You'll find more precise information in the PDF document "Detailed Program" (Tab "More Infos", section "Documents to download")

      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 4    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height difference : +700m/-400m
- Walking time : 4 to 5 hours

We sleep in a mountain village which is now inhabited by only one family. We rent a traditional house located little aside where we have several rooms to share and a bathroom. Comfort is basic. If the house is not available, we camp on the terraces near the village.

Dormitory room

      Hike toward the ridge

A superb hike today : we start to hike up the cliffs of the rock amphitheater, mainly on a good path (but some parts can be a bit more difficult, and on a few places the path does not exist anymore…). We hike up a gully which hosts a suprisingly high number of trees for Oman, which attracts brids. We then follow a balcony path which over great views. We stop for lunch near a spring and continue the balcony path before a last ascent to reach our bivouac spot on the main ridge.

- Level 4    
- Duration : 8 hours
- Height difference : +1100m/-100m
- Walking time : 5 to 6 hours

We camp at a pass located at an height of 2200m. Food and water supply are brought by a donkey.

under the stars

      Hike alng the main ridge and down to another valley

From our bivouac, we start hiking following the main ridge up and down. On clear days, we have great views from Jebel Shams to Jebel Akhdar on the southern side and from Wadi Sahtan to Wadi Mistal on the northern side. We then start the hike down. Views are really great! The way is not always easy, sometimes on a good path, and sometimes with no path. We finaly reach the village lying at an height of 1200m, of which we cross part of the gardens.

- Level 4    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height difference : +300m/-1200m
- Walking time : 4 to 5 hours

We sleep in the house of our friend in a mountain village which is now not inhabited full time. We have 3 rooms where we can sleep and a newly built bathroom. We can also sleep outside under the stars…

Dormitory Room

      Descent in the small valley

We cross the village and follow a good mountain path which takes us at the bottom of the valley. We then hike around boulders in the river bed. There are a lot of trees and sometimes, after big rains, a stream flows during several months.

- Level 2    
- Duration : 2 hours
- Height difference : +50m/-350m
- Walking time : 1 to 2 hours

      Lunch in an old hamlet renovated into a guesthouse

- Level 1    
- Duration : 1 hours

      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

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

Shared Room
Dormitory with maximum 4 beds per 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

Located 1900m high.

Standard Room
. Breakfast & dinner taken at the hotel

      Hike along the ridge

A very nice hike. We walk sometimes on the southern side through a hilly landscape typical of the Western Hajar's highlands with wild olive trees and big juniper trees, and sometimes along the rocky ridge with stunning views over the steep northern valleys. After a detour to a mountain hamlet to refill water, we continue along the ridge until we reach our bivouac spot.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height difference : +500m/-500m
- Walking time : 4 to 5 hours

Camping

      Hike to a remote Palm grove in a canyon

We leave the ridge to go to a narrow pass. On the way we might find some remainings from the "Jebel War" which oposed in the 50's the Sutan and the Imam. After the pass, we are in the part of the range called "Jebel Akhdar". We hike down to a high village (where we can get water) and enjoy spectacular views over the canyon formed by Wadi Tanuf. We then follow a good path which leads us to wondeful gardens laying some 700 meters down in the canyon. The old village, next to the gardens was left by its inhabitants when the road on the plateau was built, but they still go down to the gardens regluarly to maintain them.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 7 hours
- Height difference : +200m/-900m
- Walking time : 4 to 6 hours

Camping

      Hike toward a mosque at a crossroad on the ridge

Today, we take time to enjoy the small oases where we slept. Then, we hike back up to the high village we passed the day before and continue to reach the ridge again and find the views over the northern valleys.

- Level 4    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height difference : +800m/-0m
- Walking time : 4 to 5 hours

Camping

      Hike on Jebel Akhdar

We hike on the hilly plateau of jebel Akhdar. It is a typical landscape of Jebel Akhdar : nig olive and juniper trees, goats, and sometimes nice views over the northern slope. No big ascent nor big descent, but a long way and lots of ups and downs…

- Level 3    
- Duration : 7 hours
- Height difference : +500m/-700m
- Walking time : 4 to 6 hours

Overnight in a beautifully renovated guesthouse in an old troglodyte village. The village is built under a cliff.

Standard Room
. Breakfast & dinner taken at the hotel

      Hike in the mountain

A nice hike, not too much difficult, except one very steep descent, which take us from the plateau to a valley forming a big amphitheater. We start at a village located at 2200m above sea level, where pomogranates and wallnuts do particularly well, and use a path on the flank of the mountain which offers spectular views over several valleys of the northern slope. We finaly reach a pass where we discover the big amphitheater-like valley in which lays our arrival point : a village located at an height of 1400m, where main grown trees are apricots and peaches.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 7 hours
- Height difference : +450m/-800m
- Walking time : 5 to 6 hours

A nice Guesthouse, very well located at the entrance of the village, and with superb view over the valley

Standard Room
. Breakfast & dinner taken at the hotel

      Hike up to Jebel Akhdar

We start in a village located at 1400m. We start climbing across the terraces planted with apricots, onions, pomogranates, and lime trees. We then follow the falaj and climb steeply toward a small pass. All along the steep climb we have stunning views over the amphiteater-like vallley we come from. After the pass a gentle walk in a landscape typical of Jebel Akhdhar leads us to a high village.

- Level 3    
- Duration : 6 hours
- Height difference : +800m/-500m
- Walking time : 4 to 6 hours

We set up our camp not far from a village, at an height of 1900m.

Individual camping tent

      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 Muttrah (120 km - 1h 15)

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