6 Breathtaking Islands in Oman You Don’t Want to Miss

Escape the mainland and visit one of the islands in Oman

If Oman hasn’t already got enough to offer, with its stunning deserts, jaw-dropping Wadis, and vibrant towns, there are also some islands in Oman that any visitor should consider exploring.

Visiting one of Oman’s islands is the perfect way to escape the mainland and see some of the other parts of this beautiful country.

This article is going to round up the best of the islands in Oman, so when planning your next trip to Oman you can visit the one that appeals to you most.

The islands which are going to feature in this list are:

1. Masirah Island
2. Daymaniyat/Dimaniyat Island
3. Barr Al Hikman
4. Khuriya Muriya Islands
5. Telegraph Islands
6. Al Fahal Island

All of these islands in Oman are unique in their own special way, and all offer something different for your visit to Oman. Take a look at our article to find out which one best suits your Oman adventure.

Masirah Island

A feature look at Oman’s main island

We’re starting with the biggest island in Oman. Masirah Island is a hugely popular destination for weekend trips and day visits. Whilst at Masirah island you can visit the stunning beaches, take part in water sports activities, or just relax in this stunning location.

Another interesting fact is that Masirah Island is home to a population of around 12,000 people. Whilst this isn’t a huge number, Masirah Island is only 95km (59 mi) long and between 12 and 14 km (7.5 and 8.7 mi) wide. Most of the 12,000 population live in villages in the north of Masirah island.

As Masirah island lies around 20km to the east of Oman, the only way to reach the island is by catching a direct flight from Muscat International Airport or taking a ferry crossing from Shannah. Once on the island, there are plenty of places to rent a car giving you freedom to explore.

As you would expect for an island situated in this geographical area, the Masirah Island weather is very hot for the whole year, with the coldest temperature normally occurring in either December or January, but even this is still above 30 degrees. In the hotter months of the year, which normally fall between April and July, the temperature at Masirah Island can hit a sweltering 45 degrees. As you may expect from an island, Masirah Island can also be windy which makes it a popular destination for activities such as kitesurfing.

If you’re looking to stay somewhere luxurious whilst visiting Masirah Island, you should check out the Masirah Island Resort. Situated on the beach, Masirah Island Resort will give you great access to the seaside and stunning views of the coastline.

This resort is only 17km away from the airport and 15km away from Masirah port, meaning you won’t have to travel far to get here.

What’s also great about Masirah Island Resort is that there are activities for the whole family. Direct access to the private beach will be great for families, especially if you need to pop back to your room for a break, whilst the outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and fitness centre will keep the energetic folks amongst your group entertained.

If eating out is your thing, Masirah Island Resort has also got you covered. Between the Dhow restaurant, the Sanctuary and Oasis bars, you can get your hands on loads of lovely food and exotic drinks.

Daymaniyat Island

Visit a tropical paradise where you’d least expect to find it

If camping in a nature reserve sounds like something that you might like to do on your Oman holiday, Daymaniyat Island would be a great choice.

This group of islands are located close to Muscat, being only 70km (43 mi) to the west of the capital city, so they’re easily reachable via a short boat trip.

As the Ad Dimaniyat Islands are a protected area within Oman, there are a few rules you need to be aware of when planning your trip:

• If you are a visitor to Oman, you must pay OMR3 per day visit, OMR6 for diving, and OMR10 for diving and overnight camping.
• You must also acquire the approval of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Climate Affairs before entering the Diminiyat Islands.
• You are allowed to stay on the islands for a maximum of 5 days.
• The total number of people in your group must not exceed 12.

It’s important to follow these rules to ensure that you don’t break any of Oman’s laws.

Once you’ve obtained all the necessary approvals and you’re planning to visit the Diminiyat islands is in place, here’s what you can expect to find.

1. A set of tropical islands, in a country of dry land and deserts is a unique sight.
2. Turquoise sea water
3. White sandy beaches
4. So much sea wildlife which provides the perfect snorkelling opportunities.

If you choose to visit the Daymaniyat Islands, Oman, you will be guaranteed an epic adventure that will take you away from Oman’s mainland into a tropical paradise. Nomad Tours can help you to organize your tour to Daymaniyat Island with all the available facilities.

The other scenario you need to factor in is how to get to the Daymaniyat Islands. We’ve already mentioned the rules which need to be followed to be able to access these islands, which could be time-consuming if you choose to do it all by yourself.

Another preferred option for visitors to Oman is to hop onboard a Daymaniyat Islands Tour from Muscat. As you would expect with the islands being only around 45 minutes boat trip away from the capital city, there are plenty of tours leaving Al Mouj Marina.

Taking a Daymaniyat Islands Tour will be much easier and you’ll be able to ask questions of local experts to help you maximise your time visiting the islands. Throughout the course of your trip, you’ll be able to experience the very best of what they have to offer.

Barr Al Hikman

Discover one of Oman’s best-kept secrets

Barr Al Hikman is located on Oman’s east coast around 500km away from Oman’s capital city, Muscat. It is a significant location as a hub for migratory birds which travel from all across the world.

One of the amazing aspects of Barr Al Hikman is the presence of coral reefs, which are a huge attraction for divers wishing to see the spectacular underwater wildlife that call this place home.

What is remarkable about Barr Al Hikman, is that between September and February, a spectacular island named ‘Solar Island’ appears, which is unavailable for the rest of the year due to windy conditions.

Hugely popular activities around this area include kitesurfing and enjoying the stunning local landscapes in the presence of so many different kinds of exotic wildlife.

Khuriya Muriya Islands

Visit a unique cluster of islands

The Khuryiya Muriya Islands are a small group of 5 islands located 40km (25 mi) off the southeastern coast of Oman.

The five islands which make up this cluster of land mass are named:

• Al Sawda
• Al Hasikyah
• Al Qibliyah
• Al Hallaniyah
• Qarzawith

These islands have been designated as important bird areas, and if you decide to visit, you’ll get a chance to view seabirds, tropical shearwaters, Socotra cormorants, as well as many other types of birds.

Of these islands, Al Hillaniyah is the largest and is located in the centre of the group of Khuryiya Muriya Islands. Al Hillaniyah is 22 square miles in size and only contains one small village to the west of the island, which has a population of between 100 and 150.

If you decide to visit Isole Al Hillaniyah, you can expect to find ancient sites of historical interest, deserts, highlands and springs, bays and headlands. There are also some magnificent, unspoilt beaches to be found.

These islands are also home to nesting sea turtles and an abundance of marine wildlife, which can be explored via snorkelling or diving. There are also some shipwrecks to explore, including a wreck of a British ship sunk by German forces during the First World War.

The tourist potential of these islands has yet to be realised, however, plans for development of a harbour at Al Hillaniyah have been in circulation for a while. If you do want to get across to explore some of the dive sites, currently the only way is to hitch a ride on a fishing vessel.

Telegraph Islands

Take in some history at the Telegraph islands

The Telegraph Islands are situated in the north of Oman and are a few hundred meters from the coast of the Musandam Peninsula.

These islands have become a popular tourist destination and somewhere you should consider whilst visiting Oman.

Photo by Andy Hayes / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Many day trips are departing from the town of Khasab which offers a few hours of exploration of the Telegraph islands. One of the more popular activities when visiting the Telegraph Islands is to view an old British repeater station and operator’s quarters that were present until the mid 1870s.

Another great activity to undertake whilst visiting the Telegraph Islands is to snorkel in the surrounding areas. As there are a few inlets, these waters are calm and provide the perfect opportunity to spot marine wildlife.

Al Fahal Island

Take a quick, exhilarating dash to Al Fahal Island

Al Fahal Island, or as it is sometimes known by its alternative name of Shark Island is located just 4km from Muscat.

With being such a short distance away from Muscat, Al Fahal Island is perfect for a short trip where you can view the dramatic scenery or take part in some diving or snorkelling. Due to its rugged terrain, Al Fahal Island isn’t a place where you can spend a lot of time having a picnic or taking part in family activities, and there are much better Oman islands to do that sort of stuff.

A bit more on the diving and snorkelling opportunities that Al Fahal Island presents. This area presents an amazing opportunity to have a go at a cave swim-through, but this should be reserved for the most adventurous! There’s also a boat wreck which can be explored, and slightly deeper at 40m there are also some deep reefs!

Photo by Marco Zanferrari / CC BY-SA 2.0

We’ve mentioned that this island is referred to as ‘Shark Island’ and that’s because there’s often an abundance of sharks resting around the island, especially on the sand banks. In the water, you’re also pretty likely to spot marine wildlife, including, an abundance of tropical fish, giant eagle rays, sharks and maybe even an orca whale!

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