# Hiking the Hajar Mountains in 8 days Eight days of walking in the Hajar Mountains: Nakhal Fort from Muscat, two nights on the Jebel Akhdar plateau at the Anantara, a night at The View above Al Hamra and Misfat al Abriyeen, then two nights on the rim of Oman's Grand Canyon, with the Balcony Walk and the Jebel Shams via ferrata. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/oman-randonnee-hajar-8-jours/ ## A week on foot in Oman's mountains The Hajar Mountains are the backbone of northern Oman. They peak at about 3,000 m on Jebel Shams, the highest point of the Arabian Peninsula according to Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This trip spends seven nights among them, climbing gradually: a gentle start in Muscat and Nakhal, then the Saiq Plateau at 2,000 m, the oasis of Misfat at 900 m and finally the rim of Oman's Grand Canyon. The walks are day hikes on trails waymarked in red, white and yellow, with no heavy packs: you sleep in a hotel every night and travel between stops by car with driver or by 4x4. ## The walks on this trip | Where | What you do | Reference | |---|---|---| | Nakhal | fort and Ain Al Thawarah spring | guided half day, 4 h | | Jebel Akhdar | trails between the terraced villages | Saiq Plateau, 2,000 m | | Jebel Akhdar | via ferrata, optional | 2 h with a guide | | Misfat al Abriyeen | walk through the oasis along the falaj | 900 m | | Jebel Shams | Balcony Walk, trail W6 | about 3 h there and back | | Jebel Shams | via ferrata | 5 h with a guide | ## Days 1 and 2: Muscat and Nakhal Arrive in Muscat for two nights at the [Grand Hyatt Muscat](/en/hotels/grand-hyatt-muscat/), on Qurum Beach, from around €230 a night, room only, in March 2027. On day two, the guided half day included in this trip goes to Nakhal Fort, about 80 km from the airport. The fort, with pre-Islamic origins and rebuilt in the 17th century, raises its six towers on a rocky spur above palm groves and the Ain Al Thawarah spring. For a first proper walk, the village of Wakan, perched at up to 2,000 m in the same Batinah area, is known for its old paths; it can be added with a driver. ## Days 3 and 4: Jebel Akhdar The road up to the plateau starts at the Birkat al Mouz police checkpoint, where only 4x4 vehicles are let through. At the foot of the climb, Bayt Ar-Ridaydah fort is crossed by the Al Khatmeen falaj, one of the five irrigation channels listed by UNESCO in 2006. [Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar](/en/hotels/anantara-al-jabal-al-akhdar/), on the edge of a canyon, is the base camp: a heated pool, a spa with hammam, and hikes and canyon sunrises organised by the hotel. Rates start from around €450 a night with breakfast. Two days of walking fit in here: the trails linking the terraced villages, then, for those who want it, the Jebel Akhdar via ferrata, two hours with a guide, from around €100 per person. In spring, the [rose season](/en/events/roses-jebel-akhdar/) colours the terraces from late March to early May. ## Day 5: Al Hamra and Misfat al Abriyeen Head west to the foot of Jebel Shams. Old Al Hamra is 400 years old, its mudbrick houses rising two to four storeys. Nearby, Misfat al Abriyeen, at 900 m, is an oasis village perched on a rock and watered by a falaj more than 2,000 years old; since 2021 it has been on the World Tourism Organization's list of best tourism villages. The walk follows the channel between the gardens. The night is at [The View](/en/hotels/the-view-al-hamra/), at 1,400 m, at the end of a 4 km 4x4 track: individual rooms spread over the hillside, an infinity pool at the top and the Falak Spa. The hotel organises hikes and bike rides, and serves no alcohol. Rates start from around €365 a night with breakfast. ## Days 6 and 7: Jebel Shams ### The Balcony Walk [Jebel Shams Resort](/en/hotels/jebel-shams-resort/) is 37 km from Al Hamra, over a steep pass, and a few steps from the viewpoint over Oman's Grand Canyon. The Balcony Walk starts close by. Waymarked as trail W6, it leaves Khateem, runs along cliffs a kilometre high and reaches the abandoned village of As Sab: about three hours there and back. The hotel has air-conditioned chalets, including 28 m² Sunset Chalets with a terrace facing the canyon, a pool, a restaurant and a campfire area. Meals are served from 7 to 9 am, noon to 3 pm and 7 to 9 pm local time. It is a mid-range adventure base, from around €145 a night with breakfast. ### The via ferrata On day seven, the Jebel Shams via ferrata, included in this trip, takes five hours with a guide, from around €135 per person. Those who prefer to stay on the ground can walk part of the Balcony Walk again at sunrise. ## Day 8: return Jebel Shams Resort is 237 km from Muscat airport, half a day's drive, so leave early for an afternoon or evening flight. ## Preparing for the walks - **Cold.** At Saiq, at 2,000 m, average highs range from 12 to 17 °C from December to March, and the temperature has dropped as low as -3.6 °C. Pack a fleece, a windproof and a hat. - **Altitude.** Altitude sickness is possible in the Hajar Mountains. - **Heat.** At low altitude, average highs in Muscat exceed 34 °C from April: walk early, with plenty of water. - **Floods.** From October to March, flash floods in the wadis can be deadly. Do not walk in a wadi bed if heavy rain is forecast, or for at least a day afterwards. - **Roads.** A 4x4 is compulsory for Jebel Akhdar, recommended for Jebel Shams and essential for the track to The View. It is best not to drive at night outside Muscat. - **Regional situation.** Since the Iranian strikes in the Gulf, foreign ministries have not all given the same advice; the [Oman travel situation](/en/guides/situation-oman/) guide has the details. Yours: (Depends on the traveller's country: see the table on https://sabaro-travel.com/en/ideas/oman-randonnee-hajar-8-jours/) The [Hajar Mountains hiking](/en/guides/randonnee-hajar/) guide covers the trails, and the [driving in Oman](/en/guides/conduire-oman/) guide the rules of the road. Each area has its own page: [Batinah](/en/oman/batinah/), [Jebel Akhdar](/en/oman/jebel-akhdar/) and [Jebel Shams](/en/oman/jebel-shams/). Prices are recorded including taxes, with any local taxes on top. ## Frequently asked questions ### How fit do I need to be? A regular walker's level: days of two to five hours, with no heavy packs. The Balcony Walk runs along kilometre-high cliffs and needs a sure foot. ### Do I need a guide? For both via ferratas, yes: they are done with a guide. The other trails are waymarked and can be walked without one, checking the weather before setting out. ### When should I go? From October to April. In midwinter days are cool at altitude and nights can freeze; spring adds the rose season on Jebel Akhdar. ### Where do I sleep the night before flying home? On Jebel Shams, 237 km from the airport. For a morning flight, swap the last night for a night in Muscat. ### Can families do this trip? With teenagers who walk well, yes. The Anantara accepts children from age 8 for abseiling and archery.