Khasab Oman

DRIVING along a rocky red cliff, with deep canyons yawning below, one could be forgiven for mistaking this rugged place for Utah. But this is the Musandam Peninsula of Oman, an Arabian land of pristine seas, jagged peaks and, for the moment, few tourists. But its proximity to booming Dubai, just two hours south, and a modern road means more development is on its way.

Separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates, the mountainous land juts out like a ship’s prow into the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The contrast with its oil-rich neighbor is visible as soon as you cross the border. Construction cranes and cement factories give way to a smooth two-lane highway hugging the calm gulf waters. The road winds past date plantations and small villages that extend back into wadis, deep limestone valleys carved by seasonal floods over millenniums.

Humpback dolphins can be easily spotted in the aquamarine waters of the fjordlike bays.