Overnight dhow cruise in Khor Sham — BBQ, stars, dawn snorkel
A 24-hour dhow trip: full day on the water, BBQ dinner under the stars, sleep on board in a sheltered cove, dawn snorkel and breakfast before returning.
What you'll do
The overnight dhow cruise is the trip we recommend for guests who want the one experience that no day-tripper can have. You leave the harbour at 09:30 on the dhow Al-Khaleej (25 guests), cruise the full Khor Sham route, anchor in a sheltered cove at sunset, eat a BBQ dinner on the deck, sleep on mattresses under the open sky, and wake up for a dawn snorkel before the dhow heads back.
The cove we anchor in is one of three depending on weather — Captain Yousef has been running this trip for 15 years and reads the conditions. All three are inside Khor Sham, protected from wind and swell, with zero light pollution and excellent stargazing on a clear night.
The dhow carries mattresses, blankets, pillows, a BBQ grill, a generator for lights, and an on-board washroom. Guests usually sleep on the upper deck under the stars, but you can also sleep downstairs in the carpeted cabin if you prefer.
The BBQ is grilled fish, grilled chicken, salads, hummus, rice, fruit. We can do vegetarian and vegan with notice. Soft drinks, water, tea and Arabic coffee are available all night. Alcohol is not served on board.
Dawn is around 06:00. The first swimmers are usually in the water by 06:15. The visibility at sunrise is exceptional — we see 14–16 m on most summer mornings, 10–12 m in winter. After breakfast on board (eggs, bread, hummus, fruit, tea, coffee), we cruise back to Khasab Port by 10:00.
Tour highlights
Itinerary
Pickup from hotel or port
Pack light — one bag. Towel, swimsuit, change of clothes, phone, camera, light jacket for the night.
Board dhow Al-Khaleej
Safety briefing, life-jacket check, cabin and mattress assignments. Carpets on the lower deck, mattresses on the upper.
Sail into Khor Sham
Look for dolphins on the way in. Captain Yousef sets the day’s course.
Lunch on board
Omani buffet. Rice, grilled fish, chicken, hummus, salad, fruit.
Snorkel stop
First of two swim stops on day 1. Telegraph Island or Seebi Island, depending on conditions.
Move to overnight cove
Captain anchors the dhow in a sheltered cove. The crew sets up the mattresses on the upper deck.
Sunset on the water
The cove faces west; sunset is on the water. Most guests stay on the upper deck for this.
BBQ dinner on deck
Grilled fish, grilled chicken, salads, hummus, rice, fruit. Soft drinks, tea, coffee.
Stargazing, sleep
No light pollution. The dhow’s generator switches off at 22:30. Most guests fall asleep by 23:00.
Dawn
The first swimmers are in by 06:15. The water is calmest and clearest at this hour.
Breakfast on board
Eggs, bread, hummus, fruit, tea, coffee. Generator is on for hot water.
Arrive Khasab Port
Transfer back to your hotel, the port or the border pickup point.
Included
- 24 hours on the dhow (09:30 – 10:00 next day)
- Omani buffet lunch on day 1
- BBQ dinner on deck (grilled fish, chicken, salads, rice)
- Continental breakfast on day 2
- Mattresses, blankets, pillows
- Snorkel gear and life jackets
- Soft drinks, water, tea, Arabic coffee
- On-board washroom and freshwater shower
Not included
- Oman visa or 1-day border permit
- UAE exit fee
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuity for the crew
- Towels (bring your own)
Who is this tour for?
Couples on a romantic trip. Friends celebrating a birthday. Photographers. Anyone who wants the one Musandam experience that is genuinely off the day-tripper circuit. Not the right pick if you are a light sleeper, get bad seasickness, or need a private cabin (we have shared mattresses on deck only).
What to bring
- Towel (we do not provide overnight towels)
- Light jacket or fleece for the night
- Swimsuit, change of clothes, toiletries
- Phone in a waterproof pouch
- A book or journal — no WiFi, no signal
- Cash in AED for gratuity for the crew
Local tip from the team
The mattresses are good but a thin camping mattress under you makes a real difference. We keep spares on the dhow — ask Captain Yousef. Bring a buff or a thin scarf for the early-morning wind; it gets cooler than people expect.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a bathroom on the dhow?
Yes — a small on-board washroom with a freshwater shower. Toilet waste is contained and pumped out at the port.
Can I sleep downstairs in a cabin?
The dhow has a small carpeted cabin that sleeps 4. We give it to families with young children on request. Most guests sleep on the upper deck under the stars.
Is it safe?
Yes. The captain and two crew stay on board all night. The dhow has a generator, freshwater, and a radio. The anchor is checked every 2 hours.
What if it rains at night?
We carry tarps and a covered section at the bow. In the 15 years Captain Yousef has been running this trip, he has had to pull the tarps over the mattresses 4 times.
Border crossing information
**Crossing from the UAE to Musandam in 2026 — what to bring** You will need every one of these, in original form, not photocopies. Border officers at Al Dara do not accept digital copies on phones. • Passport valid for 6+ months from your date of entry • UAE residence visa (residents) or UAE tourist entry stamp • If driving: original Mulkiya (vehicle registration); rental car requires the rental company's NOC • 50 AED in cash per person for the Oman entry visa (or 1-day border permit, also 50 AED) • 35 AED in cash per person for the UAE exit fee • If your car is not insured for Oman: ~100 AED for a 1-day policy, ~175 AED for up to 7 days (buy at the counter on the RAK side) What we do for our guests: send a one-page PDF with the exact list above, the exact cash amounts, the exact border opening hours, and a WhatsApp number to call if you are stuck at the counter. Ask for it on WhatsApp before you leave.
Tour details
- Duration
- 24 hours (09:30 – 10:00 next day)
- Category
- cruise
- From
- 50 OMR
- AED equivalent
- AED 500