Jebel Shams; The highest mountain in Oman and Arabian Peninsula
Oman hosts the highest mountain in the Arabian Peninsula, the Jebel Shams, or “ Sun Mountain''. It is located about 235km from Muscat in a small town called Al Hamra. Jebel Shams is a part of Al Hajar Mountain Range and it enormously stands 3009 meters above sea level. The weather in Jebel Shams is slightly cooler than the town below and sometimes it snows here during winter. As a result of its mild climate and thrilling trekking path, Jebel Shams is often chosen as a venue for ultra-marathon races.
Jabel Shams at Sunset
Jebel Shams is about 2 hours drive away from Muscat and along the way, you will be greeted with a panoramic view of towering mountains. Roads are paved but when you reach the secluded area, roads are uneven and rough which makes it a little bit of an off-road adventure.
Often people come here to trek and one of the popular trails in Jebel Shams is called The Balcony Walk (W6). This is a moderate walk that starts from the village of Al Khateem. This route used to be a donkey path, which is used by caravans to go up into the mountains. The trail is easy to follow as it is marked with red/white/yellow flags and is mainly on the ridge of the cliff with a breathtaking view of Al Nakhur or what people call the “ Grand Canyon of Arabia”.
Along the path, you will pass by rug weavers selling handcrafted goods, ruins of old structures, hundreds of cairns, and of course friendly goats. This trek is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours and with a spectacular from every angle!
“The Balcony Walk” leads to the abandoned village of As Sab, a very interesting village that is caved in the middle of the cliff. Here you will see houses made of stones almost intact and the village’s watchtower still standing strong since the day the patrons left. Not far from the As Sab village is a hidden water basin right in front of a big cave, a perfect spot to rest after a long tiring walk.
Sunrise from Jabel Shams
Another famous trek is the W4, this is the path to the Southern Summit of Jebel Shams. You need to ensure you’re physically fit enough as this trek can take up to 10 hours. This may sound demanding but once you reach the summit it will be all worth it when you see the magnificent 360-degree view of the mountains and horizons all around Jebel Shams.
Most people visit Jebel Shams to see the extraordinary mountain view, but some people visit to camp under a starry night. With less light pollution this is a perfect spot for night photography where you can capture the boundless starry sky and the Milky Way Galaxy. Jebel Shams’ highlight is not just it’s summit and beautiful landscape but also its clear starry night sky.
