Karl WP Beyer Three years have passed since our first visit to Khasab/Oman. Now a second visit with a cruise ship to Oman's exclave Musandam is planned. On the first visit we travelled with Mein Schiff 6; this time we are visiting Khasab with Mein Schiff 4.
In the center of Khasab
The population of the provincial capital Khasab and its surrounding towns was determined to be around 2020 in the 22.000 census. Khasab is a relatively insignificant place, and not just because of its population. Despite its spectacular mountain landscape and coastal waters that are somewhat comparable to miniature Norwegian fjords, the city is rarely a destination for cruise ships.
Khasab - View of the fjord-like landscape
Khasab – smugglers' stronghold on the Strait of Hormuz
Khasab is a must-see, but not a must-see. Unlike Oman’s impressive capital Muscat The place offers insights into the orderly life of a provincial town, if one ignores the activities of Iranian smugglers and Omani traders, which are visible to everyone, including the police and customs authorities.
Khasab - under the eyes of the coast guard - Iranian smuggling boats
Apart from a fort built by Portuguese occupiers and the medium-sized Sultan Qaboos Mosque, Khasab has nothing remarkable to offer its visitors. Except for the landscape mentioned above with the excursion options to Jebel al Harim in the middle of the mountain region and the small town of Bukha, which we visit during our stopover this time as part of a guided bus tour.
trip to Bukha
Khasab's cruise terminal and Bukha are about 30 kilometers apart. Before the bus sets off for Bukha, a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Khasab is on the agenda. Individual mosques are only open to visitors at certain times, and our tour guide sticks to these.
The journey then continues south along the coast, climbing several hundred metres in altitude. Before reaching the destination, the road drops back down to sea level. Monumental rock massifs rise up on the landward side. In some bays, you can see settlements and stretches of beach with small fishing boats. There are several stops on the way back, and we can then see the coastal panorama a little better.
Khasab's cruise terminal
Bukha at first sight
The small town, which has a population of around 1.300, is located, like Khasab, on the Strait of Hormuz. On a clear day, Iran can be seen across the strait. The town resembles one of the many regional oasis towns. In Bukha, the oasis atmosphere is enhanced by the dominant mountain landscape and the extensive sandy beach.
Bukha - entrance to the town
Bukha - entrance to the town
Bukha is connected to the UAE Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah by a coastal road. Since the road was built, the population of Bukha is said to have increased significantly. The people of Bukha live from agriculture, fishing and traditional crafts.
Remarkable Buildings
As in Khasab, the two most notable buildings are the fortress of Bukha and the Sultan Qaboos Mosque. The fortress was built by the Portuguese in the first half of the 16th century and has been redesigned several times. The complex is open to visitors.
At the entrance to the village, on a hillside, lies the AlQala'a FortNothing is known about the purpose of this fortress or its builders. Apparently the complex is not open to visitors. The fort with its mighty round tower is certainly an eye-catcher.
Bukha - AlQala'a Fort
It is unclear whether the Sultan Qaboos Mosque is open to non-Muslims. We do not have any exact information. As we heard, the place of worship was opened in 2016. The building has a main prayer hall that can accommodate around 1.000 believers. The entrance area has space for an additional 200 people. In contrast, the prayer room for women is small with only 120 places.
Bukha - Sultan Qaboos Mosque
Eye-catchers on the way back
Our time in Bukha is limited, the guide urges us to leave. The next stop on the way back is the Beach Park Hil OmanThe well-maintained recreational area with toilets, a playground, picnic tables and refreshment facilities is bordered on one side by the turquoise sea and a beautiful sandy beach and on the other side by steep rock faces.
Bukha - Beach Park Hil Oman
Bukha - Beach Park Hil Oman
Another stop is in the bay of Mukhi, just before Khasab. The village has a small bay with a coarse pebble beach, a few houses in front of steep karst cliffs and a dilapidated cemetery.
Khasab - Mukhi Fisherman Bay
Khasab - Mukhi - dilapidated cemetery
The crowning glory of the place seems to be the grocery store located on the main road.
Khasab - Food market in the village of Mukhi
From afar we see the Celestyal JourneyA sign that we will soon reach Khasab. Before we leave the bus at the terminal, we will visit Khasab again. The stop is at the fortress of al-Chasab, which was built by the Portuguese occupiers and is in excellent condition.
Conclusion
TUI Cruises charges the on-board account 65 euros for the guided bus trip to Bukha. In return, participants are offered a variety of impressions of the landscape. At a few stops they are given some time to look around. - It shows once again that an independently organized excursion would have offered us more. The excursion destinations and the prices charged are displayed on a board. We know from Muscat that individual agreements on the destinations can also be made.
Khasab - Price board at the cruise terminal
February 2025
