At Ras al Jinz, near Ras al Hadd on the easternmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula, green turtles have come ashore to nest for thousands of years. The Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve protects the beach and runs guided visits that let small groups watch females haul themselves up the sand, dig their nests and lay their eggs — and, in the right season, hatchlings scrambling to the sea.
The reserve has a visitor centre and museum and an eco-lodge. Nearby Sur is a historic seafaring town where wooden dhows are still built by hand at the dhow yard, and the Al Ayjah lighthouse watches over the lagoon.
Top things to do at Ras al Jinz & Sur
Join a night turtle watch
Evening tours set off after dark with a ranger, who leads small groups to nesting turtles using dim red lights. Watching a turtle lay its eggs is extraordinary. Tours must be booked in advance.
Try the dawn tour
An early-morning visit is often quieter, with a chance to see late-nesting turtles returning to the sea and, in season, hatchlings.
Visit Sur’s dhow yard
In Sur, craftsmen still build traditional wooden dhows using age-old techniques. Walk the lagoon to the Al Ayjah lighthouse for views of the town.
How to get to Ras al Jinz & Sur
- By car: about 3 to 3.5 hours from Muscat via the coastal highway and Sur; Ras al Jinz is around 45 minutes beyond Sur.
- With a tour: the two-day coast, turtles and desert tour includes the turtle watch and an overnight stay.
Insider tips
- Nesting happens year-round, but numbers peak roughly from June to September; hatchlings are most likely from late summer into autumn.
- Book turtle tours directly with the reserve or through a tour operator well ahead, especially in peak season.
- Flash photography and torches are not allowed on the beach — follow the ranger’s instructions.
- It is a long day trip; staying overnight in Sur or at the reserve is far more comfortable.
Best tours & tickets for Ras al Jinz & Sur
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Ras al Jinz & Sur:
Overnight tour from €374 From Muscat: Wadi Shab, Ras Al Jinz & Wahiba Sands 2-Day Tour
The classic eastern loop in two days: the sinkhole and Wadi Shab on the way down the coast, Sur and a guided visit to the green turtle nesting beach at Ras al Jinz, then inland to the Wahiba Sands before returning to Muscat.
- Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Shab
- Night turtle watching at Ras al Jinz
- The Wahiba Sands and Bedouin life
Day trip from €35 From Muscat: Wadi Shab & Bimmah Sinkhole Full-Day Tour
The best day out from Muscat. A coastal drive south, a short boat hop across the first pool, then a hike between towering canyon walls to a chain of emerald pools — swim the last stretch and squeeze through a gap into a cave with a waterfall. Bimmah Sinkhole on the way home.
- Hike about 40 minutes into the Wadi Shab gorge
- Swim through the pools to the hidden cave waterfall
- Stop at the turquoise Bimmah Sinkhole
