6 activities to do in enchanting Sur

SUR

Sur is a coastal town in Al Sharqiyah Governorate, and is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Oman and neighbours the Arabian Sea. Travelers have loved Sur for a long time for its deep-rooted marine heritage and Sur has been a sanctuary for ships and fleets from all over the world.

The city’s multiple folklores, seafaring tales, and myths have played a major role in shaping its culture and heritage. Apart from its enchanting marine history, Sur is also home to tourist attractions such as wadis, springs, farmlands, mountains, turtle reserves, castles, forts, aflaj, and marvelous beaches. That’s not all — Sur’s people are known for their love of ship-building as well as other traditional industries such as: weaving, metal-working (goldsmiths), and making the Omani halwa. If you are planning on visiting Sur, here are 6 activities that you can indulge in:

1)Explore the ancient city of Qalhat
Qalhat Port is Oman’s oldest port, and has seen the anchorage of ships from all over the ancient world. The city of Qalhat has witnessed major historical events including having some of the world’s most famous historic travelers such as Ibn Batuta and Marco Polo visit. When in Qalhat, a visit to the “Bibi Maryam tomb” is a must, as it is a beautiful piece of ancient architecture.

2)Turtle-watch at Ras Al Jinz Reserve
Thousands of sea turtles migrate annually from their shores to lay their eggs on Ras Al Jinz beach. Ras Al Jinz is world renowned for being home to the endangered green turtle, Chelonia mydas, and is probably the most important nesting concentration on the Indian Ocean. Visitors can enjoy a complete turtle-watching programme organised by the Scientific Center at Ras Al Jinz. The centre conducts guided excursions every night to view the turtles and witness the nesting process.

3)Swim at Wadi Shab
Wadi Shab is a very popular outdoor attraction for both locals and expats, and people come here for the nature, to swim in the fresh water pools or just to have a barbecue. Any trip to Wadi Shab is a fun-filled adventure, as some parts of the wadi can only be accessed by boat, and others can only be reached by trekking through the mountain.

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