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Ras al-Jinz Turtle Reserve

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Hotel overview

The Turtle Reserve is best placed for doing your turtle-watching when in this area, as you can head down to the beach after dark and before dawn when there are fewer people around and the turtle viewing is generally at its best. The trade-off is that the rooms in the main building face onto the car park, so it’s quite noisy, and the lodge is devoid of any real character, although the rooms are air-conditioned and have ensuite bathrooms. Additionally, the lodge has now added 12 comfortable tents, also air-conditioned and ensuite, that are marginally more exciting than staying in the main building.

Turtle-watching season falls between April and September – outside of these months, you may spot one of two turtles coming to sure, but sightings are rare and there are no other activities from the lodge.

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Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Oman
Excursion

The Coastal Road to Muscat

The tarmac road linking Muscat and Sur is a relatively new development and has dramatically shortened this journey. You still pass sweeps of stunning white sand beaches, and through the picturesque wadis of Shab and Tiwi, where streams trickle out from steep, mighty canyons and through small fishing villages down to the sea, and a short way from the road you can stop at the ruins of ancient Qalhat, most notable for the distinctive tomb of a local saint, Bibi Maryam. At Bimmah you’ll find a sinkhole, a large collapsed cave dropping some 20 metres from the limestone surface to the clear water below. Just outside Sur the modern world intrudes in dramatic fashion, with the vast mechanical workings of the LNG plant, exporting gas, Oman’s most precious natural resource.

Excursion

Hiking in Wadi Shab

Wadi hiking is a very popular activity in Oman, for both travellers to the country and locals on days out. Down the coastline east of Muscat there are a few wadis that wend down from the mountains, but the walks and swimming that Wadi Shab provides are among our favourite. You start by catching a little boat over the mouth of the river to reach the hiking trails, then you have miles ahead of glorious footpath to explore. The route is dotted with pools for you to slip into to cool off, and if you keep going far enough you'll reach waterfalls and caves all flanked by dramatic rock scenery. The paths through the wadi are mostly flat so the walking itself isn't particularly technical – although it is rocky so sturdy footwear is definitely advised – making it a perfect if you have young ones in tow too.

Excursion

Sur

As you wonder through the streets of Sur, your eye will be caught by traditional architecture everywhere – pointed windows, wind towers and intricately carved wooden doors all compete for your attention. Eventually, it seems, all streets lead to the harbour where you’ll see traditional dhows riding at anchor. A stroll around the harbour and along the beach will probably pass at least one dhow under construction, the master shipwright ordering his men around, employing techniques largely unchanged for centuries.

Excursion

Turtle Watching

Green turtles nest on the knuckle of the Arabian Peninsula where it juts into the Indian Ocean near Sur, a headland known as Ras al-Jinz (Headland of the Genies). Turtle watching is more regulated than in the past, and you’ll need to join a group heading down to the beach from the Ras al-Jinz Visitor Centre. Turtle watching in Oman can be a bit disappointing; partly this is because group sizes can get large and unwieldy and partly because it’s not unknown for the turtles to be denied the space and privacy they need when nesting. In addition, although some turtles nest year-round, the main nesting season is June to September, which is the height of summer and too hot for most people to consider visiting Oman!

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