The "Norway" of Arabia

Take a trip into the world of national geography. The Musandam Peninsula is the northernmost part of Oman jutting out into the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Its east coast is sure to draw gasps from even the most experienced traveler. While there's not a great deal to do in the area's main town of Khasab (although the Old Souk is worth a visit) it acts as a springboard into the dramatic waterways known as the "Fjords of the Middle East."

There's only one major hotel from which you can organize your early morning boat ride. Your gaze will be torn between the dramatic cliffs surrounding you and (if you're lucky) the dolphins yo-yoing in and out of the water alongside. A blissful experience.