03Cities and regions
The east coast
Sur and Ras al-Jinz
Sur is the capital of the Ash Sharqiyah South governorate, on the Gulf of Oman about 203 kilometres southeast of Muscat. By the 6th century it was already trading with East Africa, and the sea is still at the centre of life here. The town is famous for its wooden ships: sambuks and ghanjahs built in its yards sailed to India, China and Zanzibar and were used for pearl diving. About 60 kilometres away is Ras al-Jinz, the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula, where a reserve created in 1996 protects the green turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. More than 20 kilometres north of Sur lie the ruins of Qalhat, a trading city visited by Marco Polo in the 13th century and Ibn Battuta in the 14th; little remains standing besides the domeless mausoleum of Bibi Maryam. Around 40 kilometres north of Sur, Wadi Tiwi opens where the Hajar Mountains meet the sea. Make Sur your base for two days: boatyards and wadis by day, the beach by night.
- about 203 km
- Distance from Muscat
- about 60 km
- Sur to Ras al-Jinz
- 1996
- Ras al-Jinz reserve created
- 2018
- Qalhat on the World Heritage List
Highlights
- Ancient QalhatRuins of a medieval trading city, on the World Heritage List since 2018.
- Wadi TiwiA canyon where water flows year-round in the upper reaches and falaj channels feed palms and terraces.