow Departs into Khor Sham
The dhow leaves Khasab port and heads into Khor Sham. Limestone cliffs rise on both sides as the boat moves deeper into the fjord.
10:00 AM — Into the Khasab Fjords
The dhow heads into Khor Sham, a 17-kilometre sheltered fjord with limestone walls rising on both sides. En route the boat passes the fishing village of Nadafi and Qanah accessible only by boat.
10:15 AM — Dolphin Watching
The crew slows the boat when dolphins are spotted. Spinner dolphins and humpback dolphins are common in these waters.
11:30 AM — Telegraph Island
The dhow anchors at Telegraph Island, named after the British relay station built in 1864 for the first submarine telegraph cable. Snorkeling gear and kayaks go in the water.
12:30 PM — Return to Khasab Port
As the dhow leaves Telegraph Island lunch comes out. Fried chicken, lentil curry, mixed vegetable curry, rice, hummus, Arabic bread (khubz), green salad and unlimited soft drinks and water. The boat moves toward Seebi Island while you eat.
Lunch Break
As the dhow leaves Telegraph Island lunch comes out. Fried chicken, lentil curry, mixed vegetable curry, rice, hummus, Arabic bread (khubz), green salad and unlimited soft drinks and water. The boat moves toward Seebi Island while you eat.
01:00 PM — Safari Departure
The safari vehicle picks you up in Khasab and heads straight into the mountains. The coast drops behind you within minutes.
01:15 PM — Khor Najd Viewpoint
The road climbs to a ridge looking down over Khor Najd. The inlet sits far below surrounded by bare rock on all sides. Most groups stop here for photos.
01:45 PM — Bait Al Qufl
An old stone lock house built into the mountainside centuries ago to control movement through the mountain passes. The guide walks you through the site.
02:25 PM — Jebel Al Harim Summit
The 4x4 reaches the summit of Jebel Al Harim, the Mountain of Women, at 2,087 meters. Views extend across the full Musandam Peninsula and out toward the Gulf of Oman.
02:45 PM — Fossil Viewing at the Summit
The limestone at the summit contains marine fossils dating back 50 million years. Shells, coral and sea creatures are visible in the rock face at 2,087 meters above sea level. Your guide explains how a seabed ended up at the highest point in Musandam.
04:00 PM — Return to Khasab
After exploring the peak, the mountain vehicle heads back to Khasab. Around 04:30 pm you will be dropped at your hotel in Khasab or given location accordingly.
Real Stories
What Our Guests Say
Booked an all inclusive Dubai to Musandam day trip, would highly recommend. Great communication from start to finish, picked us up from where we were staying. Assistance provided with border crossing. Dhow boat trip was amazing, seen lots of dolphins, had a wonderful lunch and snorkeled in beautiful turquoise waters. All at a very reasonably priced.
Jennifer Kerrisk - UK
Verified Google Review
My friend and I chose to do a day trip from Dubai and this was perfect! we had an amazing experience with the driver and hosts they settled and handled everything for us, including direct hotel pick up and border crossing. We saw dolphins multiple times and got to snorkel at two beautiful Islands. This company is really 10/10 on everything from booking to the tour itself.
Alya Rasyiqah - Singapore
Verified Google Review
We had such a great time today on the Musandam trip. Rehan organised everything perfectly. Our taxi driver, Zakeen, was excellent and drove us safely and comfortably. On the boat, Captain Mohar and Kumar were incredible – they took amazing care of us from start to finish. From the fishing to the food, every detail was handled with so much attention and kindness.
Xarius Gander - UK
Verified Google Review
FAQs
Half Day Cruise And Mountain Safari FAQs
What time does the tour start and end?
The day starts at Khasab port at 9:00 AM and ends back in Khasab by 4:00 PM. The morning cruise departs at 9:30 AM and returns by 12:00 PM. The afternoon safari departs at 1:00 PM and returns by 4:00 PM.
Where exactly is the dhow departure point in Khasab?
Both the cruise and the safari depart from central Khasab. The morning cruise departs from Khasab Dhow Port. The afternoon safari picks you up from the same area. We send full directions, a Google Maps link and a local contact number via WhatsApp the evening before departure.
Is there a break between the cruise and the safari?
Between the cruise and the safari, there’s a 30 minute break near the port for a quick snack or light lunch. A heavy meal is not recommended before the mountain safari, since the motion on the drive can cause nausea.
Is this tour suitable for all ages and kids?
The dhow cruise portion is suitable for all ages, including young children. The mountain safari is not recommended for young children, pregnant guests, guests with back or heart conditions, or elderly guests, due to the off road 4×4 terrain. Families with young children may prefer the half day dhow cruise on its own rather than the combined tour.
What happens if the tour is cancelled due to bad weather or sea conditions?
If we cancel the tour due to unsafe sea conditions you receive a full refund within 7 days. You also have the option to reschedule to any available date at no extra charge. We monitor conditions 24 hours before departure and notify all guests by WhatsApp if there is any change to the schedule.
Still Have Questions?
Before You Travel
Border Requirements
🛂 Documents Validity
✓ Passport: Minimum 90 days validity from travel date.
✓ Emirates ID: UAE residents, minimum 90 days validity. Required for some nationalities.
✓ Multiple passports: If you have multiple passports, bring all at border.
✓ Original documents only, no photocopies accepted.
⛔ Visa Restrictions Full requirements are in our Musandam visa requirements guide.
✗ Single entry visa holders not permitted (some nationalities).
✗ Visa in process, pending status or cancelled not accepted.
✗ Dependent visa holders must be accompanied by their sponsor.
✓ We confirm your visa eligibility at the time of booking.
🚗 Vehicle Requirements
✓ Vehicle registration card (Mulkiya) and owner required at the border.
✓ Car insurance for Oman is required. Available at the border, around 100 AED.
✗ Rented vehicles require a NOC from the rental company to cross the border.
✗ Bank financed or mortgaged vehicles are not allowed to cross the border.
Good To Know
Important Information
About This Tour
⛰️ Cruise suitable for all ages, mountain safari not suitable for young children, pregnant women, guests with back pain or heart conditions
☀️ Best Season,October to Mid May
🚐 Shared dhow cruise, private mountain safari
⛴ Boat assigned according to the number of guests
What To Bring
🛂️ Passport (original)
🪪 Emirates ID (UAE residents)
🩳 Swimming clothes
👕 Comfortable clothes
👟 Comfortable shoes for walking
☀️ Sun protection
🎒 Small bag for valuables
No Surprises
Booking and Cancellation
✓A 50% deposit is required to confirm your booking. Without deposit booking cannot be confirmed.
✓Cancellations made 48 hours or more before departure receive a full refund within 7 days.
✓Cancellations within 48 hours of departure are non-refundable. The deposit cannot be used towards a future booking
✓ Weather cancellation: full refund within 7 days or free reschedule according to available dates.
Weekend departures fill up quickly. Book a few days ahead if you’re planning a Saturday or Sunday trip.
Book A Day On The Water And In The Mountains
We confirm your booking within minutes, no waiting, no forms. Compare every option on our Khasab Oman tour packages page.
You might also like
Self drive to Khasab port for a full day dhow cruise, dolphins, Telegraph Island, snorkeling and lunch on deck.
All inclusive Khasab Oman day tour with transport and full day dhow cruise from Dubai, Sharjhah or RAK.
Half day cruise is 03 hours shared dhow cruise with dolphin watching and snorkeling at Telegraph Island.