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

      Transfer to Nizwa (50 km - 1h)

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.

Standard Room
. Breakfast taken at the hotel

      Free day in Nizwa

A day of rest in Nizwa. You stay 2 nights in the same hotel in the town center, which makes it very easy for you to visit the city on your own. You'll go for sure in the souq : on Friday morning, the weekly market takes place and is very busy and famous (early morning, you can see the folkloric goat market) ; on other weekdays, shops are still open and sometimes a few other vendors come to sell their production, but it's much more calm and quiet. You can also visit the fort (fees) which hosts in the basements (the former jails) a small museum. Early afternoon (until about 4PM), shops are closed. They open again late afternoon and close rarely before 9 PM. Late afternnon, fish arrives from the coast and is sold in a corner of the souq. You can also opt for a guided city tour organised by your hotel (and with fees) : it is an historical city, several times capital of the country, always an important cultural center, and which hosts some Mosques dating back to the first years after Hegire.

- Duration : 8 hours

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.

Standard Room
. Breakfast taken at the hotel

      Transfer to a wadi (250 km - 3h)

      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

Individual camping tent

      Transfer to Sur (100 km - 1h)

      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

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