Travel to Abu Musa; A hidden gem in the Persian Gulf

Abu Musi or Bomusi Island is one of the most important and strategic islands in the Persian Gulf. This island is located in Hormozgan province and can be accessed by sea or air through Bandar Abbas. With aquarium beaches and pristine nature, Abu Musa is one of the most attractive travel destinations in the south of the country.

The best time to visit Abu Musi Island is the second half of the year, and most Abu Musi tours are held during these seasons. During this period, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Persian Gulf in favorable weather and experience various water activities such as kayaking and diving. For accommodation, you can also become a guest of Bagh Amu Nader residence or rent suites from the friendly locals of the island.

Everything you need to know before traveling to Abu Musa:

Where is Abu Musi?

Address: Hormozgan province, Abu Musi city (view on the map)

Abu Musi Island, with an area of ​​about 12 square kilometers, is located in the southernmost region of Iran. This island, as one of the 14 islands of Hormozgan, belongs to Iran. Abu Musi is located at a distance of about 220 km from Bandar Abbas and about 75 km from Bandar Lange, somewhere in the middle of the Persian Gulf. Abu Musi city is the center of Abu Musi island, and Abu Musi city, which includes many islands, has an area of ​​about 69 square kilometers.

_{Photo source: Google Map site; Photographer: MR. FALCON}

History of Abu Musa

Throughout history, Abu Musa Island, along with its other islands, such as Small Tunb and Big Tunb, has been owned by Iran. During the Qajar period, England was able to occupy this island for about 68 years; However, in 1971, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two parties, according to which the ownership of Abu Musa Island was given back to Iran.

In the existing historical documents, Abu Musi was known in the past as “BOUMOU” or “Boomou” and then “Bomuso”, which literally means green place. “Bomov” or “Bomuso” can be seen in the old maps. “Bum” means place and “Su” has several meanings. One of its meanings can be considered the name of a vegetable and the other meaning is in Persian Kohn is interpreted as “green” and when these words are put together, Bomusi means “green land”. The current name “Abomusi” became popular for this region about 100 years ago, which is used instead of Bomuso.

This island has very limited agricultural land and most of the native people of this island are engaged in fishing and earn money in this way. Abu Musa Island has been known since ancient times for its huge capacity to export crude oil, and this created a special and strategic position for it.

_{Photo source: Google Map site; Photographer: Behzad 10}

Sightseeing places of Abu Musa

As the southernmost island of Iran, Abu Musi Island has a warm and humid climate and a unique nature. The beaches of this island are very pristine and untouched, which can make it a beautiful attraction.

Abu Musa Grand Mosque

One of the attractions of Abu Musa Island is its Grand Mosque. This mosque with its beautiful architecture and usage is very popular among the people. The beautiful dome and garlands of this mosque shine like turquoise in the heart of Abu Musa Island. Abu Musa Grand Mosque was opened around 80 in an area of ​​more than 11,000 square meters. In the design of this mosque, special and old architecture was prioritized and this made it more popular than before.

_{Photo source: Google Map site; Photographer: Mohammad}

Great Forever Island

One of the important islands of the Persian Gulf, which rises like a beautiful dome from the waters of this bay, is the “Great Farur” island. This island is not inhabited and it is a very suitable area for different species of birds. Big Faror Island, which is located 55 km from Kish Island and about 20 km from the main coast of Iran, was inhabited in the past. But today, except for the remains of ruined buildings, lighthouses and agricultural works, there are no traces of permanent habitation in it.

The beaches of Abu Musa

The beaches of Abu Musa, with clear waters and white sands, are considered one of the most beautiful beaches of the Persian Gulf. The variety of beaches on this island provides different experiences for tourists. Sandy beaches are ideal for sunbathing and swimming, while rocky beaches are attractive for diving and watching the underwater world. The calmness and silence that prevails on the shores of Abu Musa provides an opportunity to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the pristine nature. The waters around Abu Musi are like a natural aquarium that clearly shows the underwater beauty.

_{Photo source: Google Map site; Photographer: Vahid Raeisi}

The old town of fishermen

The old fisherman’s town with its traditional texture and old shops presents an image of the life of the native people of the island. This town, which is located near the beach, is also a good place for local people to shop, shops that provide people with daily necessities, such as fruit and vegetables, bakery and supermarket, are gathered around the main area. Walking among the shops and meeting the local sellers and talking with them makes a different and attractive experience of traveling to Abu Musi.

The best time to travel to Abu Musa

The best time to travel to Abu Musa is the cool seasons of the year, i.e. autumn and winter. In these seasons, the air temperature is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius and the weather conditions are very suitable for outdoor activities. In the summer season, the temperature reaches above 40 degrees Celsius and the air humidity is very high, which can make travel difficult for tourists.

How to travel to Abu Musa

In the past, traveling to Abu Musa was very difficult because it required many permits; But nowadays, considering that the trip to Abu Musa Island is free for all Iranians, there are two ways to travel to this island.

Air travel: For several years, there were a limited number of flights to Abu Musa; But after the trip to this island became easier, daily flights are made from Bandar Abbas to Abu Musa Island. This type of travel is one of the access routes to Abu Musa Island. Currently, Kish Air is the organizer of all flights in this region. The flight from Bandar Abbas to Abu Musi Island takes about half an hour.

_{Photo source: Google Map site; Photographer: Hossein Maleky}

Cruise: After the expansion of tourism in Abu Musi and in order to facilitate the access of tourists to the beautiful island of the Persian Gulf, a floating passenger ship has been prepared to transport tourists between Bandar Abbas and Abu Musi Island. This ship departs to Abu Musa twice a week. The sea trip to Abu Musa takes about five to seven hours.

_{Photo source: Google Map site; Photographer: Ebrahim Tohidlu}

A trip to Abu Musa

Currently, there are limited tourist tours to Abu Musa. Most Abu Musi tours are held in three-day formats and from Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. Accommodation is done in a tourist accommodation, and breakfast is often provided by the tour organizer. Abu Musi tours are usually accompanied by island tours, kayaking, fishing and diving.

Stay in Abu Musa

Abu Musi Island does not have many hotels or accommodations for tourists to stay. Bagh Amo Nader residence is one of the few residences that is managed by a local person and provides a traditional and native atmosphere for accommodation. Mr. “Nader Hosseinpour” from Beshagard is the owner of this island residence; But there is good news for the nascent tourism of Abu Musa Island, and that is the news of the construction of a tourist camp on this island, which can improve the tourism conditions of this island.

To stay on the island, some locals also rent out their houses and suites, which can be found by asking the locals.

_{Photo source: dobaresafar.ir website; Photographer: Unknown}

Have you ever traveled to Abu Musa Island? What was your experience of this trip? where did you stay Please share your views and experiences with other Kojaro users.

_{Cover photo source: asianewsiran.com; Photographer: Unknown}