Green turtles
Nesting at night.
hotshoe! — CC BY 2.0 · F igy — CC BY 3.0 · F igy — CC BY 3.0 · Andries Oudshoorn — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kim Kash — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kim Kash — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Andries Oudshoorn — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kim Kash — CC BY-SA 2.0
The easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula, in the South Ash Sharqiyah governorate, and a nesting site for green turtles protected by a well-known turtle reserve. The reserve has a visitor centre with a museum on the turtles' life and a lodge. Green turtles come ashore at night to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs before returning to the sea, and weeks later the hatchlings emerge and scramble for the water. According to visitor guides the nesting season runs from May to September, peaking between June or July and September. Ras Al Jinz is also the site of a Bronze Age harbour (about 2200-1900 BC) that a Franco-Italian team has excavated since 1985. It found a mud-brick workshop and pottery, a fifth of it from the Indus Valley civilisation, evidence of early sea trade with India. Guided beach tours run at night; prices vary between sources from about 7 to 12 OMR, so book and confirm the price with the reserve. Stay with your guide, keep lights and phones off unless allowed, and keep your distance from the turtles.
Nesting at night.
The dash to the sea.
Trade with the Indus.
Ras Al Jinz, south-east of Sur
The nesting season runs from May to September, peaking between June or July and September, per visitor guides.