Khasab Musandam Half Day Dhow Cruise

Our Khasab Musandam half day dhow cruise costs AED 125 per adult and AED 90 per kid, and infants go free. You share a traditional dhow with other guests for 3 hours in the Musandam fjords, with dolphin watching on the way to Telegraph Island and about an hour there to swim and snorkel. Morning cruises leave Khasab port at 9:30 am and come back at 12:30 pm, and afternoon cruises run from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. If you want the boat to yourselves, a private half day dhow starts at AED 900 for up to 10 guests.

Musandam Half Day Dhow Cruise Price

The shared cruise is priced per person. Kids are 4 to 10 years old, and infants under 4 go free. The private dhow is priced per boat, for your group only.

Transfer from the UAE: we can add a private transfer from Dubai, Sharjah or RAK with return the same day, at AED 800 for a 7 seater or AED 900 for a 12 seater. The UAE exit fee of AED 35 per person isn’t included.

A 50% deposit confirms your booking, and you pay the balance on the day. The Oman visa is not included, and some nationalities pay AED 50 for it at the border.

Half Day Or Full Day Dhow Cruise?

The half day cruise gives you the main things most people come for: the fjords, the dolphins and a swim at Telegraph Island, in 3 hours. It suits families with small kids, cruise ship guests with a few hours in port, and anyone who wants the afternoon free for the mountain safari. The full day cruise adds a second swim stop at Seebi Island, a lunch on board and a longer, slower day on the water for AED 150 per adult. If you’re driving from Dubai for the day, the full day usually makes more sense for the trip.

Musandam Half Day Dhow Cruise Itinerary

Morning Cruise

• 9:00 am Board at Khasab portOur crew meets you at the dhow and serves Arabic coffee, tea and fresh fruit. Find a spot on the cushions, and the crew hands out life jackets before you leave.
• 9:30 am Sail into Khor ShamThe dhow heads into Khor Sham, the local name for the Musandam fjords, with steep rock walls on both sides. You pass the small fishing villages of Nadifi, Qanah and Maqlab, which you can only reach by boat.
• 10:00 am Look out for dolphinsDolphins live in the fjords all year and often ride the bow wave next to the dhow. The crew slows down when they appear, but they’re wild, so we can’t promise a sighting.
• 10:30 am Telegraph IslandThe dhow anchors near the ruins of the 1864 British telegraph station for about an hour. Swim, snorkel over the reef or take a kayak out along the rocks.
• 11:45 am Head backThe crew pulls up the anchor and the dhow sails back through the fjord. It’s a good time to dry off on deck with a cold drink.
• 12:30 pm Back at Khasab portThe cruise ends at the port. Cruise ship guests are dropped back at the cruise terminal.

Afternoon Cruise

The afternoon cruise follows the same route. Board at 1:00 pm, sail at 1:30 pm, and you’re back at Khasab port at 4:30 pm.

Half Day Cruise For Cruise Ship Guests

If your ship is docked in Khasab for the day, the half day cruise fits easily into your time in port. In 3 hours you see the fjords, watch for dolphins along the way and swim or snorkel at Telegraph Island. Our team meets you at the main gate of Khasab port with a free shuttle to the dhow, and brings you back to the gate after the cruise. We plan the trip around your ship’s all aboard time, so you’re back well before it sails. See our Khasab shore excursions for the other tours that fit a port day.

Is The Half Day Cruise Good For Kids?

Yes, it’s the cruise we suggest most often for families with young kids. Three hours is long enough to see the dolphins and have a swim, and short enough that small children don’t get bored or tired. Every child gets a life jacket, swimming is up to you, and there’s a toilet on board and shade on the deck for naps. Infants under 4 go free, and kids from 4 to 10 pay AED 90.

What To Bring On The Half Day Cruise

• Original passport (Emirates ID for UAE residents)
• Car Mulkiya and NOC if needed (self drive)
• Swimwear under your clothes
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
• A small bag for your phone and valuables
• Cash for the balance on the day

Booking, Deposit And Cancellation

Message us on WhatsApp with your date, morning or afternoon, and how many adults and kids are coming. Tell us too if you want the private dhow or a transfer from the UAE. We confirm your places and send a payment link for the 50% deposit, and you pay the balance on the day in cash, or by card with a 4% payment gateway fee.

Cancel at least 48 hours before the shared cruise, at least 96 hours before if you’ve added a transfer from the UAE, or at least 7 days before a private dhow, for a full deposit refund. Within the same window, you can move your booking to a new date once, subject to availability. After that, the booking can’t be canceled or moved, and the deposit is not refundable. If we cancel because of the weather or sea conditions, you choose between a full refund and a new date.

The half day cruise runs all year, and the best time to go is from October to May.