The Middle East isn’t a very popular place for surfing activities and it is undoubtly the worst of the Indian Ocean areas. The Sultanate of Oman, the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, occupies its SE corner and it is covered by the desert for 82% of its surface. The coast extends from the Strait of Hormuz in the north to the republic of Yemen in the south and overlooks 3 seas: the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. While Dubai’s surfers also surf the gulfs, cleaner surfing conditions can be found in the Arabian Sea. South-east of the city of Muscat there is Sur (belonging to the Sharqiya region). The only surfable condition here occurs with strong NE onshore winds, so you won’t find quality waves. Better waves can be found at Ra’s Al Hadd , where there are military bases from World War II. This bay is known for the hundreds of green turtles that frequently build their nests in the sand. The east coast, also known as the pirate coast, receives monsoon waves from south and southwest. Al Jafn breaks near a shipwreck which, thanks to its position, enhance the formation of the sandbars. Further south, a rock with fishing boats around it marks the beginning of a long right pointbreak, which with great swell moves large quantities of sand. In this northern area, most of Dubai’s surfers go to Shipwreck Beach in Al Ashkarah which can be very funny with a good measure of swell. The reef extends out to sea on a regular basis, so at low tide the waves will break around 100-200m from the shore, at high tide they will be closer to the coast. Driving across the desert from Muscat to Sana, the scenery changes dramatically. From Sana it is possible to take a ferry to Masirah Island. Masirah is Oman’s largest island (65 km / 41 miles). Here you can find several spots: Bbc , near the telecom tower, works with medium-sized storms (but to enter this beach you need the permission of the Jazirah military); Shi’inzi, is a powerful beachbreak which, however, often tends to close-out on the heaviest days; Ra’s Al Jazirah , a right point located near a fishermen’s camp that breaks over rock. Getting in and out of the water here is quite easy but remember that as there is often strong wind, the spot could be crowded with windsurfers. There is also Ras’Al Ya , where the waves break, however, near a cliff. Masirah has at least 8 points on the east coast and the Jazirah area is usually half the size of the other spots in the southeast. Further south of the island there is Haqal , much better in high tide conditions like most of the spots in the area. The waves here are mostly right and break above the reef. The waves of Haqal are better than those of Ra’s Kaydah which are often ruined by the wind. The best conditions in Oman can be found on the border with Yemen. The 560 km (350 mi) of Dhofari coastline offers a variety of landscapes ranging from mountains, sheer cliffs to the sea and large bays. The summer monsoons from SW or the Harif season affect about 130 km (81 mi) of coastline, mainly around Salalah, bringing rains that cause the diversity of the landscapes. South of Salalah, the beaches hit by the SW monsoons, light up quality beachbreaks like Rakhyut. Here there is usually less wind, bigger waves and therefore better conditions! Try the best surf spots in Oman!
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Ras Al Hadd Guest House | Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Double | Double | |
| From 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 | € 189 | € 672 |
Notes
The SW monsoon winds that blow in the period between June and September are the strongest winds in the tropical zone. During this period, it is possible to constantly find waves from 8 – 12 Ft, with SE-SW direction and with period between 6-12 ft. Swells don’t have a lot of power but even a windy 5 ft in beachbreaks can be funny. During the rest of the year it is possible to surf only in the most exposed spots, thanks to the few waves that arrive from the southern part of the ocean (1-2 Ft). The dominant monsoon winds push from the SW in the period between June and August and from the NE between November and January. Cyclones mainly form in the Indian Ocean when the surface water temperature reaches 29 ° C (84 ° F). Be careful as 75% of these cyclones die off the coast of Oman. Oman is characterized by semi-diurnal tides with diurnal inequalities, which reach a maximum level of 5 Ft; high tide is often the best time to surf.
How to get there: A visa is required: it is valid for 6 months, but allows you to stay only up to 3 weeks after the date of entry into the country and it can be extended only once for a period no longer than a week. The cost is $ 13. Most of the flights to the international airport in Muscat arrive from Europe and stop in Dubai with the following airlines: British Airline, KLM, Swiss Air, Kuwait, and Emirates.
Getting around: Although Oman Air flies daily to Masirah, it is best to drive with your own boards – 7 hours of travel along the Wahibah sands. At Shanna Ferry Terminal, dhows depart constantly 4 times a day for 1h trips. There are lots of gravel roads; Due to the sand and river beds, a 4 × 4 car is recommended.
Accommodation and food: There is no middle ground between luxury hotels and shacks. In Muscat, try the Matrah hotel located in the harbor ($ 35). In Masirah, in Hil, there are 5 hotel rooms ranging between $ 40-70 per day. Book early! Camping is the only alternative to staying in front of Jazirah. Fish is very cheap and plentiful; there are small food shops in the Hilf area. Dates and tea!
Climate: Masirah is a very hot and dry place with short periods of heavy rain between October-December and March-April. The average rainfall in Muscat is 75mm while during the monsoon season in Dhofar (Salalah) it can bring rainfall between 100-400mm. The temperature is high for most of the year with peaks reaching 35 ° C (96 ° F) during May and June. From June to August, the island is hit by strong monsoon winds from the southwest, known as Khareef or Harif. In this period it does not rain but the air is still rather humid. Remember that there are severe changes in temperature between day and night in the desert areas; bring a nice warm sleeping bag. The water temperature is warm during the surf season, but a short wetsuit is recommended due to the strong winds.
Nature and culture: Collecting rare shells in the soft golden sand, admiring camels or big green turtles in the water, is truly a breathtaking experience. No beers or addictive substances. As Masirah is arid, you will find few people (especially around Hilf) dressing in local clothes like kiffieh and djellabah. Fish or sail in the sea!
Dangers and nuisances: Despite the wild nature, there are no dangers regarding disease, theft or mugging. It is however a desert full of flies. Avoid the sharp shells in the rocks. Several jellyfish can be found. Don’t expect locals, large crowds and scammers.
Tips: Bring everything, including a longboard and a kite for the many windy days. Don’t forget books, CD players and games for free time. This is an extremely peaceful and relaxing place, but beware of the heat. It is also possible to rent boats (max 80 horses) to explore the coast.
The tariff does not include
Duration: 8 days / 6 nights
from € 242 - Excluding flights
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