Ever since moving to the UAE, we've wanted to see the baby turtles near Ras al Jinz. Instead of going to the actual reserve (we'd hear mixed reviews on crowds and turtle treatment), we stayed in an Airbnb in Ras al Hadd just to the north. We knew it was quite the haven for turtle breeding, but there were WAY more baby turtles than we expected. It's definitely worth a visit, especially if you can keep away from large groups of people <3
What We Did
Tiwi
Bimmah Sinkhole: Fun (and free) stop for swimming! If you have time, stop by the coast here to see beautiful water and possibly some turtles swimming about!
Wadi Shab: All said, it took us just under three hours to hike to the waterfall and back. However, we easily stayed an additional ~45 minutes to swim at and near the waterfall/cave at the end, as well as break for lunch. We would absolutely do this hike again. Its super fun and really beautiful.
Cost: Park here, then you'll need 1 Omani Riyal to get boated to the start of the trail (this includes the return trip, for which you'll need to yell for them when you're ready to come back as it's hard to see across the wadi). This website has a map showing you the general direction and length of the hike.
It's a very easy trail, but you'll need to know how to swim (or have a PFD) for the last stretch. Also, some of the stream crossings have slippery rocks, so take your time and find the route you're most comfortable with. If you aren't comfortable doing the hike on your own, you can hire a guide (in advance or at the boat launch) to take to you all the way to the waterfall.
Ras al Hadd
Airbnb: We stayed at a really nice Airbnb hosted by Salem in Ras al Hadd. He has multiple guest rooms; provides all kinds of coffee, tea, and food; and he can take you for snorkeling, fishing, etc.
Baby turtles: The police are quite strict on turtle conservation. It is left to the reserve to handle, which means that you aren't supposed to rescue turtles on your own. But know that they are EVERYWHERE. The unfortunate side effect of having a town near the breeding ground is that the turtles are attracted to light. So, you see turtles hobbling all over the roads in town. It's reassuring to know the local children try to pick them up and take them to the safety of the sea.
Boat snorkeling: It would have been worth bringing our own snorkeling gear, as all we were given were masks (no snorkel lol). But, we saw some amazing stuff! First, the mother turtle tracks were pointed out along the shore (they look like tire tracks). Then, we went to several spots to swim amongst the adult turtles. There was a particular spot that easily had 20-40 at the bottom! From there, we boated quite a ways to snorkel near a palace, which had some incredible shallow coral. The boat trip ended with an incredibly active pod of dolphins! Note on the boat: don't sit in front, Salem likes to go fast :P
Muscat
Al Alam Palace: We didn't have much time to spare in Muscat, in general, but this was well-worth the stop for a photo. It's such a colorful building!
House of Musical Arts: We were a little confused and thought this was the opera house, but turns out, it's a new building associated with the opera house complex. Everything was closed by the time we visited, but exterior pictures are best taken at night anyway. The reflection of the buildings on the tile is stunning!
Royal Opera House: Like the House of Musical Arts, we only walked around the outside for pictures. Inshallah we'll come back for a show.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: Took some quick pics on the side of the highway on the way to the airport lol. We would have loved to visit the inside, but it was closed to visitors the entire duration of our trip. It looks really cool from the outside, though!
Food
Sur
Zaki Restaurant: Amazing Indian food! Leftovers made for great breakfast the next day, too.
Muscat
Tomato Restaurant: Surprisingly great food, and even better service <3
Duke's Bar: Great for a pint and watching your game of choice!
