Oman is the land of mountains and without any doubt a hiking paradise for the avid adventure seeker. The country is home to the largest peak in the Arabian Peninsula and the second-largest Grand Canyon and cave in the world.
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Telling from my personal experience, there is hardly any terrain in the country where you will not find mountains as a part of the landscape (except the desert, obviously!). Advanced hiking skills are not required for hiking in Oman as most trails are straight muddy or rocky paths in the mountains taking you to incredible views and giving a perfect taste of adventure within nature!
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This article will help you to explore all the off the beaten hiking trails in Oman. As Oman is a hot and humid country, hiking in the summer days is not advisable. Keep reading to know the best time to plan your hike in Oman. But first, here are the best places for hiking in Oman
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Jebel Akhdar
Location: 115km from Muscat in the city of Nizwa
Known as the ‘Green Mountain’ and a nature reserve due to its unique bio-diversity, Jebel Akhdar is the main source of agriculture and one of the most promising mountain peaks of the Al Hajar Mountain range. Hiking in Jebel Akhdar is relatively easy as well as paved roads and paths have been constructed by the government with many small local shops, cafes, boards and markers to help the visitors and hikers alike. All the visitors have to pass through a police check-post to reach the mountain (Note: it is just a basic check post and no license is required to visit the mountain).
Jebel Akhdar is famous for its extensive pomegranate farms, which is the biggest highlight of the hike. Hikers will walk through many small villages and pomegranate farms. Locals are very welcoming and you can get a free pomegranate drink in exchange for a smile with the local farmers! Apart from the natural bio-diversity, Jebel Akhdar offers incredible views of the valleys and the smaller mountains in Al Hajar mountain range. It is a must-do hike for any adventure seeker hiking in Oman!
Note: To reach the start point of the hike, it is mandatory to travel by a four-wheeler. If you have not hired one while coming to Nizwa, you can hire a local driver with a car available at the police check post
Jebel Shams
Location: 243km from Muscat, near the city of Nizwa
Jebel Shams, or ‘Mountain of Sun’, is the highest peak in the Gulf region standing tall at 3000 meters above the sea level with two summits; north and south. It also happens to be the second-largest Grand Canyon on earth. Also a part of the Al Hajar Mountain range, Jebel Shams offers an incredible yet a bit challenging hike for the adventure seekers hiking in Oman. There are three main viewpoints at the top of the mountain, which can be reached by crossing many unpaved rocky paths in the mountain. It is important to note that these paths are basically paved for the cars and not hikers, therefore, extreme cautions will be required while hiking.
Hikers will pass through different rocky terrains going uphill and downhill with views of small villages and valleys. Unlike Jebel Akhdar, there are no shops or cafeterias along the hiking trail, so you have pack lots of water and a bunch of snacks for hiking in Jebel Shams. The sunrise and sunset view at the top of Jebel Shams is something that is not to be missed! Overnight camping at the top of the mountain is very popular among local visitors and tourists alike. Who wouldn’t like to witness the sunrise and sunset from the top of the ‘Mountain of Sun’!
Wadi Shab
Location: 150km from Muscat, near the city of Sur
Wadi Shab in Oman is one of the most popular and easily accessible hiking trails located in the Sharqiyah region. Meaning oasis in Arabic, Wadi Shab offers a rocky hiking trail going in between the mountains and eventually leading to a waterfall, cave and numerous pools of turquoise water where you can take a dip to beat the heat. It is an easy hike, however, due to extreme summers in the country; it is highly advisable to carry lots of water while hiking. The Wadi has been a popular spot for sports such as cliff diving in Oman.
The hiking trail goes through mighty rocky mountains with small and big pools of water where mules and donkeys can also be spotted relaxing in the water pools, therefore it should be in your list of hiking in Oman. Camping is possible but not really recommended as the place gets very deserted after the sunset.
Also Read: The Top 10 Wadis To Visit In Oman With Location Map
Al Wakan Village
Location: 135km from Muscat
Al Wakan Village is undoubtedly a hidden paradise in Al Batinah governorate of Oman located 2000 meters above the sea level which makes it is a unique spot for hiking in Oman. This mountain village offers mesmerizing views of terraced gardens overlooking the mighty mountains in the surroundings. Al Wakan Village is an agricultural village and hikers will get to see vast plantations of pomegranate, apricots, and grapes on the hike (Note: do not try to pluck any fruit without the consent of the local gardener). There are three hiking trails that take you from the bottom all the way to the watchtower at the top of the village.
These trails are marked with markers facilitating the hiker to move in the right direction. The easiest and the most accessible trail is a 700 steps hike which will take you directly to the watchtower. As the trail passes along many small houses of local farmers who are very friendly and will also offer fresh juice drinks to ensure you remain hydrated for the hike! A stream of freshwaters from the mountains also runs along the path. Feel free to fill your water bottles with the pure mountain waters. The sunset scenes from the highest end of the village are really dramatic and something which is not to be missed after the hike!
Riyam-Muttrah hike
Location: Lies in the heart of the capital city of Muscat
The Riyam-Muttrah hike is a short and sweet hike lying just in the city center of Muscat; this hiking trail is a perfect spot for anyone looking for hiking in Oman but on short notice. It is a relatively easy hike and very popular among the residents so you will not be alone on the hiking trail particularly on the weekends. The hike starts with a series of rocky uneven steps which will gradually take you to the view of the old Muttrah Souq (Old Market), the main local shopping district in Muttrah. As you will climb further, views of the beautiful Arabian ocean with the corniche road running along it starts to become visible.
The steps eventually end at a viewpoint from where a sight of Mina Al Falah is visible. The view of houses constructed in the lap of mountains overlooking the Arabian ocean is indeed a refreshing sight. The hike then descends to an abandoned village where nothing except some fallen walls here and there can be seen. The hiking trail is managed by the Ministry of Tourism but you will not find any markers guiding the way throughout the hike, therefore it is advisable to keep your GPS turned on or accompany someone who is familiar with the hike.
Best time to hike in Oman
Oman is an extremely hot, humid and sunny country, which makes hiking in Oman very challenging. Hiking during the peak summer months from April to June is highly not advisable as the heat can get extremely dangerous and there is a big probability of getting a heat stroke while doing any outdoor physical activity. The months of July to September are very humid but hiking is surely possible.
However, do not forget to carry lots and lots of water and juices to keep you hydrated during the hike. The winter months of October to March are the best time for hiking in Oman. However, during the winter months, the temperature at Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams can drop below zero at the highest points on the mountains so it is advisable to wear a warm jacket and gloves while hiking to the higher altitude places.
Book These Hiking Tours In Oman Before They Sell Out!
This guide by Oman Tourism will help you in planning the appropriate time for hiking in Oman.
Planning on what else to do around Oman, check out my guides:
- Guide To The Best Beaches In Oman
- Ultimate List of Best Diving Sites In Oman
- 10 Amazing Things To Do In Muscat
- Best Day Trips To Take From Muscat
Disclaimer: Some of the links in the article are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. However, I only recommend products and services I trust.
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Beautiful trail. Due to time constraints we did not do the whole trail to the ancient village. Its really moderate, but we hiked the trail on december.
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Such beautiful trails in such a magical country. Love the views from the Riyam-Muttrah trails. Love the sound of the Green Mountain and pomegranate farms. Really appreciate your tips about the best time of the year to hike. Detailed post. Thank you.
Thank you, Rosemary!
All those trails look incredible especially Riyam-Muttrah, your photographies are so beautiful! I never really thought about Oman before, but it seems to be an amazing place to visit now that I read your post. Definitely adding it to my bucket list.
Thank you so much, Lyne! I am glad you found my post helpful
I am not a very big fan of hiking and certainly didn’t think of Oman as hiking place but thank you for opening my eyes. All this trails are beautiful and inspiring.
Awesome to know that you got to know something new about Oman through my post!
Wow, I had no idea that Oman was so mountainous, or beautiful! I bet hiking here would be amazing. A hike through pomegranate fields?! THat sounds so cool!!
I look forward to seeing you visiting Oman soon, Maggie 🙂
Wow, I had no idea Muscat was sort of in a valley of mountains, but that photo you have from Riyam-Muttrah is just stunning. I love when big cities are located in such proximity to the mountains because I love doing city things and outdoorsy things equally! Wakan Village sounds fascinating, and that photo you included looks like something out of the Land Before Time or another children’s movie on dinosaurs or something!
Thank you so much, Diana! I’m glad you found this post useful. Muscat is a wonderful city and the landscape here is simply mindblowing! Ocean, mountain, desert; you name it, we have it here!
The Riyam-Muttrah hike seems easy & beautiful as well. It is in Muscat only, so is there any option of Gondola ride? I am not much of a hiker but Muscat is on my list, I can give the Riyam-Muttrah hike a try 🙂
Ahh, unfortunately there is no gondola ride to reach the top, however, it is a short and sweet hike and totally worth trying atleast once 🙂
I’ve been really curious to look into traveling in the Middle East, so it’s good to know about these hikes! Oman isn’t a place you run across many articles about. But dang, hiking through pomegranate fields? That doesn’t sound bad.
Awesome Dylan! I look forward to seeing you visiting Oman super soon 🙂
This is eye-opening! I had no idea that Oman is so pretty, has mountains and so many hiking opportunities! I thought it was a complete desert. I always wanted to visit this country but now I am even more intrigued!
Oman has a lot more than just deserts. Ocean and high rocky mountains can be found everywhere in the country!
I heard that hiking is supposed to be beautiful in Oman. I really like the view from the Riyam-Muttrah hike, it looks so picturesque. Thanks for sharing your experience!
You’re welcome, Elisabeth!
This is absolutely fantastic article. Never even knew how many options are there to hike in Oman. Would absolutely love to hike up to Jebel Shams. I am sure that the views are spectacular. Maybe I should plan something for next April!
Thank you so much, Polly! I am so happy to know you liked my article. I would absolutely love to see you visiting Oman very soon! April could be a bit warmer for a hike at Jebel Shams. Feb or March would be a better option though.