It’s referred to as Oman’s Grand Canyon - located on Jebel Shams (mountain of sun). The Balcony Walk is a well marked trail that runs the rim of the canyon. This 4 hour out and back hike will dish up some of the best views in Oman. You will pass by abandoned villages and find hidden waterfalls. Plus, I can guarantee you’ll have a few daring goats following you along the way hoping you may drop a snack! The hike is moderate, and at times narrow if you are scared of heights like me - but it can be done in tennis shoes as there is no real scrambling required. The Jebel Shams mountain range is located in northeastern Oman north of Al Hamra town. It is the highest mountain of the country and part of Al Hajar Mountains range. As a side note - Oman has some of the most spectacular hiking you can do - and it’s relatively unknown - a great country to get away and do a trekking holiday. It is possible to do this trek independently - or there are a number of companies that offer complete trekking holidays to the harder to get to places in Oman (of which there are many!) How to get there independently: The main road up the mountain finishes at the Jabal Shams Resort, from where a side track runs a couple of kilometres to a little ‘village’ of Khateem/Khatayam, where a few tiny houses cling to the edge of the canyon. More tour info (the one I used via Exodus): http://bit.ly/Y31qte
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Oman's Balcony Walk
It’s referred to as Oman’s Grand Canyon - located on Jebel Shams (mountain of sun). The Balcony Walk is a well marked trail that runs the rim of the canyon. This 4 hour out and back hike will dish up some of the best views in Oman. You will pass by abandoned villages and find hidden waterfalls. Plus, I can guarantee you’ll have a few daring goats following you along the way hoping you may drop a snack! The hike is moderate, and at times narrow if you are scared of heights like me - but it can be done in tennis shoes as there is no real scrambling required. The Jebel Shams mountain range is located in northeastern Oman north of Al Hamra town. It is the highest mountain of the country and part of Al Hajar Mountains range. As a side note - Oman has some of the most spectacular hiking you can do - and it’s relatively unknown - a great country to get away and do a trekking holiday. It is possible to do this trek independently - or there are a number of companies that offer complete trekking holidays to the harder to get to places in Oman (of which there are many!) How to get there independently: The main road up the mountain finishes at the Jabal Shams Resort, from where a side track runs a couple of kilometres to a little ‘village’ of Khateem/Khatayam, where a few tiny houses cling to the edge of the canyon. More tour info (the one I used via Exodus): http://bit.ly/Y31qte
Jabal Shams
Jabal Shams is Oman’s Grand Canyon. It’s one of the few places that I’ve visited that you camp on the side of a multi kilometer drop.
Cliffside on Jabal Shams
Where else in the world can you set up camp on the side of a cliff?
An Evening Visit
While camping cliffside on Jabal Shams, this Omani fellow stopped off, took a call, hung up his call, and came over sat at our campfire and tended to our fire. Hours later he had fed us, entertained us, and become a great companion although our Arabic is limited to four words and his English was not much better.
A nighttime visit
While camping cliffside on Jabal Shams, this Omani fellow stopped off, took a call, hung up his call, and came over sat at our campfire and tended to our fire. Hours later he had fed us, entertained us, and become a great companion although our Arabic is limited to four words and his English was not much better.
Morning Cliffs
Our morning campside view.
