When summer arrives in Dubai, life can get a bit monotonous – but we have discovered a hidden gem just 6 hours drive from Dubai (or a short flight), which will give the season a whole new meaning…
The fishing village of Ras al Jinz lies on the East Coast of Oman, roughly 250 km from Muscat. It’s a small, quiet village – but it comes alive every night when the beach is visited by Giant Green Turtles laying their eggs. Visitors can watch while they come out of the water, create a nest to lay their eggs, cover it after laying, and then head back to the sea. The peak season is on its way, occurring from late June until September – and you may even be lucky enough to see baby turtles emerging from their nests and running towards the sea!
Visitors can stay at The Turtle Visitor Centre, which has twelve rooms and a restaurant. The furnishings and décor are simple, but comfortable. Turtle watching sessions are free to guests staying at the Centre, with the night time session starting at 9pm and the dawn session starting at 4am (both taking roughly two hours). The group will be no more than 25 people, so the experience is kept very special and intimate.
This is nature, of course, so the Centre can’t guarantee that you will see the turtles – but the guide has assured us that in the past three years, it has been a very rare occurrence that guests have left without seeing them.
For such an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, the price is extremely affordable. Rooms start at 65 OMR (roughly 620 AED) for a single and rise to 110 OMR (roughly 1050 AED) for a family.
www.rasaljinz-turtlereserve.com
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