Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
Selected
JOURNEYS
"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller",
by Ibn Battuta.
Our journeys are bold and ambitious, and perhaps the flagship of this homepage.
Although we are also trekking and island nerds, our journeys are sorts of trailblazing travel expeditions which are unique, challenging and adventurous, and thus they epitomize our spirit within adventure.
Often, the regions, countries and places we visit during our journeys take on an exotic quality. What matters is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. Often, we might have to overcome a bit of hardship and logistical challenges since our journeys most often don’t run smoothly. This is all part of the fun.
In our view, a journey is something you would recommend to others. To us, what really matters, is to get away from the established routes and seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We are not talking about the ultimate expedition, but to move away from the familiar, out of the comfort zone, where everyday situations and events take on an exotic quality.
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part II
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part II
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part III
From Europe to the Himalayas along
THE HIPPY TRAIL
Part III
TravelTwins.dk
Exploring the less beaten paths of the world
- look, read, dream, travel!
Into the unkown
PERSIAN GULF
& GULF OF OMAN
An innovative itinerary and pioneering approach toisland-hopping off Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and all the way around the Arabo-Persian Gulf.
This is not a place blessed with many must-see sights – actually, none.
Some would even say there aren’t many reasons for non-Iranians or Arabs to visit. Well, we had already done island hopping in the Indian Ocean, SE Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific, but to us the attraction of island hopping in the Persian Gulf was the novelty of the itinerary.
Indeed, if outlandish ports such as Muscat, Sohar and Badar-e-Abbas doesn’t sound interesting already, the exotic-sounding islands will send most people scurrying for a map to look up destinations such as the Daymaniyat Islands, the Musandam Peninsula, Hormuz Island, Queshm Island and the former peal diving beach villages of Qatar – all places on our innovative itinerary during this trip.
Locations: Oman, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE; during 2,5 months
Rich in oil, gas, historic trading ports, remote islands and mystique, few geographical regions are as evocative and as controversial as the Persian Gulf. This body of water and the surrounding lands are at the heart of Arab consciousness and pride. No wonder, then, that Iran and its neighbors to the south have long argued over its name. Arab countries may call it the Arabian Gulf or simply The Gulf, but for Iranians along its shores, including the Bandari people (traditional Iranian Arabs), it can never be called anything but the Khalij-e Fars: the Persian Gulf.
We traveled from the Indian Ocean along the Gulf of Oman and circumnavigated the entire Persian Gulf.
Here is a brief overview of the journey: We began by exploring Oman, its mountains, beaches and offshore islands, before continuing to Oman's exclave, the Musandam Peninsula. From there, we crossed the Gulf to the islands and ports of southern Iran. A long drive took us to Basra in southern Iraq – the city of Sinbad the Sailor – before we explored the Gulf states of Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. After a few days in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, we continued through the United Arab Emirates.
Along the way, we experienced drift diving among spectacular coral gardens, encountered whale sharks and offshore oil rigs, and enjoyed many other extraordinary experiences. This region showed us that it possesses a character entirely its own, with lively and colorful bazaars, charismatic smugglers and traders, beautiful Bandari women wearing traditional leather face masks, old Portuguese forts, bone-dry islands, deep salt caves, strange rock formations, vast inland deserts and mountains in shades of pink, red, purple and yellow. From these landscapes, we looked out across white shorelines where turtles, flamingos and wild camels roam or bask in the sun.
More of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq:
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Our Yemen page covers a trip intro Mainland Yemen
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We have also visited the remote Soqutra island off mainland Yemen.
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During our traverses across the Middle East we also covered other parts of Saudi Arabia
More of Iran:
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Our Persia page covers a journey across classical Iran
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Our Hippy Trail pages covers other remote parts of Iran
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Our Kurdistan page covers the Kurdish provinces inside Iran
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We also climbed Damavand, the highest mountain in the Middle East.
More of Iraq:
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Our Iraq page coversa trip from Mosul in north to Basra in south
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Our other Kurdistan page covers Iraqi Kurdistan
Selected pics during our encounter:
(to see all photos, click Show More at the end of the gallery)
In Muscat, we slept in Mutrah (Old Muscat) with acces to all the bazaars, the port and several palaces.
Old Muscat, Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
It was easy to rent a car and visit oasis towns in the Al-Dakhiliyah region and Al-Natinah region. On the way to Nizwa oasis we had lunch in Birkat. Lunch around here means one thing: rice with saffron and sultanas, buried in seasoned chicken, lamb or camel.
Oman
Nizwa, the former capital and religious centre of Oman, was a good place to kill a few days. The entire village is sourrounded by a thick palm oasis and some of Oman's highest mountains. We came on a Friday and saw the animal market. A stroll through the vegetable-, silver- and general markets was nice too. Yet, the real highlight of Nizwa was the round Bahla tower fort and the Jabrin Castle.
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
Oman
The entire coast from Salalah and down the south-west coast along the Indian Ocean is very dramatic. Here, with a view from Shaat.
Southern Oman
Southern Oman
Southern Oman
Southern Oman
Southern Oman
Between Salalah, Oman, and the border with Yemen
Southern Oman
Southern Oman
Southern Oman
Salalah, southern Oman
In the early morning we went snorkeling off Al Jissah beach near Muscat.
Before our diving expedition we did some hiking in the Hajar Mountains around Nakhal, home to one of Oman's most dramatic forts.