Muscat To Masirah Island: Bus, Cars Routes, & Ferry Schedules

This post is on how to get from Muscat to Masirah Island, the length for each option, and the estimated cost. We will look at the bus times, two different car routes, and the ferry schedule.

Masirah Island is a popular destination for diving, camping, and snorkeling. With white sandy beaches and gorgeous ocean views, this island is the favorite vacation spot for many locals that reside in Oman. If you’ve time on your hands, I think Masirah Island is a great destination to enjoy some delicious seafood and outdoor adventure! These travel methods from Muscat to Masirah Island below will help you enjoy the coast with ease!

Unfortunately, there are no commercial flights from Muscat to Masirah Island. The flights between Muscat International Airpot (MCT) and RAFO Masirah are only for military personnel.

Nonetheless, there are many other ways to get from Muscat to Masirah Island.

The two most common methods are buses and cars. You can also opt for a hired driver or a tour bus. Regardless of the ground route, you will stop at Shannah Port before taking a ferry onwards to Masirah.

Have specific questions regarding your trip to Oman?

Without further ado, here’s a complete guide on how to get from Muscat to Masirah Island.

Driving from Muscat to Masirah Island

The easiest way to get from Muscat to Masirah Island is by car. Driving in Oman may sound daunting, but it really is much easier than you’d expect. Most of the roads and highways in the country are well maintained (with exceptions in certain mountain ranges). Luckily, the road from Muscat to Masirah Island will bypass any unpaved elevation.

Outside of the major cities, the highways are practically empty in Oman. This is especially the case between Muscat and Masirah Island. Once we were an hour out of Muscat, we barely saw two dozen cars on route to Shannah Port.

I’d recommend that you rent a 4WD for the road. Although this stretch of land does not pass any treacherous terrain, it’s always safer and more convenient to have a 4WD in Oman due to its diverse landscape. Say, if you’d like to off-track to the Bidiyah Sands between the two destinations, a 4WD will give you the flexibility to do so.

Below are two different driving routes that will get you from Muscat to Masirah Island. The first is more scenic and the second is more efficient.

Route 1: Coastline Haven

If you have time on your hands, the best route between Muscat and Masirah Island is along the coastline.

From Muscat, take Route 23 to Sur. Head along Route 35 to Al Ashkharah, which is another beautiful coastal town. Drive on this road for a few hours and you will arrive at Shannah Port. The entire journey will take approximately 9 hours.

If you’d still like to get a taste of the coastline but prefer a shorter route, you can also take Route 23 passed Al Kamil and continue onward to Route 35. This will lead you directly to Al Ashkharah. The ride will take around 6 hours.

This is the most scenic route between Muscat and Masirah Island as you will bypass old town Ibra, the Bidiyah Sands, and follow the flow of Wadi Bani Khalid. Any of these places are worth a stop. Once you reach the coastal town Al Ashkharah, you will follow a beautiful route across the white Ras Royce Sands and have a view of the Arabian Sea.

Route 2: Master of Efficiency

If you aren’t looking to spend 6-9 hours on the road and prefer a faster route from Muscat to Masirah Island, this might be a better option.

From Muscat, take Route 15 and merge onto Route 33. Stay on Route 33 for 40 kms and continue on Route 27. Continue onwards along Route 32 until Shannah Port. The entire drive will take around 4.50 hours.

Although you will pass a few towns, there isn’t much to see on this route other than barren land. I did witness quite a few camels here and there, which made up for the lack of scenery!

Hired Car & Group Tours from Muscat to Masirah Island

If you don’t want to rent a car, you can also opt for a hired car. It’s relatively easy to hire a driver as most tour companies in Oman offer such a service. However, due to the distance between Muscat and Masirah Island, it’s more plausible to take part in a guided tour since many companies may not want to offer a one-way ride between the two destinations.

In Oman, most tour groups will charge a day rate for their drivers. Some may limit the travel distance to 250 km, with 50 baizes for every additional km. Other companies will charge a flat rate, though the rate will be higher than the initial rate for the limited-distance alternative.

Bus from Muscat to Masirah Island

Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct bus from Muscat to Masirah Island. Since the island is only accessible by ferry, you will need to get to Shannon Port and take a ferry from the port to the island.

The process isn’t difficult but can be time-consuming.

From Burj Al Sahwa Bus Station in Saginaw, Muscat, take the Route 51 bus operated by Mwasalat. This bus will go from Muscat to Masirah Island and make stops throughout the journey. As such, the ride can be upward of 8 hours.

It is OMR 4 for a one-way trip and OMR 7.5 for a return trip.

Bus Schedule

Ferry from Muscat to Masirah Island

There are two different water transportations that you can take between Shannah Port and Hilf Port in Masirah Island.

The first is the ferry operated by the National Ferry Company (NFC). The journey takes 1 hour and the seating is very comfortable. The ticket price for a one-way journey is OMR 3 for adults and OMR 1.5 for children. It will cost OMR 16 for a standard vehicle and OMR 20 for a 4WD.

The second option is the privately-owned old boats. Although their facility is not as nice as the newer ferries operated by NFC, it costs much less (OMR 10 per car and free for people). The biggest difference between the two transportation methods is that the older ferries take hand an hour longer. In addition, most people will opt for the old ferries due to its more budget-friendly price, which can make it more crowded.

NFC Shannah Port to Masirah Island Ferry Schedule

Remember to book your tickets early as they can get booked out, especially during weekends and holidays! You need a passport or ID for the ticket. They only take bank cards.

If you have a rental car, you would need to bring along a “No-objection letter” from the rental company for you to board the NFC ferry with your car. The private ferries do not require this document.

Again, a one-way journey is OMR 3 for adults and OMR 1.5 for children. It will cost OMR 16 for a standard vehicle and OMR 20 for a 4WD.

Old Ferry Schedule

The old ferries do not have a fixed schedule and will only depart once the boat is full. They start operating around 6 am and will stop operations after 4-5 in the afternoon. Again, the cost is cheap as a ride from Shannah Port to Masirah will only cost OMR 10 for vehicles and is free for people. However, you may have to wait for a long time, so take your pick!