Jebel shams, the highest peak in Oman, is located in the western Al Hajar mountain range, about 240 kilometers from Muscat, and with its charming views of Wadi Al Nakhr called the “Grand Canyon” of the Arabian Peninsula, the jebel shams Oman is one of the tourist attractions that visitors visit to enjoy its cool climate and places Great camping and many hiking trails.
How to get to jebel shams?
Jebel shams can be reached from the village of Al Hamra, which is about a two-hour drive from Muscat, as it is located about 250 km from Muscat.
During the trip, it is recommended to use four-wheel drive vehicles, especially since the mountain road is steep, and the four-wheel drive feature makes you move through desert rocks and uneven terrain with ease.
What is Jebel Shams?
- The highest mountain in the Hajar Mountains range, where the jebel shams is located in the Wilayat of Al-Hamra in the Dakhiliyah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. It is the highest mountain in the Hajar Mountains range and Oman, with a height of just over 3009 meters.
- This height helped change the climate from the rest of the regions in the Sultanate, in addition to what is unique to it in terms of geological formations, the most important of which is the presence of the great rocky fault on the side of the path ascending to its summit, which is considered the second largest fault in the world. Such as the tree bot and Alalan and olives.
- During your trip to Oman, jebel shams is a must-visit place if you are looking for fresh surroundings and breathtaking scenery.
- There are two peaks on the Jebel Shams, the North Peak, and the South Peak. The North Peak is the highest point in the mountain, but it cannot be accessed by tourists. The summit is a military base and a restricted area.
- The name Jebel Shams in the Wilayat of Al-Hamra comes from the fact that the sun first rises and lasts at its high peak, and the place is unique in the moderate temperature in the summer, reaching between 26 and 25 degrees Celsius, and the cold that reaches the freezing point, and snow falls in the winter, as the temperature reaches less than 7°C.
- The people living in the scattered villages on this mountain succeeded in planting some seasonal fruit trees such as apples, peaches, and pomegranates.
- The Jebel Shams is one of the most famous and popular monuments in the region. It is frequented by tourists from everywhere and throughout the year in abundance because it is famous for its attractive and charming views overlooking both Wadi al-Ghul and Wadi al-Nakhr Canyon..
Important tourist sites in Jebel Shams
The Jebel Shams area is surrounded by many picturesque archaeological and tourist sites, some of which are as follows:
1- Wadi Ghoul:
- It is the deepest valley in the Middle East, and the second deepest in the world after the Grand Valley of Arizona. Many rock formations and ancient rock layers that reflect the beauty of nature appear on both sides of it.
- Life is different at the top of the mountain, where the weather is mild in the summer and cold in the winter. Near the top, there is a deep chasm called “Balcony of Necrosis”, which is one of the most beautiful places visited by tourists.
- It is a deep valley in the heart of the rocks that can be seen from above. The rock formations, excavated in different shapes by erosion, are located at the bottom of the valley at a breathtaking depth.
2-Wadi Al Nakhr:
- Wadi Al Nakhr extends deep in the jebel shams for about 8 km to the village of Al Nakhr.
3- The deserted village of Sab:
- In the past, the village housed about 15 families who moved away, leaving behind the rugged terrain of jebel shams. This was the main reason why these families initially moved to this part of the country; The rugged terrain provided them with protection from enemies.
- It is famous for growing melons, onions, pepper powder, tomatoes, wheat, pomegranates, lemons, and basil.
Activities that can be done in Jebel Shams
Jebel shams is distinguished as the highest mountain in the Sultanate of Oman, and because of its location in the heart of the western Hajar mountain range in the Ad Dakhiliyah region, there are many tourist sites, and it provides activities that its visitors can do. Here are some tips that will help you enjoy your visit to Jebel shams, and spend an enjoyable time in it:
1- Camping:
- Many people go to jebel shams for camp on the edge of the valley overlooking the mountain, which is characterized by a suitable temperature in the summer and may be very cold in the winter.
- The most popular site to camp is located next to the edge of the valley, a short tarmac ride just past located at the end of the Jebel Shams Road on the edge of the valley, after passing Jebel Shams Resort.
2- Stargazing and night photography:
- Jebel shams is a great place to relax, get away from the noise of the city, look at the starry night sky, and experience night photography, when the sky is clear and moonless.
3- Walking:
You can go hiking in the area. You have 3 paths that you can choose from:
The first track
- Jebel Shams Al Balkan Trail, which is the most recommended way for hiking, your journey begins across the edge of the Grand Canyon starting from the village of Al Khateem, which is lg through the village towards the edge of Wadi Al Nakhr, you will be able to see attractive views over the valley and the surrounding villages.
- Along the way, you will find one of the picturesque archaeological sites in the region, which is the village of Sab Bani Khamis, which includes ancient ruins of gardens, towers, and terraced houses. There is also a hidden water pool that can be reached after passing through the village of Sab Bani Khamis. You can also practice climbing through Ferrata until you reach the Jebel Shams plateau.
Second track
- Walking from the village of Al-Khatim to Wadi Al-Ghoul, the road is steep with wonderful views of Nakhor and the Ghoul Valleys, in addition to many old false towers built of stones, which were used as observation points by the residents of the region.
Third track
- jebel shams, which is a steep ascent on the plateau to the top of the mountain, the elevation is very steep, and it is an enjoyable adventure for mountain climbers.
