Khor Fakkan is Sharjah's town on the Indian Ocean side, an hour from Sharjah city through the mountain tunnels. The corniche is a 3 km curve of beach with an amphitheatre and a lit 45 m waterfall at one end. Up the valley, Al Rafisah Dam has kayaks and a trail to Al Suhub, a saucer-shaped rest house 580 m above the bay. Almost everything is free. A day trip from Sharjah or Dubai works; stay a night to see the waterfall lit and walk up at dawn.
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When to go
November to March is best for hiking and the dam. April and October are fine early and late in the day. June to September is humid and 40°C+. Heavy rain shuts the mountain roads and the Sharjah buses, as happened in 2026.
Khor Fakkan right now and the next 7 days
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Khor Fakkan on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Khor Fakkan · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Khor Fakkan in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Kayak Al Rafisah Dam1 h · ₹780 each · Visiting the dam is free; kayaks about AED 30 single, larger family boats more. Prices vary between sources; check on site.
- 12:30Lunch break
- 13:30Hike Rafisah Dam to Al Suhub3 h · free · About 1–1.5 hours up and the same back, with hiker parking at the trailhead. Go at first light.
- 08:00Al Suhub Rest Area1 h · free · Free. A flying-saucer building 580–600 m above the bay with the best view on the coast. Drive up the 6.5 km road if you don't hike.
- 09:30Amphitheatre and waterfall1 h · free · Free. Roman-style amphitheatre for 3,500 and a 45 m waterfall cut into the rock, lit at night.
- 11:00Shees Park and Wadi SheesHalf day · free · Free. A 25 m waterfall, BBQ pits and a trail into the valley. No rest stops on the trail; carry water.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Snorkel Shark IslandHalf day · price to check · A short boat ride off the beach. Private operators only; agree the price first.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Khor Fakkan
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
SRTA intercity bus
₹800Hourly in normal times. Rome2rio puts the fare at about AED 26–35. Restored after the 2026 rain closures; check SRTA before you go.
Hire car
₹3,600Per car per day: economy hire about AED 80–120 plus fuel at AED 4.28 a litre. Far faster than the bus, which goes the long way round.
Bus from Dubai Cheapest
₹780AED 25–30 to Fujairah city, then about 25 km on. Only for the patient.
Taxi Last leg
Check fareMetered. There is no bus up to the dam or the rest house.
Getting around once you're there
Hire car
₹3,600Per car with fuel. The Al Suhub road is 6.5 km with a gentle climb, fine in any car.
Taxi
Check priceMetered. Agree the return pickup for the dam before you let it go.
On foot
FreeThe corniche, amphitheatre and waterfall are all walkable from each other.
Where to stay in Khor Fakkan
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Beach hotel
₹4,650/nightOceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa, deals from about AED 179; normal rates nearer AED 650. The town's one big hotel.
Apartment
₹6,800/nightSea Shore Hotel Apartment from about AED 263. Kitchen helps a family.
Budget base
₹3,450/nightClifton International from about AED 134. Khor Fakkan has few cheap rooms; Fujairah has many.
Beach budget
₹4,650/nightMirage Hotel Al Aqah from about AED 180, on the snorkelling beach.
What to eat, and what it costs
Karak chai at a cafeteria
₹50AED 1–3. Corniche cafeterias stay open late.
Cafeteria biryani or curry and paratha
₹500About AED 15–25.
Lunch at the Al Suhub rest house
₹1,200Restaurant and café on the ground floor. Budget about AED 47; view included.
Lakeside Iranian restaurant at Al Rafisah Dam
₹3,900Shahrzad Palace (Rafisah Lounge), daily 8 am–10 pm. Mid-range, about AED 150 a head.
Things to do in Khor Fakkan
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Kayak Al Rafisah Dam
₹780Visiting the dam is free; kayaks about AED 30 single, larger family boats more. Prices vary between sources; check on site.
Hike Rafisah Dam to Al Suhub
FreeAbout 1–1.5 hours up and the same back, with hiker parking at the trailhead. Go at first light.
Al Suhub Rest Area
FreeFree. A flying-saucer building 580–600 m above the bay with the best view on the coast. Drive up the 6.5 km road if you don't hike.
Amphitheatre and waterfall
FreeFree. Roman-style amphitheatre for 3,500 and a 45 m waterfall cut into the rock, lit at night.
Shees Park and Wadi Shees
FreeFree. A 25 m waterfall, BBQ pits and a trail into the valley. No rest stops on the trail; carry water.
Snorkel Shark Island
Check priceA short boat ride off the beach. Private operators only; agree the price first.
Day trips and next stops
Al Aqah & Snoopy Island
Check fareCoast road by car
Al Bidya Mosque
Coast road by car
Fujairah city & fort
Check fareCar or SRTA 116
Hatta
Check fareHire car via Kalba
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- After heavy rain, Sharjah closes the mountain roads and suspends the eastern bus routes, sometimes for days. Check SRTA and police updates before setting out.
- Summer heat is dangerous on the Al Suhub trail. Outside November–March, start at dawn and carry at least two litres each.
- The UK FCDO (updated 24 July 2026) warns of possible regional strikes and flight disruption, and says terrorists are likely to try to attack in the UAE. Khor Fakkan is a container port; don't photograph port or security sites.
Ways to spend less
- Nearly everything here is free: the corniche, waterfall, amphitheatre, Al Suhub and Shees Park.
- Sleep in Fujairah city at a third of the price and drive 25 km.
- Walk up to Al Suhub at dawn, eat there, and drive back down: you skip the heat and the parking queue.
Before-you-go checklist
Khor Fakkan in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Khor Fakkan?
Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec is the best time. November to March is best for hiking and the dam. April and October are fine early and late in the day. June to September is humid and 40°C+. Heavy rain shuts the mountain roads and the Sharjah buses, as happened in 2026.
How do I reach Khor Fakkan?
SRTA intercity bus: Sharjah Al Jubail → Khor Fakkan via Masafi and Fujairah (route 116), 2 h 30 m, about ₹800 one way. Hire car: Sharjah → Khor Fakkan on the Sharjah–Khor Fakkan road, 1 h, about ₹3,600 one way. Bus from Dubai: Dubai → Fujairah (RTA E700), then local bus or taxi north, 3 h, about ₹780 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Khor Fakkan cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹13,500 on a shoestring, ₹24,000 mid-range or ₹46,500 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus from dubai (Dubai → Fujairah (RTA E700), then local bus or taxi north) at about ₹780 each way.
How many days do you need in Khor Fakkan?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Kayak Al Rafisah Dam, Hike Rafisah Dam to Al Suhub, Al Suhub Rest Area, Amphitheatre and waterfall without rushing.
Is Khor Fakkan good for families or solo travellers?
Khor Fakkan works best for couples, groups, families.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Khor Fakkan?
Workable. Indian cafeterias in town always do dal, chana and vegetable curry; the Iranian restaurant at the dam has rice, salads and mezze. Fully vegan needs a word with the cook about ghee.
Will my phone and cards work in Khor Fakkan?
Good UAE coverage in town; patchy on mountain trails. Hotels, supermarkets and the dam's restaurant take cards. Bring dirhams for kayaks, cafeterias and boat trips.
Guides for Khor Fakkan
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Sources and last check
Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- visitsharjah.com OfficialRafisah Dam activities (kayak, pedal and donut boats), hike to Al Suhub 1–1.5 h each way, Al Suhub at 580 m with restaurant, Shahrzad Palace hours, facilities
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO updated 24 Jul 2026, regional tensions; no advise-against
- gov.uk OfficialTerrorism likely; heavy rain flooding; rip currents
- gulfnews.comFree entry to dam, Shees Park, beach, Al Suhub, amphitheatre and waterfall; kayak Dh30; Al Suhub road 6.5 km; waterfall 45 m; amphitheatre 3,500 seats; Shark Island
- glimpsesofuae.comRafisah kayak AED 40 single / AED 80 double, 7 am–9 pm (Dec 2023), price spread
- gulfnews.comRoute 116 Sharjah–Khorfakkan via Masafi and Fujairah restored after rain
- rome2rio.comHourly SRTA bus Al Jubail–Khor Fakkan, about 2.5 h, AED 26–35 estimate
- dubai-online.comE700 Dubai–Fujairah AED 25, 2 h
- kayak.aeSea Shore Hotel Apartment AED 263; Friday vs Sunday price gap; monthly averages
- kayak.aeOceanic Khorfakkan deals from AED 179, rates from AED 657
- kayak.aeClifton International Fujairah AED 134
- kayak.aeMirage Hotel Al Aqah AED 180
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Iwona Rege · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: AmirShahzad077 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Adilakv · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: EvaJoyson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Adlus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
