Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve (Oman) – Turtle beach tips + Photos

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The Turtle beach Sur - A Fantastic Nature Experience!

Ras Al Jinz is one of the best Nature experiences to enjoy in the Sultanate of Oman.

Every year, thousands of sea turtles migrate from the shores of the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea to lay their eggs on Oman’s beaches. Reserves have been set up to protect them. They offer opportunities to see them come to shore in the evening and leave their nest in the morning.

Enjoy sunset or sunrise on a beautiful beach while the large turtles make their nest or get to the sea.
It is quite magical to see them dig resiliently and slide slowly back to the water! 
(many many more photos of turtles coming in the article!)

So you can understand why it is one of the top things to do in Oman...

Where and When - Turtle season in Oman

• Ras al Jinz turtle peak season (and hatching) is between May and September, especially July to September (sadly some of the hottest months to travel there)
• Turtles come all year-round. However there could be days in low season when you don't see any. Peak season could give you 20 sightings and more.
• During the night, turtles drag themselves out of the water and on the sand to dig a hole and lay their eggs if they are satisfied. They then slide back to the sea.
• 55 days later the eggs hatch and the baby turtles start their difficult trip to the water. They mostly will be eaten by birds, crab and foxes but some of them will reach the water.

• The green turtles come to shore Ras Al Hadd - Ras Al Jinz near Sur
• Green turtles also land on Masirah Island and the Daymaniyat islands
• Other species nest at specific location especially on the islands

Ras al Jinz is the most well-known Turtle Beach Oman and the easiest to access from Muscat.

How to see the turtles in Oman at the Reserve

• Evening tours can be booked by any ones, however photos are not allowed
• Morning tours happen very early morning (around 5am) - available spots normally fill in quickly with visitors staying at the surorunding hotels (so book early) and photos are allowed
• Learn more about the Turtle viewings

• The reserve is located near the village of Ras Al Hadd, west of the town of Sur
• Muscat to Raz Al Jinz Turtle Reserve - 3h drive
• Sur to Raz Al Jinz Turtle Reserve - 45min drive
• Easy drive
• Below is a map to help you get oriented:

The Turtle Reserve of Ras Al Jinz

The reserve is actually a beach with a museum. 

Once at the museum building, the guide will take you in the minibus for 1km to reach the beach where you will start looking for turtles.

Right by the reserve, they have set up some accommodations of 2 types - carapace rooms and luxury eco-tents.
This way you don't have to drive early morning you are right there! And of course, sunset and dawn tours are included.

Check out the photos and prices

The Ras Al Jinz Turtle Beach Resort

Otherwise you can stay at one of the accommodations in Ras Al Hadd.
The night before, I stayed at their hotel, the Turtle Beach Resort.
Despite the name it is not right at the turtle beach. But it was clean and well organized, and had a nice beach to enjoy a swim.

If staying there, book your evening or morning tour and plan a 20 min drive to get to the Reserve.

Check out photos and prices

First Turtle sighting & the Rules on the Turtle Beach Oman

In winter time guided tours at the reserve start at 5am (4am in Summer). 20 person can fit in that minibus. 

It was still very dark when we spotted our first turtle getting off a hole. Without the flash and with the turtle moving it was difficult to capture it well but those pictures will still give you an idea.

I was impressed by the size of the turtle even though the guide said it was a medium one.

Rules

• Flashlights are not allowed. Turtles are very sensitive to light (they lay their eggs in the dark) and they will sense white light as a threat so they will not lay their eggs and not come back
• Red lights are acceptable, this is what the guide is using for us to see
• Only our guide was allowed to use white lights and only towards the tail
• Do not stand in front of them. Again, they will feel a threat. So you look at them from the side and from behind

Reality 

Foxes are also around the area, as they love eating baby turtles. So if you have the chance to see a baby turtle be aware that it might be taken by a fox, a crab or a bird.

Second Turtle sighting at Ras Al Jinz

Then we spotted a second one. We left it alone at the beginning so that it could lay eggs and went searching for babies. No luck there.
Then when it decided to leave the nest (our guide told us it had not laid eggs), we admired its strenuous journey to the sea.

It was so frustrating to see it slide straight into the other holes on the beach and having to do more effort each time. I wanted to turn it right or left to avoid them.

The sun started rising and we could see it better.

Turtle reaching the water - tracks in the sand

Finally the turtle reached the water. It was really a fascinating journey to watch.

The Ras Al Jinz Beach

I also enjoyed the beach. The guide left us wander around before taking us back to the building. There were many turtle tracks and holes all the sandy area.

Free & Public - other "Sur turtle Beaches"

We were indicated a public beach by another guide who insisted it was full of turtles. We went at 3am before the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve tour. We saw tracks and holes but no turtles. And the beach was not clean. But if you want to get a chance to see them for free and if, I hope, you will respect them (not use flash, and use only red lights), here are the directions (not that easy to find especially in the dark):

• 9 km after the turn to the Ras Al Jinz Reserve you will reach a village (coming from Sur)
• Go past the white and green mosque on your left
• Turn left at the poles
• Drive through the village and find a track in the sand. It is the track the fishermen use to get to the beach.

Want to see more of Oman's beauty?