Oman Trekking

Arrive in Muscat, the capital of Oman; a modern, clean and laid-back city that is less high-rise than most cities in the Gulf. Surrounded by the Gulf of Oman and dramatic mountains that naturally restricted its growth the modern city has spread out into neighbouring valleys and up the coast, and orientation can be confusing. Old Muscat is dominated by the Portuguese fortresses of Merani and Jalali built in 1587 and the Sultan's Palace. For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 12pm for the welcome meeting and to take us on a guided tour of Muscat and our first walk. We start with the Bait Al Zubair Museum, proceeding to see Al Alam Sultan's Palace from the outside. To get our legs moving after the flight we plan a short and beautiful guided walk from Riyam Park to Muttrah with great views over the old town. We will also have the chance to visit the bustling souk in Muttrah. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Muscat International Airport (MCT), which is a 30-minute drive from the airport. Please note that if you wish to join the tour of Muscat today, you must arrive at the hotel by 12pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least 90 minutes to clear the airport, so the latest your flight can arrive is 10am. Should you miss this, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Today's easy 3 kilometre trek is expected to take around two hours with 200 metres of ascent and descent.

After an early start we visit the impressive, modern Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Photography is permitted. Woman are required to cover their arms, ankles and hair (head scarf required - not opaque). Men are required to cover their legs. We then leave Muscat and start our 3 hour scenic drive into the Western Hajar Mountains. The Al-Hajar Mountains run through the spine of north-eastern Oman, separating the high desert plateau from the coastal plain. After a picnic lunch near Al Khatim village we start our trek along the spectacular balcony walk to the abandoned village of As Sab and return the same way. This dramatic introduction to Oman is probably the most famous hike in the country, winding around the cliffs high above the Wadi Ghul-Nakhar Valley (Oman's own Grand Canyon) a kilometre below. The path winds around the cliffs, with stunning views into the canyon and the little villages at the bottom. As Sab village is positioned under a large rock overhang, remains of the simple stone houses and crop terraces can be seen. We return the same way to our first campsite (about 1,900m) near Al Khatim village on the Al Qannah Plateau in time for dinner under a star-filled sky. Tonight is our first wild camping experience and each time will be supported by a dedicated crew who will prepare our delicious food and make and break camp. The seating will be in traditional Omani style with cushions on the floor and toilets are al-fresco! Today's moderate grade eight kilometre trek is expected to take around four hours with 100 metres of ascent and descent. On rocky terrain, the uneven rim path is narrow at times with drop offs on one side . Although these are never sheer and it is possible to keep away from edge, this hike is not recommended for vertigo sufferers.

This morning after breakfast, we meet our trusty 4WD vehicles that we will use over the following week to traverse the wild mountainous interior on a mixture of unsurfaced and surfaced roads. We head off towards Wadi Ghul Dam, leaving camp early allows us time to drive through the canyon, it's impressive to see from the bottom looking up, contemplating the sheer magnitude of the Wadi. Today's hike will follow the OMAN by UTMB® (an international ultra-marathon running competition in the mountains) trail from the Wadi up to Hayl Al Shas. The ascent is quite steep for the first hour, with narrow sections, crossing Wadi Al Naqa to reach the plateau and village. Now on top we are rewarded with stunning panoramas of the surrounding valley. Continuing we pass near to The View Oman, a luxury eco resort and quite the contrast to the local goat keeper houses and traditional livelihoods we see along the way. Crossing the dry Al Mlah Wadi we will walk through Al Quwatt village to reach the camping spot (1,500m) Today's moderate grade 12 kilometre trek is expected to take around six hours with 500 metres of ascent.