Staying in Masirah Island Beach Camp with a Dog

This is a diary of our experiences in Masirah Island, Oman, while traveling and staying in a beach camp with a dog.

We are going on a road trip.

No way, it’s not time to poop, I don’t feel it, why is it so dark? What’s mum doing in the kitchen? I am not hungry, yet. Wait a minute, even dad is up, he doesn’t wake up without rumbling-mumbling, but he is up and getting ready.

Something is happening, dad just took out my adventure bed sheet, my bag, my bottle, treats, and biscuits, he is packing everything. It’s time for a zoomie, we are going in the adventure car, I am going to eat the air and the cars from the window.

Wait, I hear them talking – did dad say 5 hours in the car, and then a ferry? What’s a ferry? I don’t know how long it is but it sure sounds fun. I hear the name Masirah Island repeatedly. Is it where we are going?

If you are wondering who I am, well, that’s me and my adventure car

Ok, it’s not that fun, I have been in the adventure car for too long, and I see no cars to eat. I don’t see any cars, it’s all deserted land. Dad seems so happy, he is listening to Hindi songs on the radio, he says somehow the Indian radio frequency is working as we get closer to the Shannah port.

Shannah Port? Now, what’s that?

ohhhh, it’s the ferry place.

I see glistening pink flat land for miles, mum says it’s salt. And, we are almost there (to the port)

I am on the ferry in my adventure car. I am floating, I see blue, blue to the horizon, and birds.

I didn’t even get to nap, and we are back on the road, this was a short ferry ride, mum says it took an hour.

We are staying at a beach camp because the only resort on the island does not want me to stay there.

But, this camp is nice, it has a bed (not too big though), AC, and a clean washroom with running water and electricity. The electricity works only once the sun goes down, from the power generator.

I have been to beaches around my home, but the water there is unclear. I can see something in the water here, it’s so transparent. And what is this creature? It’s the same color as me, but with no hair.

I see more of this golden creature on this island than the humans. But I like this island and our camp, I can run on the beach, jump into the waves, and eat all the sand I want, white sand that I don’t get in Muscat.

And poop sand for days, I also saw many abandoned ships, dhows, and seagulls.

I enjoyed the beach camp, I didn’t feel hot (even with this thick golden coat), rolled around in the sand, jumped into the cold water, went for a ferry ride, stayed in a beach camp, ate some fish (didn’t like it), and was ready to go home covered in sand, sea, and salt.

Now, some pointers from my mum

• Book your ferry tickets from the National Ferry Company
• The nearest mainland is the Port of Shannah which is about 460km from Muscat, you necessarily don’t need a 4*4, the route is well paved. It’s going to be a long drive, so pack some water and something to eat, and for the last hour of the drive near the salt stretches, you won’t get any mobile signals too. Plan your visit so you don’t cross the stretch in the dark, although it’s very safe to be driving around and wild camping in Oman, to be stuck in a no-signal area, in the dark, and waiting for the next car to cross isn’t an ideal situation.
• When you reach the port crossroads, on your right is the port, and on your left is the NFC office from where you can pick up the tickets if you haven’t booked them in advance.
• We thought maybe we would be asked questions about Floyd on the ferry, but there were camels on trucks being loaded onto the ferry. So if you plan to travel with a pet, the ferry is completely safe unless the sea is rough and the pet might get seasick.
• The best time to visit Masirah would be November – February. Nights and early mornings can get chilly, so pack some sweaters or jackets.
• For water sports, kite surfing, and turtle watching, May is the season but it’s going to be hot.
• The only resort in Masirah is Masirah Island resort, book in advance during peak season, the resort doesn’t allow pets so we stayed in the Beach Camp, Masirah which is about 45 minute drive from the port and a bit difficult to locate, look for the communication towers if you are staying at the beach camp.
• The entire island is about 95 km and we went driving through the entire island twice in two days. There’s a gas station near the port and some shops from where you can pick up water and eatables.
• DO NOT DRIVE too close to the beach, the sand is tricky. One of the tourists with a 4*4 got stuck in the sand during sunset, and another guy with a 4*4 who went to help him was also stuck, and it took hours and immense horsepower to get the cars out of the wet sand.
• Staying in a beach camp with a pet (dog) is not going to be a smooth or luxurious ride, but we would any day prefer staying in a camp over a resort if we get to travel and experience Oman with Floyd.