HIKING IN OMAN

      Transfer to a mountain village (225 km - 3h)

      Hike across mountain villages

The main valley forms a hughe amphitheater overlooked by the noth face of Jebel Shams which offers huge cliffs of sometimes more than 2000m. We walk along centuries old paths (some of them are in a bad state and some spots can be a bit difficult) linking remote villages. We pass 3 villages before arriving to our camp.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 4 hours
- Height Difference : +200m/-400m
- Walking Time : 3 to 4 hours

A wonderful campsite with unbelievable views over the north face of Jebel Shams

Individual camping tent

      Hike across mountain villages

We start hiking from our campsite and walk up and down several valleys. Almost each valley hosts a village which has its own charm. Palm gardens, aflaj, terraced fields, beehives... We hike in traditional Oman and the scenery is spectacular. Some few passages might be a bit difficult.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height Difference : +700m/-800m
- Walking Time : 4 to 5 hours

      Transfer to a mountain guesthouse (30 km - 1h)

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

      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

      Transfer to Nizwa (80 km - 2h)

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 the white desert, among rocks and sand (350 km - 3h 30)

      Sunset between White desert and rocky hills

We walk up a small plateau next to our camp. On the one side we perceive the white desert which we will cross the day after. On the other side, the sun sets on rocky hills.

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

We set up our camp in a beautiful place where sand meets rocks

Individual camping tent

      Hike across sand dunes and rocky outcrops

A very beautifull day : we walk across sand dunes and meet on the way many rocky outcrops. The sand is sometimes red, and sometimes white. We arrive at our camp around noon and enjoy some rest under the shade. Late afternoon, we walk to the top of the sand dunes to see sunset over this spectacular landscape with trees, rocks, and sand...

- Level 2 & 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Walking Time : 4 to 5 hours

Varied landscape : sand dunes, rocky hills, and an accacia "forest"

Individual camping tent

      Hike across White desert

We have a long hike in a wonderful and unexpected landscape. We start from our campsite where the sand is rather beige and we walk across small rocky plateau, sandy valleys, and dune areas. The more we walk the whiter is getting the sand. Finaly we discover wonderful pure white sand dunes. Irreal landscape… We walk across the dunes and arrive to the sea around noon… We set up our camp, have lunch, and enjoy swimming in the indian ocean. Late afternoon, we start walking again across white sand dunes to enjoy sunset.

- Level 2 & 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Walking Time : 3 to 5 hours

Unusual landscape : on one side we have pure white dunes, whereas on the other side we have the Indian Ocean…

Individual camping tent

      Transfer to a fishing village (21 km - 0h 36)

      Stop in a beduin coastal village

This is a very picturesc fishing beduin village : feelings to be t the far end of the world where old 4WD cover with algaes and shells tow small boats coming back from fishing.

- Duration : 1 hours

      Transfer to our campsite in the desert (480 km - 7h)

A spectacular crossing of the Wahiba desert by 4WD. The track is usually well marked, but sometimes sand blown by the wind covers it. We start at the sea and cross the desert towards the North. The more we drive, the higher are the longitudinal dunes.

      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

A very nice camp which lays in the middle of the sand dunes, in a quiet and wild area.

Arabic Tent with private bathroom
Arabic tent nicely equiped as an hotel room : bed, carpets, tabe, chairs. Private bathroom.. Breakfast & Dinner taken at the hotel

      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 (150 km - 2h)

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 through gardens and water pools

A wonderfull valley, with a river and water pools, a huge palm grove streching along it on terraces, villages, and scenic mountain slopes. We spend there the whole day alterning walking and swim stop(s) : several itineraries are possible for a nice full day walking not too difficult

- Level 2    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height Difference : +100m/-100m
- Walking Time : 2 to 4 hours

      Transfer to our campsite (70 km - 1h)

We set up our camp on a flat area at the foot of beautiful mountains, with a panoramic view

Individual camping tent

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

      Walk and swim in a wadi

We start with a refreshing swim in the vast pool down the village where we park. We then walk up the wadi around large boulders and across water pools until the canyons narrows to form very long pools. We swim there and go back the same way. Warning : in some places, you might have to step in the water ; you shoes and pants might get wet…

- Level 2    
- Duration : 4 hours
- Walking Time : 2 to 3 hours

      Transfer to Muttrah (180 km - 2h)

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