GREAT TREK OF OMAN

      Transfer to a mountain guesthouse (235 km - 3h)

We drive up the valley on a dirt track. We first cross villages and green palm gardens and then go through a rugged terrain. An impressive drive…

      Canyoning in the lower Snake Canyon

The Snake Canyon is a very narrow canyon located in Wadi Bani Awf. In some parts of the canyon, you can touch both sides at the same time… We'll start from the secondary entrance. No abseiling is required. You'll just have fun by jumping (max 4 meters), sliding, walking in the water and short swimming! For thoses who don't want to jump, we install short abseils.

- Level 2    
- Duration : 3 hours

      Transfer to a mountain guesthouse (5 km - 0h 15)

It's an old settlement which was nicely renovated and turned into a guesthouse. The farming activity was kept (fields and cattle). And the staff is particularly nice!

Dormitory
Dormitories from 4 to 10 persons with bunkbeds and A/C. Breakfast & Dinner taken at the hotel

      Hike through mountains and villages

We walk in the river bed with many trees and birds (sometimes also a stream) and then find a good path which climbs in the mountain and takes us to a first small village. We then walk our way up through the palm gardens and reach a very narrow path. From there we see another bigger village. We walk down to the village and enjoy a tour in the gardens. We finaly find a very narrow gorge which we follow until we reach the main road of the valley.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 5 hours
- Height Difference : +600m/-500m
- Walking Time : 4 to 5 hours

Simple but pleasant guesthouse in a wonderful spot

Standard Room
. Breakfast & Dinner taken at the hotel

      Hike toward the main ridge

It is a wonderful walk. We start from the main valley and walk up a very narrow gorge, at the end of which we discover a big and beautiful village. We cross the village and start the steep climb up the cliff. The climb is steep, but it is an old path that has been equiped with steps a long time ago. 900 meters above the village, we arrive to a small pass. We then follow the ridge on the southern flank : it is a hilly terrain and we have splendid views on all sides.

- Level 4    
- Duration : 7 hours
- Height Difference : +1300m/-250m
- Walking Time : 4 to 6 hours

      Transfer to a high settlement (40 km - 1h)

We camp in the mountain around 2200 meter high not far from a small settlement

Individual camping tent

      Hike on the ridge

We start from an high hamlet at about 2400 meters. We follow the ridge having stunning views over the valleys of the northern slope. We then cross several flat areas with giant juniper tress and wild olive trees. We finally walk up to a small pass from which we see a village still a bit far away and we have to get there.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 7 hours
- Height Difference : +700m/-900m
- Walking Time : 5 to 7 hours

      Transfer to a plateau covered with juniper trees (20 km - 0h 30)

2400m high in the center of the Jebel Akhdhar, surrounded by giant juniper and wild olive trees. A few steps away, you can enjoy great views over the valleys of the northern slope.

Individual camping tent

      Transfer to a high village (15 km - 0h 30)

      Hike to a remote palm garden in a canyon

We start from a village located at an height of 2000 m and we walk the same way as the villagers who go work in the gardens, some 700 meters down. After 2 hours walk we finally discover the gardens where grow palm, lime, banana tree, garlic, and sweet potatoes. The place is really beautiful. We come back another way to another village located on the plateau.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height Difference : +500m/-650m
- Walking Time : 4 to 5 hours

      Transfer to a plateau covered with juniper trees (15 km - 0h 20)

2400m high in the center of the Jebel Akhdhar, surrounded by giant juniper and wild olive trees. A few steps away, you can enjoy great views over the valleys of the northern slope.

Individual camping tent

      Transfer to a high village (35 km - 0h 45)

      Hike down from Jebel Akhdar

A very nice hike in a wild and little visited valley of jebel Akhdar. We walk down the plateau to the Samail Gap. Views are stunning durign the main descent and the last part in the wadi with wild palm trees, waterpools and the old falaj (water chanel) is delightfull

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height Difference : +100m/-1300m
- Walking Time : 4 to 6 hours

      Transfer to Nizwa (75 km - 0h 45)

A beautiful hotel located in an old quarter of Nizwa, just behind the souk. It's a complex of several old houses which have been renovated with a lot of taste. Rooms, bathrooms, majilis, and teraces are spread in a labyrinth of corridors, stairs, and bridges.

Standard Room
Rooms are charmfull. They are furnished in a traditional style and are all equiped with A/C. Mattress are on the floor. Bathrooms are private but may be located outside the room.. Breakfast taken at the hotel

      Souq of Nizwa

Nizwa is a major city of Oman located at the foot of the mointains in the interior. In the past it was the capital of the country and remains the cultural center of the country for mountain people. The Souq was rehabilitated some 15 years ago. Friday is the market day, called 'Souq Al Jumaa', and brings visitors from the nearby mountains as well as bedous from the desert side. The livestock souq is particularly worth a visit. But you find also the fish souq, vegetable souq, meat souq, as well as some people saling moutain honey, dates, incense, and anything you might need.

- Duration : 1 hours 30

      Transfer to our campsite in the desert (220 km - 3h)

      Sunset in the dunes

We start a walk across the dunes in late afternoon. The heat isn't too strong anymore and the sunlight is the more beautiful. The setting sun always gives changing colour to the sand and the shades. This a great unforgetable time.

- Level 1    
- Duration : 1 hours

Individual camping tent

      Hiking in the Wahiba Sands

We start walking early morning when the sun is not too strong. We walk some 3-4 hours in this wonderful lanscape of sand dunes. Around twelve, when the sun reaches its highest point, we stop to have lunch and rest under the shade. At the end of the afternoon we start walking again around our camp to see sunset. In the desert, the walking time is only informative and we can adapt the length of the stages according to the group.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height Difference : +100m/-100m
- Walking Time : 4 to 5 hours

Individual camping tent

      Transfer to a wadi (80 km - 1h 30)

      Aquatic hiking in a wadi of the Eatern Hajar

An easy quatic hike in one of the most beautiful wadis of oman. We start from an oasis in the valley. We walk across its luxuriant palm garden to reach he entrance of the garden. We then walk between large boulders to arrive to 2 wonderful pools with waterfalls. In one of these we can jump from 10 meters. We keep on walking in the water and the swim several long pools (until 300 meters). The valley then widens and we discover another oasis.

- Level 1    
- Duration : 5 hours
- Walking Time : 3 to 5 hours

      Transfer to Sur (100 km - 1h)

A good hotel with modern and comfortable rooms, located just outside the city on the lagoon

Standard Room
. Breakfast taken at the hotel

      Visit of the city of Sur

Sur is a big city living quietly. It is built on the seashore and extends along a wonderful lagune. It was famous in the past for the naval construction. This traditional industry is declining but there is still one factory which produces wondeful traditional arabic dhows. We stop to visit it. We then walk up to a watch tower from which we have the best view over the city.

- Duration : 2 hours

      Transfer to Tiwi (60 km - 0h 45)

      Short hike in the wadi through palm gardens

We hike in the wadi, through the palm garden (which also hosts bananas, papayas, mango trees, lime, etc…) along the falaj to reach our camp site. Water flows in the river bed, flanks are covered by lush green gardens, dominated by steep cliffs.

- Level 2    
- Duration : 2 hours
- Walking Time : 1 to 2 hours

We camp in a private garden in the wadi. The place is great and walking around late afternoon is great : superb views and lots of birds! For the moment, the place is very simple, but the owner plans to build toitlets soon…

Individual camping tent

      Hike in the wadi and swim in the canyon

A beautiful hiking day : we walk all the wadi long, mostly on paths and falajs in the gardens, sometimes across boulders in the wadi bed, and few short parts on the track. On the way, we cross several villages. After arriving in the last village, we can go for a swim in the canyon just down the village in the middle of the canyon.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height Difference : +300m/-50m
- Walking Time : 4 to 5 hours

      Transfer to Tiwi (25 km - 0h 30)

A nice small hotel very well located, just before the village of Tiwi, in front of the sea, and at the entrance of Wadi Tiwi. The hotel has a swimming pool and a garden.

Standard Room
Modern and comfortable room with private bathroom. Breakfast taken at the hotel

      Transfer to a wadi (60 km - 0h 30)

      Aquatic hiking in a wadi of the Eastern Hajar

We start in the last village of the valley. Already at the end of the track is a wonderful pool and a small waterfall. From the cliff a 5 meters jump is possible. We then start the walk. Quickly we find flowing water and walk across large boulders. The canyon then narrows and we have to swim across several pools (it is possible to jump there also). The valley widens a little and narrows again. We swim again and arrive to the end of the canyon : a high waterfal, large pool, and huge boulders…We come back the same way.

- Level 1    
- Duration : 7 hours
- Walking Time : 4 to 6 hours

      Transfer to Muttrah (130 km - 1h 30)

www.omantrekkingguides.com, website of AL MAALAM TOURS , company registered under Commercial Register Number (1087801), and with
(local tour operator licence)
AL MAALAM TOURS - PO BOX 917 - Post Code 611 - NIZWA - SULTANATE OF OMAN