Khasab Dhow Cruise
Musandam (Oman) · Beaches
The fjords by traditional dhow — dolphins, cushions and endless tea
✓ Self-guided View Guide →
Things to Do in Musandam (Oman)
· Landmarks & Attractions
Telegraph Island
Victorian ruins in the fjord — swim ashore where "round the bend" was born
Landmarks & Attractions ✓ Self-guided · No booking needed
📍 Location Khor Ash Sham fjord, reached by dhow from Khasab
🕒 Timings Dhow cruise stop (full/half-day trips)
🎟️ Entry Fee Included in cruises (from ~AED 180–250)
⏱️ Duration Cruise-stop of ~1 hour (swim/snorkel)
🌅 Best Time October–April cruises
🚇 Getting There Only by boat — every Khasab dhow itinerary includes it
📖 About
On this islet in the great fjord, British telegraph operators manned a repeater station in the 1860s — a posting so isolated and heat-mad that sailing "round the bend" of the fjord to relieve them allegedly coined the phrase. The station's stone ruins remain, ringed by water so clear the fish navigate by sight alone.
Dhows anchor off the island for the trip's signature hour: swim or snorkel ashore, clamber the Victorian foundations, and float in the blue while dolphins — with luck — arc past the anchor line.
⭐ Highlights
- Victorian telegraph-station ruins
- The (probable) origin of "round the bend"
- Snorkel-clear fjord anchorage
- The centrepiece stop of every dhow cruise
💡 Insider Tips
- Bring water shoes — the landing rocks are barnacled.
- Snorkel gear is usually aboard; confirm when booking.
- Morning cruises get glassier water at the island.
🧭 Also Worth Seeing
Musandam Fjords
Musandam (Oman) · Mountains & Wadis
The Norway of Arabia — drowned mountains and mirror water
✓ Self-guided View Guide →
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