Due to its distant location and peculiar desert landscapes, probably only travelers that appreciate off the beaten path destinations will enjoy this place. Masirah is an Indian Ocean island off the east coast of Oman and is 95 km long and between 12 and 14 km wide. Masira Island Resort, PO Box 135, Postal Code 414, Masirah Island, Sultanate of Oman Email: reservations@masiraislandresort.com Tel: +(968) 25504274 , +(968) 25504275 The lack of viable accommodation in Masirah means that camping is the best way to experience the island. There are the beautiful new ferries operated by National Ferry, which cost much more (RO 26 return for vehicle and driver only. The two most common methods are buses and cars. commented on by travelers at this time. The island does not have its own airport, so you will need to arrive at Shannah first, and take a ferry to the island. From nearby cities. Masirah Island is in Central Coastal Oman.. Taking the bus is not a very feasible option, but if you wish to do so, there is a route 52 bus from Muscat that you can take. It is 95 km long north-south, between 12 and 14 km wide, and has an area of about 649 sq kms. The rocky landscapes and palm lined sandy beaches are as quiet and tranquil as can be, and are home to an incredible variety of birds such as herons and flamingos, as well as turtles, crabs and many other marine creatures. Beginning in the 1930s, Masirah was used as a British military base.A small stone building, a fuel store for flying boats, was at the midpoint of the island on the West side, and had a stone above the door inscribed "RAF 1936".Reputedly, the fuel store was locked and visiting aircrew used to bring a key, refuel from cans, lock the store and fly onwards. How to reach Masirah Island by Waterways The National Ferry Company operates regular vehicle ferries from Shannah and arives in Hilf Port. It contains an Omani air base and a fish factory, as well as a few small towns. While its people may be embracing the modern world, Masirah has not forgotten that Alexander the Great's admiral, Nearchos named it in his log Serepsis. Thankyou for all the info, we got tickets at the NFC office at Shanna port, no problem at all. If you are renting a car, you will need an International Driving Permit. Please take this into account when making your Understand []. Vehicles have to reverse to drive on the ferry and are packed in like sardines but if you can get out of your car, you can sit upstairs and enjoy the view. The water is only 3 meters deep between mainland and the island. Between 321 and 324 AD, the fleet of Alexander the Great sailed all over the Gulf to locate the best ports for trading. The locals do not believe in queueing and jump in front to get on the next ferry. Waits can be 4+++ hours each way. Topics include Transportation, Things to Do, Dining Scene, Oman: For Foreign Visitors & more! Unfortunately, there are no commercial flights from Muscat to Masirah Island. During non-holidays, the choice is yours. To Reach to Masirah Island there is a ferry between "Shannah" & Masirah Island, Once you are in "Shannah" you can buy the Tickets from "National Ferries Company" "NFC" However, I don't remember how many Trips per day or how much does it cost. Home to 12,000 residents, the rugged terrain and the rough coastline offer great opportunities for water-sports, especially with the winds attracting many kite surfers. However, the bus only leaves Muscat at 5:30 and you will probably reach Shannah around midnight. Either way, you have to get to Shannah for the ferry. The important thing to avoid is going during holidays. Take your patience and tolerence with you, you will need it. Oman Air, Jet Airways, IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Air India Express can be taken to reach Muscat from India. Oman’s largest island. The new route is named ‘Muscat-Shannah-Masirah’ included Mwasalat buses as well as the NFC’s ferry to Masirah … In the north of the island, near the military base built by the RAF, a Celtic cross was put up in memory of the shipwreck of Baron Inverdale and his crew in 1904. Staff in uniforms. It can been confusing and chaotic. It is true that it is far from Muscat, but it can be worth the drive. With its rocky interior of palm oases and gorgeous rim of sandy beaches, Masirah is the typical desert island. Apparently it is their right as they are from the island. Shannah side has decent toilets and a coffee shop. The good thing is that the new ferries have their own berth but the old ferries can change where they pull up to unload and load vehicles. Alternatively, you could also take the bus to Shannah. After arriving in Muscat International Airport, you could rent a car or hire a cab to take you to Shannah from where you can catch a ferry to the island. The journey from Muscat to Shannah will take around 5 hours. Masirah Island is a nice get-away when you have the time. Create and share itinerary, download PDF Guides and free access to Holidify's full content. It is true that it is far from Muscat, but it can be worth the drive. You will have to get off at the Sinaw station and take a cab from there to Shannah. Travel Blog India. The ferry runs four times a day from 9am to 6pm. Indian travel blog with pictures, featuring some of the best places in India to travel. During non-holiday times, it is much easier to get on an old ferry but it's best to pre-book on the new ones to avoid disappointment. After lunch, take your ferry to the Island. Masirah is a small island meaning everything is reachable within 20 minutes driving to unspoiled spots with only 12,000 inhabitants. View All Places To Visit In Masirah Island. Please note that the discussion was closed to any additional postings as of Nov 1, 2016 This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. A real desert island experience, Masirah Island is located off the eastern coast of Oman within the central coastal region. © Holidify Travels Pvt Ltd.- All Right Reserved. It is true that it is far from Muscat, but it can be worth the drive. Understand []. Reach Qahid and continue drive to Shannah, the way is flanked by one side the azure of Arabian sea and on the other side tapestry of desert dunes. Any long weekend. The fare is Ro 10 going and RO 5 returning. The best way to get around would be in your own car, which you can bring on the ferry. The new ferry but it looks very decent indeed. The flight from India to Muscat takes around 3-4 hours depending on where you fly from. Military Base. travel plans. Seeb Airport offers nonstop flights to 46 cities. and, as such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated and cannot be Masirah Island is a beautiful yet desolated place located on the coast of Oman, in the Indian Ocean. To add to its diversity, this country has a number of islands in its borders and one of these little islands is Masirah Island in Oman located 10km from the mainland on the east coast of the country. We value your privacy. more. An unforgettable Masirah episode. The island of Masirah, located off the coast of Oman in the Indian Ocean, is a true nature lover’s paradise, and what lacks in structures is made up in natural beauty. When you come after a day of Attractions and Tours, Finding your hotel in Masirah Island can be an exhausting experience, try booking your Masirah Island hotel now to avoid any inconveniences. If you remember, take cold drinks and snacks (or fresh fish) for the ferry workers, they are quite grateful. In order to reach Masirah, you will first have to fly to Muscat. You can still only get to the island by ferry, managed by the National Ferry Company www.nfc.om, which runs six times a day between Shannah to Masirah. The ferry runs four times a day from 9am to 6pm. You can take the scenic route via Quriyat, Sur, Al ashkurah down to Shannah or via Izki, Sinaw, Mahoot and over to Shannah. The older ferries, privately owned, are not nearly as pretty but are significantly cheaper and do the trick. Masirah Island has just opened for tourism. Masirah Island, tucked neatly against the eastern shore of Oman and the biggest island off the sultanate, is a wonder of nature. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Cleaner. Talk about connectivity, compare different services (if any). By now, there is a four-star-hotel and a kitesurfing camp. To reach Masirah from Muscat, the best route option would be Muscat-Bidbid-Sinaw-Shannah- Masirah. Masirah, an island off the south-east coast of Oman, is the latest area of the country to open up to tourism. Masirah Island is 207 mi from Seeb Airport (Muscat Governorate, Oman). Ferries to Masirah Island At Direct Ferries you can compare all Ferries to Masirah Island to make sure you get the best deal on your trip. So, the way to Masirah is easy, once you have the plan properly prepared. Used variously as a staging post for trade in the Indian Ocean and as home to fishermen attracted by the rich catches of kingfish, lobster and prawn, Masirah is home to flamingos and herons that patrol the coast by day and armies of ghost crabs that march ashore at night. The queues are worse from the Shannah side. The toilets onboard the old ferries are only for the desperate. Show all answers. They don’t only have seafood but … Masirah Island has just opened for tourism. Regards, 0 votes. There are flights from Kerala (Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvanthapuram) that fly directly to Muscat. Organized. The population is estimated to be 12,000. If you have booked for the new ferry, you still have to get through the craziness of the vehicles fighting to get on the old ferries. Just adding a note for anyone driving to the Island in the future, we drove from Sur to Shanna Port and found both on that road (~300Kms) and on Masirah Island that people were queuing at some petrol stations and some had run out of fuel. Show all answers. Plan your trip with experts and get best offers. By now, there is a four-star-hotel and a kitesurfing camp. Thanks to the abundance of sea turtles in the Gulf of Oman, Masirah Island also makes a popular spot for the creatures to lay their eggs, and as a result marine conservation activity has expanded in the area, alongside a steady rise in tourist numbers coming to see the turtles up-close. It's an absolute nightmare to cross to the island unless you have pre-booked online with the new National Ferry (www.nfc.om). It can only be reached by ferry from Shannah and is a bird watcher’s paradise as well as an important hatching site for a vast number of migrating sea turtles. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Hilf Port. Being the largest island in Oman as well as the most relaxing destination for a weekend getaway, Masirah Island is filled with stunning beaches and exciting water sports. The flights between Muscat International Airpot (MCT) and RAFO Masirah are only for military personnel. If you want to bring your car, it wil cost OMR 16 for a normal car and OMR 20 for a four wheel drive. It takes an hour and half to reach Masirah Island. The isl… RO 3 extra per passenger) but have many facilities on board. April 20 – Mwasalat, in coordination with the National Ferries Company (NFC) launched a new joint route connecting land with the sea to Masirah, on April 20. We have all options to Masirah Island covered with a large choice of crossings from the shortest and cheapest to the longest and most luxurious. Masirah Island is a nice get-away when you have the time. This article contains a discussion by Tripadvisor members concerning the above topic. If this is not an option, there are taxis available from hotels.There is no means of public transport within the island. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Hilf Port. Masirah is about 19 km off the east side of Barr al Hikman, and the island coast runs nearly its entire length. It costs OMR 3 for an adult and OMR 1.5 for children (one way). To Reach to Masirah Island there is a ferry between "Shannah" & Masirah Island, Once you are in "Shannah" you can buy the Tickets from "National Ferries Company" "NFC" However, I don't remember how many Trips per day or how much does it cost. It contains an Omani air base, a fish factory, and a few small towns. Last year the Öcher Kite Gang traveled back to Masirah Island in Oman. So you will have to wait until the next morning to take the ferry to Masirah Island. The ferry route departing from the port is the gateway to Oman, crossing to Shannah on the east coast and taking around an hour. Your details are safe with us. Nonetheless, there are many other ways to get from Muscat to Masirah Island. Regards, 0 votes. We never post anything without your permission. Just drive to Sur and then to Ashkharah and Shannah, to take the ferry. The island has a population of about 12,000 people and was only recently open for tourism. The National Ferry Company operates regular vehicle ferries from Shannah and arives in Hilf Port. After you reach Muscat International Airport, you can either hire a cab, or rent a car and drive to Shannah. Found off the south-east coast of Oman, Masirah Island is reached by a one and a half-hour ferry journey from Shannah Port on the coast, south of Wahiba Sands. Take a hat and a bottle of water and your camera. Masirah Island is in Central Coastal Oman.. Masirah Island is a nice get-away when you have the time. With the Omani Government considering flights from Muscat and developing the infrastructure on the island, Masirah Island is worth visiting now before everyone catches on! There is also another way possible, if you follow the inland route to Duqm and then take left to Shannah. Masirah Island Home > A’Sharqiyah > Masirah Island. The old ferries take 1 1/2 hours to cross whilst the new ferries take just half an hour. Located in the Arabian Sea, off the east coast of the mainland, Masirah Island is the largest island of the country. Masirah Island is the largest island belonging to Oman, laying off the east coast of the mainland. You can take the scenic route via Quriyat, Sur, Al ashkurah down to Shannah or via Izki, Sinaw, Mahoot and over to Shannah. The population is estimated at 12,000. This Indian Ocean jewel hosts a number of fabulous sandy beaches where four species of sea turtles nest every year. They do not even listen to fellow Omanis nor the policemen. If you haven't booked for the new ferry, you will have to queue to get on the old ferries and unfortunately, there is no gate or ticket window so you pay only once you are on board. One can still only get to the island by ferry, managed by the National Ferry Company www.nfc.om, which runs six times a day between Shannah to Masirah. It is scenic with the dhows sailing past and the many birds and jumping fish. Masirah Island has a nice selection of hotels, and one of the first things to do in Masirah Island is making sure you find a good place to sleep in. Big difference is the crossing times. Seeb Airport (Muscat Governorate, Oman) Right now, 32 airlines operate out of Seeb Airport. The island is a fisherman’s island, which means if you love seafood it is by far the perfect place for you. 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