Ras Al-Jinz Turtle Reserve

One of the Indian Ocean's most important green sea turtle nesting beaches

Ras Al-Jinz is one of the most important green sea turtle nesting beaches in the Indian Ocean, and watching turtles come ashore to lay eggs at night is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences the Arabian Peninsula offers. The reserve is about 60 km south of Sur and is strictly managed — visits are in small groups with guides, red torches only, and no photography at the nest sites. Numbers peak between July and August, when dozens of turtles may come ashore on a single night.

The adjacent Ras Al-Jinz Scientific and Visitor Centre has an excellent museum on sea turtle biology and Omani marine conservation. Book ahead — the evening sessions fill up well in advance in peak season. Even outside nesting season, the rocky headlands and clear waters around Ras Al-Jinz and Ras Al-Hadd are excellent for snorkelling and seeing other marine life.

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Green sea turtles have been nesting at Ras Al-Jinz for thousands of years. The Omani government established the reserve in 1996 after decades of increasing human disturbance. Guided night visits are tightly managed — small groups, red torchlight only — and the reserve employs local rangers who are fiercely protective of the beach. Nesting females can reach 150 kg and have been making this journey for longer than any living record.

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