Magnificent Farasan - (Farasan Island - Jizan)

Farasan Island Beach below the bridge linking the two largest island



 

BACKGROUND AND OTHER INFORMATION                                                                                                                                                                     The Farasan Bank is a coral shoal 100km wide that stretches 800km down Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. It lies 40km from Jizan and takes about 90 minutes to get there by ferry.   The islands were created more than 8000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. Conditions here are perfect for the growth of coral, which has spread through the area, creating a rich and beautiful ecosystem. The archipelago includes two large islands connected by a bridge, Farasan Kebir and Segid. 5,000 people live on the largest island, Farasan in Farasan Kebir and Segid. The only other island with a permanent population is Qummah. Continuously manned coastguard stations are on the main island as well as Zifaf and Rumain. Kutambil Island northwest of Shuqaiq is a volcanic island situated 5 km offshore. The 100m peak of volcanic clinker dominates the island. The south and southeast parts of the island are flat and sandy. Rich coral reefs lie offshore. The Farasan Islands are largely low, flat-topped lumps of coral that are barely a few meters above the water. The beaches are made of dead coral, and can vary from smooth white beaches to quite rough sand. On the smaller islands, there are virtually no beaches at all. Bird life is plentiful and at different times includes Spoonbill, Western Reef Egret, Striated Heron, Osprey Sooty Falcons, Pink-Backed Pelican, Red-Billed Tropik Bird, White-Eyed Gull, Saunders Little Tern, Crab Plover and Flamingos. To find the ethereal, other-world beauty of the Farasan Islands, it is necessary to put your head underwater where a world of colorful coral reefs, flying rays, dolphins, dugong, sea turtles and whale sharks opens below you. This some of the most awesome underwater diving in the world. The Farasan Islands are an unpretentious wonderland. Nature in its simple best. Farasan Hotel is the only hotel on the island and accommodation is limited, so it's necessary to book. The hotel can arrange land tours, overnight guided sea trips, fishing, snorkeling and deep sea diving for the accredited diver.  (Reference ; Saudi Tourism Website)   Traveling To Farasan Island

I recommend visiting Farasan island with your car. As soon as you arrive in Farasan, there are no rent a car or public transportation except for private cars offering personal services for touring the island or traveling to the town center. Two ships are engaged in the service. One leaves Jizan Port at 7.00AM and the next at 3.00PM. Almost at the same time two ships leave the shore of Farasan to Jizan The ticket of Ship is free of Cost. This ship carries 35-40 cars and The flukas are also used on this route which accommodate more than 60 people. With the arrival of a new ship in 2006, the travel time between Jizan and Farasan was improved from 3 hours to 1.5 hours. The Saudi Government Replaced the old ships with 2 new temporary faster and larger ferryboats, the journey takes about 90 to 120 minutes and 2 trips daily each way Ship Schedule Farasan-Jizan 7:00 am Farasan-Jizan 3:00 pm Jizan-Farasan 7:00 am Farasan-Jizan 3:00 pm   Although the ship leaves Jizan port at 7:00 am, It is a must that the traveler be at the port no later than 5 am in order to reserve a ticket. There's a parking space with limited capacity in the port in case you decided to travel without your car. If you decided to bring the car, which is highly recommended, you must be at the port earlier than 5 am since there are lots of cars falling in line as early as 1 am carrying goods to be sold and delivered to Farasan. In most cases, including cars loaded with construction materials since all the basic needs including fuels are all coming from Jizan.   On weekends, it is quite hard to get a ticket, so you have to fall in line much earlier than 5 am. In case you failed to get a pass from the Customs, you can avoid frustrations by renting fluka (small boats)   The flukas are also used on this route.This flukas carry up to 12 passengers. The ticket price is SR50 per person each way . The fluka take 1hour on this route, there is no fixed schedule for this kind of transportation, it can be hired at any time as long as you pay the cost of the minimum number of the passengers which is 6 or SR 300   As soon as you arrived in Farasan, you have to proceed immediately to the customs office in the town center to reserve your return ticket to Jizan, that is, if you would like to return in the afternoon or the following morning.   Camping out along the seashore or under the bridge is the best way to experience Farasan. Saudi coast guard patrols the sea shores to provide safety to the visitors. While camping, you can enjoy fishing, if you're lucky enough, you might have a glimpse of gazelles passing by along the coast line.   STC installed transmission lines providing internet, land line and GSM line services in the island.   During my visit, I was surprised to find a lot of expatriates fishing along the coastline of the famous Farasan bridge. The Vietnamese nationals in the island is almost equal in numbers with the Filipinos.   Stingrays and colorful fish are normal sites along the sea shores.   An article from Oasis Magazine describe Farasan island as a gift to nature lovers with a freebies of heritage and historical sites :   "There is as much reef in the Farasan Islands as there is along the entire coastline of Saudi Arabia. As such, this makes the Farasan Island is one of the most attractive and popular diving spots in Saudi Arabia and a favorite destination for Saudis and international visitors. Fauna of the Farasan Island include 231 species of fish, 49 species of reef building coral, 3 species of Dolphin, crustaceans, large numbers of breeding seabirds as well as populations of breeding Ospreys (Pandion Haliaetus) and Sooty Falcons. A remnant population of endangered Dugong and the only known confirmed breeding site for Crab Plover (Dromas Ardeola) on the Red Sea coast of Arabia are protected on Farasan Island. In addition, the Farasan Island is home to the special nature reserve, which was established in 1989. It is overseen and mandated by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development. As a result of the protected status of the nature reserve, the Farasan Island now holds the largest gazelle population in Saudi Arabia. On the main island there are more than 500 gazelles, which roam freely. Can you imagine the photo opportunities?! For land lovers, this article would not be complete without mentioning that the Faifa Mountains merit a trip for the opportunity to see some unique rock formations and lush green meadows in Saudi Arabia. And for those who enjoy history, a smaller island not far from the main Farasan Island holds the ruins of an old German-built Fort used during World War II. It is said that this fort had been a secret storage location for ammunition during the war"       Hotels and Restaurants   During my visit last February 2012, I found two hotels serving the island visitors, Farasan Hotel located in the town proper and Coral Hotel, a 5-star hotel located before entering the town, and along the sea shore.   Aside from the hotel, there are very few restaurants in Farasan. I have identified only three small restaurants offering roasted chicken and kabsa. Canned drinks and other grocery items are expensive in the island, the reason why other visitors bring their car loaded with groceries from Jizan Panda.       A view of Islands from Farasan bridge                                                          Posing along the wall of an Old Ottoman Fort at the background      A fish bone from a very huge fish that was washed out in shore few years back. The fish believed to be from whale family                                                           The famous Farasan Island bridge                                                              Posing along the Farasan bridge                                                                                 Boats for hire        `     While in Saudi Arabia....Try Visiting and Exploring Farasan......An opportunity you should not miss......