A Guide to Visiting coral reef Island of Hengam
- Visiting
A Guide to Visiting coral reef Island of Hengam in Qeshm
- ThemeNature & Adventure/ Spiritual
- CodeIRSG2139
- Duration12 hr(s)
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn6:00-24:00 *
- Winter6:00-24:00 *
* Best Time
Photos of the A Guide to Visiting coral reef Island of Hengam
The Beach of Hengam
Hengam Route Map
Dolphins in Hengam Island
Dolphins in Hengam Island
Dolphins in Hengam Island
Dolphins in Hengam Island
The Hengam Shiny Beach
The Hengam Shiny Beach
The Beach Traditional Market
The Beach Traditional Market
Portuguese Ship in Hengam Island
The Beach of Hengam Island
Explore the A Guide to Visiting coral reef Island of Hengam
Hengam Island
The attractions of Qeshm never stop to amaze you. On the southeast edge of the
Island, about 2 km away, there is another small island named Hengām. The clipped
cone-shaped island with lime and coral reefs covers an area of 33.6 km. Hengam, in Persian language means “time or moment”. The highest point of the
island, Nākas Mountain, has a height of 106 meters. The Island comprises three
villages: the Old Hengam, the New Hengam, and the abandoned village of Ghil.
The residents speak Persian and Arabic languages and make their living mostly
by fishing and selling handmade accessories made by seashells. The island, with
no streets crowded with the hustle and bustle of noisy, fuming cars, is a
paradise for those seeking a pristine and quiet sight.
Walking along the beach, one can see the unique color of sands. Because of a
specific kind of mineral material in the sands, they shone with a silvery hue.
In some parts, there are hills with reddish brown soil known as “Golak”. Locals
use this soil to make a local kind of jam. Moreover, this rich island features
lead, soil, and salt mines.
The phytoplanktons glowing in the night are another natural attraction of the
Hengam Island. Just like Maldives and California, the Beach of Hengam Island is
filled with bioluminescent planktons which lit up the waves at night.
Hengam is an ideal place for wildlife lovers too. In the autumn, Persian Gulf
hosts more than 13 species of dolphins. The visitors rent a boat here in the
Hengam Island to take them into the gulf to watch the playful dolphins. In
addition to the dolphins, a number of other animals live on this island too:
Jabir gazelles, spiny-tailed Lizards, and the endangered hawksbill turtles.
Nestled in a strategic position between Qeshm Island and Hurmoz Strait, it’s
been of a geographical and military significance throughout history. In the
Safavid era, the island was captured by the Portuguese, and in the Qajar period
by the Britain forces. The remains of the facilities they built in the island
include a navy headquarter in the New Hengam, which is abandoned since 1910, an
old cemetery of the Portuguese on the east of the New Hengam, and a
Britain/Portuguese ship on the north of the Island.
Highlights
- Wildlife
- Hengam beach
- Traditional market
- Red Mountains
Wildlife
THe Hengam Island boasts many natural beauties that
fascinate tourists. Everyone knows the Hengam Island with its lovely Dolphins.
Many are ready to travel a long distance just to watch these cute animals
playing harmoniously around the tourist boats. Dolphins are present around the
island from mid-autumn until May. Early in the morning, around 8 A.M is the
best time to catch a view of them. To see the scene, you need to hire a boat
from local people and travel through the water till these bottlenose creatures
appear on the surface of the water. Nowadays it has become tougher to see the
dolphins because of food scarcity and their fear of being trapped in the
fishing nets.
Hengam Island is also home to Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), which inhabits the
arid and semi-arid areas of the island. You should not keep your hopes high to
see these fast-running animals unless you are lucky enough.
Other precious animals in Hengam Island are the chameleon – which is among
scant species living in the Island – and the grey egret – a white and grey bird
with long legs and a yellow beak, which spends so much time motionlessly on the
beach, waiting for prey.
In the island, wait to see a very rare and endangered species called the eagle
muzzle turtle, one of the four species of sea turtles living in the Persian
Gulf. In Hengam Island, there is also a natural aquarium where the water is so
transparent and clear that colorful fish are visible coming up for some food.
Do not miss seeing the crabs rolling here and there on the stones.
Hengam beach
Visiting the Hengam Island is like entering a new world away from the hustle
and bustle of city life. The first thing that catches the eye in the Island is
the endless tranquility of the beaches with many wonders awaiting the visitors.
Spending time on the beach is an experience that should not be missed.
• Silver Beach
Hengam has a coastline of about 50 km, where the silver beach is the highlight.
It is assumed that, the presence of a kind of glossy mineral or disintegrated
fish flakes among the sand particles gives a brilliant shiny look to the shore.
Because of human intervention and damages to the beach, entering the area and
walking on the beach has been restricted. However, there are some passenger
boats on the Qeshm Island or Kandalu Port, which take visitors along the beach
where it is possible to spend time fishing and watching the coral reefs or
silverfish under the water as well.
• Shiny beach
At certain times of the year, the island’s shore takes on a magical face, when
the seashore shines like a brilliant blue star. This is caused by the presence
of marine phytoplankton that when exposed to the sun or uneasy conditions emit
light making the seashore or the waves shine brilliantly. The phenomenon can
also be found in some other parts of the world such as Maldives, California.
• Cliff beach
The beautiful part of the beach in Hengam is surrounded by long rocky cliffs,
which is one of the most delightful coastal scenes in Hengam. You can sit on
the cliffs for hours and enjoy watching the waves or diving into the water to
refresh your body and soul.
Traditional market
If you want to indulge yourself in a traditional market instead of the modern
one, the traditional market in Hengam Island will serve you well. There are
plenty of traditional foodies such as Samboose, shrimp samboose as well as
local handicrafts like shell jewelry, local oil, various spices, henna design
and etc. The market is not only a place for shopping with reasonable price but
also for getting in touch with the local people who have so many stories about
the sea and the Island to share with visitors.
Red Mountains
Hengam Island is equally famous for its red soil, which is called Galk. The red
soil is used in decorative stones or for constructing docks and the related
facilities. Astonishingly, the soil is also used in making a special local jam
called Surakh Jam.
Important Information
Additional Info
- To access Hengam from Qeshm, you need to go to the Kondalo port or Shib deraz pier and rent a boat.
- The distance from Qeshm Island to Hengam Island is 2 km.
• Precaution
- Swimming over the reefs would be a pleasant experience, but you must be careful about the sea urchins.
• Where to stay
- There is an eco-lodge in the island where you can stay overnight.
- You can also stay at local houses in Hengam Island. For more information call Afshin Abbas Nejad Hengami (local guide) by 09179773056.
Cost Info
- Traditional dishes in the beach market -
