While the mountain ranges of Oman are not really a secret among visitors to Oman, they are quite underrated and have not gotten the fame that they deserve. The high mountains of Oman are a delight to visit and offer spectacular views of their surroundings and are a haven in the hotter months where most part of the range remain a few degrees cooler than the plains, enticing visitors to head to them.
Jebel Shams, a short drive from The View Oman, and the tallest mountain peak of not just the Jebel Akhdar range but also the highest mountain peak in Oman is one such popular destination to visit. Roughly translating to ‘Sun Mountain’ this mountain has gained the name as it is the first to experience the glorious rays of the sun in the morning and the last to see them off due to its sheer height. It is a popular destination one can look down into the narrow and deep gorge of Wadi Nakhr, often called the Arabian Grand Canyon. It is difficult to understand quite how impressive it is, without actually seeing it in person as photos don’t do it justice. While it is made up of the same limestone formation as Jebel Akhdar, the views here are very different from it and its plantations. In Jebel Shams the terrain is a stark contrast as the dry and arid area spreads across a vast mountainous region with views of 1000m high vertical cliffs. Jebel Shams is completely dry, but boasts of an impressive canyon which is purported to be as much as a kilometre deep in some places, making it not just the deepest canyon in Oman but in the entire region.
It is a great place to visit all year-round as even in warmer temperatures when it is hot in the valleys, the cool temperature at the top offers a nice reprieve from the blistering heat. In fact due to the high altitude, if you are lucky you may be able to spot snow here in the winters.
While one can drive down here from the city for a day trip, the best times to grasp the beauty of the area are at sunset and sunrise which is why staying at a closeby place such as The View Oman is recommended. Visitors can set aside some time to explore the Jebel Shams Balcony walk, a portion of the W6 hiking trail that takes you along the canyon but not at the top. This is a spectacular round trip route that is well-established and is regarded as one of the best treks in the country, but those with vertigo should probably avoid the hike as there are places where you are walking by the cliff looking straight down a drop. The Al Nakhr Canyon’s relatively narrow width makes it appear deeper and more foreboding and with the relatively sparse number of visitors it gets the silence and majesty of the Jebel Shams is a magical experience to enjoy.
So come book your stay at The View Oman and plan your visit to Jebel Shams today by calling us at +968 97233189 or emailing us at reservations@theviewoman.com.
