12 Stunning Places Where Golden Desert Sands Meet The Sea

5. Musandam Peninsula, Oman: Desert Fjords by the Sea

Often called the "Norway of Arabia," Oman's Musandam Peninsula presents a unique desert-meets-sea landscape. Here, rugged, arid mountains of the Hajar range plunge dramatically into the turquoise waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, creating fjord-like inlets known as 'khors'. Traditional dhow boats navigate these waters, offering views of desolate cliffsides dotted with isolated villages accessible only by sea. This dramatic meeting of steep, dry rock and vibrant blue water defines one of the most stunning and unexpected coastal desert scenes globally.