Kalba

The most southerly village in the United Arab Emirates, Kalba is a quaint fishing village with a lively fresh produce and fish market on the seashore. It's a charming place for a stroll that's worth the trip for the Al-Hisn Museum (built as a fort 200 years ago) and the fully restored House of Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al-Qassimi with its displays of musical instruments and traditional furniture.

Just south of the village is the Khor Kalba Conservation Reserve, containing the most northerly mangrove forest in the world. This is a bird-watcher's paradise, especially during spring and autumn migrations. Visitors can spot the rare white-collared kingfishers that breed here as well as reef herons and booted warblers. Trips to the reserve are by hired boat or canoe.