04Experiences

Experience

A night with the turtles

On the beach at Ras al-Jinz, the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula, sea turtles haul themselves out of the water to lay their eggs in the sand, which has made it one of Oman's best-known ecotourism spots. The green turtle is the star here. It can weigh up to 190 kilograms and nests both at Ras al-Jinz and on the beach of nearby Ras al Hadd, with an estimated 6,000 to 13,000 turtles nesting in the area each year. The beach also sees hawksbill, olive ridley and loggerhead turtles. The Ras al-Jinz reserve was created in 1996 and lies about 60 kilometres from Sur. The site has a long human history too: excavations have uncovered a Bronze Age harbour dating from 2200 to 1900 BC, where about a fifth of the pottery came from the Indus Valley. The turtles arrive in the dark, so check visiting times before you go, and spend the night in Sur or Ras al Hadd.

up to 190 kg

Weight of a green turtle

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Turtle species on the beach