Chasing The Trade Winds | Majan Ospreys

Mon 25th Nov, 2024 @ 12:50 pm

Kitesurfing News
Chasing The Trade Winds | Majan Ospreys

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Photo by Nikola Bagarov

Experience an adventure like no other in Oman: The Jewel of Arabia.

This 8-day kitesurfing tour will take you to Barr Al Hickmann and Masirah Island to experience the best the Gulf of Oman offers. Warm, crystal-clear turquoise waters and ethereal salt flats wait to welcome you by day; cosy Bedouin tents and fireside beach BBQs under a sparkling sky will nourish you at night. Arabian adventures await…

Itinerary

Day 1:

Depart from Muscat and drive south to the Eastern Omani coast for five hours, reaching Barr Al Hickman. This area is renowned for its stunning flat lagoons, endless white sands, and abundant biodiversity. Barr Al Hickman is a wetland paradise of great significance for West Asian-East African migratory birds and is home to the longest natural sandbar in the Middle East.

Photo by Ahmed Al Fudhili

Spacious 4m x 4m Bedouin tents will be set up for guests upon arrival, accommodating two guests per tent. This means you can start kitesurfing right away. While wash facilities and camping showers will be available, guests should be aware that toilet facilities are essential due to the nature of wild camping. Each guest will receive a cot bed, a camping mattress and pillow, bed linen, a torch, wet wipes, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Camp chairs will also be provided, and a traditional communal Majlis (Arabic for “sitting room”) tent will offer shade throughout the day.

All meals, snacks, and refreshments will be prepared freshly by our excellent local chefs. The cuisine will feature a variety of local Omani delicacies, such as Bishkek (marinated, skewered meats grilled over a fire pit), fresh crab, squid, and grilled fish, all cooked on beach barbecues. The service will be informal, with guests encouraged to sit together around one large camping table. Lunches will be served on location and include sandwiches, pasta, local meats, rice, bread, vegetables, fresh fruits, and juices.

Breakfast each morning will feature cereals, preserves, toast with eggs, chicken sausages, hummus, and plenty of hot tea and coffee. A much-needed pick-me-up will also be provided every afternoon with hot Arabic coffee, dates, and biscuits.

We are happy to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies upon consultation.

Days 2-3:

Barr Al Hickman offers three excellent kitesurfing spots: two main lagoons and the famous big sandbank.
After enjoying Camp Lagoon on Day 1, Day 2 will feature morning and afternoon kitesurfing sessions at the smaller lagoon. Depending on the conditions, the sandbar will be reserved for Day 3.
Kitesurfing lessons are offered by Majan Ospreys for all skill levels, and they provide rental equipment.
Children aged eight and older can kitesurf with permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Additional activities include stand-up paddleboarding and volleyball. As the sun sets, guests can gather in the Majlis to share their experiences over Arabic afternoon tea.

Day 4:

Departing Barr Al Hickman in the morning, we will make the short ferry crossing to Masirah Island. This island is of archaeological importance due to the large number of Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Age sites dotted throughout the terrain.
The island is also known for impressive waves and perfect kitesurfing conditions due to warm summer monsoon winds; it is a kitesurfer’s paradise.
Accommodation will be at a shared double- and single-occupancy guesthouse in the centre of town, with breakfast and lunch again served on-site.
As soon as you’re settled in, we’ll hit the surf to explore the first location on the island, either on the East or West side, depending on which conditions you prefer.
For dinner, guests are welcome to venture into town and dine at one of the local restaurants, which serve cuisine ranging from local Omani fare to pizza. Babu’s Kitchen Restaurant or Abu Said Yamani are popular haunts that are reasonably priced.

Days 5-7:

Masirah Island truly has a kitesurfing spot to suit all tastes. Beginners and intermediate surfers prefer the calmer waters on the island’s West side, while the more advanced and thrill-seeking riders enjoy the waves on the East side.
There are many surfing locations, and our local guides know the best spots and the best-kept secrets.
For travellers interested in trekking, Masirah Island has a rough and rugged beauty strewn with fossils. A local ghost story tells of a jinn who lives in Jebel Humr (274m), the highest point on the island, with incredible viewpoints.

A local guide can be organised to take you on a tour and possibly spot the Egyptian vultures that make the mountain their home.

Day 8:

We will depart Masirah Island early to take the coastal road back to Muscat. If the weather permits, a final hike at Wadi Shab is possible. Wadi Shab, known for its beauty and breathtaking pools of water, makes an excellent swimming spot after a hike to take the edge off the heat of the day. The hike down is adventurous, but successful hikers will be rewarded with a cool dip and a gorgeous waterfall.