It took us a while to find the correct gravel road leading to the Al Bithnah fort, strategically located on one of the old passes through the mountain range in Wadi Ham. The fort was constructed from stone, mudbrick, and palm-wood planking around 1745 due to the Wahhabi incursions...
The rough road brought us through a nice wadi to the small Al Hayl fort, built around 1830. This well-preserved fort is tucked deep into the jagged Hajar Mountains near the village of Al Hayl, about 13km southwest of Fujairah. It’s an excellent example of traditional architecture...
We spent a day under the bare, rugged foothills of the Hajar Mountains in Fujairah City. The city’s line of mid-rises and office blocks rises from the arid plain. Its busy main street, Hamad Bin Abdullah Rd, is a muddle of worn strip malls and semi-flashier glass and steel running...
We have parked at Khor Fakkan’s long corniche for our Xmas day, just a few steps from Khor Fakkan Amphitheater and Waterfall. The corniche, meandering for several kilometers, is flanked by well-tended gardens with mature palm trees providing shade. In the early evening, it’s...
We made a short stop at the mosque, considered the oldest in the UAE. This little mud-brick structure dates to 1446. The mosque is built on a low hillside along the coastal road just north of Badiyah (Bidyah and Bidiya) village and guarded by two ruined watchtowers. We were free to enter...
We passed by the Al Aqah Heritage Village and Cars Museum (🎟️25 AED, only cash). It was established in 2015 by a local citizen to present local culture and preserve automotive heritage. There are three little museums: one with coins and banknotes, another with ancient books, and the main...
We arrived late, so first, we had dinner at the famous Aroos Musandam Restaurant (Dal soup – 0,8 OMR, Chicken Sechuan noodles – 2,5 OMR, Chicken Tikka with rice – 3 OMR, Garlic paste – 0,6 OMR, Lemon-mint Juice – 1 OMR, Pepsi 0,33l – 0,25 OMR...
Finally, we took a trip to the Musandam Peninsula, an enclave of Oman within the UAE. We drove around the stunning coastline and enjoyed some of the region’s most breathtaking views. We made several stops to take photos, so it took us more than an hour’s drive down gorgeous...
It’s well worth climbing the zigzagging staircase (🎟️free) to this twin-towered hilltop fortress to enjoy the sweeping 360-degree vistas of the Rak area, a vast date-palm oasis, and the Hajar Mountains. Built in the early 19th century, the fort was the site of the last battle...
We drove up to the highest peak in the UAE (1934m) for our overnight. Jebel Jais is even occasionally dusted with snow. A switchback road snakes up the mountainside, delivering vistas of barren, eroded cliffs, deep canyons, and warped escarpments around every bend. There are pullouts for...