Khasab is the main town of the Musandam Peninsula, Oman's dramatic northern exclave separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. Often called the "Norway of Arabia," the Musandam coast is a series of deep fjord-like inlets — khors — flanked by sheer limestone cliffs that drop straight into the turquoise waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
The town itself is small and quiet, centred around Khasab Fort, a 17th-century Portuguese fortification that now houses a museum of local history and traditional fishing. Khasab functions mainly as a base for dhow cruises through the khors, where you will see wild dolphins, occasional whale sharks, and isolated fishing villages accessible only by boat. A standard stop on the full-day cruise is Telegraph Island, a tiny outcrop with Victorian-era British telegraph ruins and superb snorkelling.
The mountain road from Khasab up to Jebel Harim — the highest point on the peninsula at nearly 2,100 metres — is one of the most spectacular drives in the Gulf region. You will need a 4WD and a head for heights. The quickest way to reach Khasab is by a short flight from Muscat, or by the high-speed ferry from Shinas.