Trekking Path to Mutrah Or Riyam Looking Back to Inshirah Useful Guide Books Adventure Trekking in Oman Oman Off-Road Explorer

Mutrah Capital Area Mutrah Capital Area C38 C38

Juzor ad Daymaniyat G Al Musanaah U Barka L As Seeb Intl Airport F

Jamma O F O Ar Rustaq Nakhal Bidbid M A AL Al Awabi N HAJAR Samail Qurayyat AL G HAR BI Al Hamra AL H AJA R A SH SH Bahla AR Nizwa Izki Q I

Ibra

Location

Follow the corniche in Mutrah and look On the path for the information sign C38, or drive along the Old Muscat Road and look for the road sign C38 in Riyam.

Overlooking the ruins

Hotels in the capital area Trekking path to Mutrah or Riyam Looking back to Inshirah Useful guide books Adventure Trekking in Oman Oman Off-Road Explorer

Introduction N Type of trek Gulf of Oman Easy short hill and wadi walk from Riyam to Mutrah, partly on the 500m ancient overland route that linked Mutrah to Muscat.

Highlights The tour allows spectacular views over the sea and coastline. Restaurant Fish & Harbour P Vegetable P Market ‘Mina as Sultan Qaboos’ Starting point (GPS UTM 659,758E 2,613,120N) Bus S Taxi Parking area off the Old Muscat Road (road sign) in Riyam P marked with sign C38, or from the corniche (look for the Muscat information sign close to the entrance of Mutrah Souk). P P P Riyam Park Trek directions from Riyam Ruwi Follow the coloured markers from the parking area at Riyam. An Coffee Shop old, rusty diesel pipeline is evidence of a time when the only power Bank Corniche S station in Oman was located in Riyam, and supplies of diesel oil were Bank Mutrah Fort Shop Street 10 Muscat pumped through the pipeline from a ship anchored at Mutrah. Souk

You may notice the well-placed stone slabs leading up the hill. They have been MUTRAH C38 used by countless generations of visitors from Mutrah and the interior, to help Mutrah Acacia Post Office them climb the last hills before they entered the gates of Muscat. At that time, the only way to get to Muscat was by sea or over this path. Once you have reached the ) ( higher parts of the route, turn around to enjoy the amazing view over the coast and Highest Point alt. 150m sea. Be careful when descending towards the abandoned settlement as it can Graveyard get slippery in parts. Have a look at the old water cistern and the falaj eet irrigation system, which are still visible, and then enjoy the scramble that Mutrah Str is sometimes necessary to pass the wadi leading to Mutrah. Take care to turn left when arriving at the graveyard just before Mutrah, Village ruins otherwise you might walk through it. Ruwi ! Tip S Starting point Stone house If you are going to do just one walk in the capital area, this should be the one. The walk is easy going Trek Summary and the views are some of the best around Mutrah. Trekking path Scenic view Timing Altitude The trek can be completed as a round trip by returning along the corniche, which will take about 20 – 30 Other Roads P Parking 1.5 – 2 hours (one way only) Starting point: sea level Difference: 200m minutes longer. This walk is shady in parts, in the afternoons. Fort Degree of difficulty Grade 1 Distance Mountain trek; rocky, partly 2.5km steep, but easy going; includes a wadi trek. PLEASE TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS AND TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO THE NEAREST BIN. Misfat al Abriyyin Western Hajar Misfat al Abriyyin Western Hajar

Al Khaburah W9 W9

As Suwayq G Juzor ad U L F h O F O Barka M A N As Seeb MUSCAT Intl Airport Yanqul Jamma

H A Ar Rustaq J Nakhal Bidbid A R A JABAL SHAMSL Al Awabi Samail H Ibri A R B I

Al Hamra

Bahla Izki Nizwa

Manah Ibra

Location

200km from Muscat via Nizwa Village view 55km from Nizwa Closest town: Al Hamra

Western Hajar Overview Map Ref. E-6

On the path

Accommodation Campsite in Misfat al Abriyyin Camping Trekking path from Misfat al Abriyyin Exploring the village

Useful guidebooks to the junction with W8 and W10h Adventure Trekking in Oman Off-Road Explorer (Oman)

Introduction Ar Rustaq 35km Nakhal 56km Type of trek Muscat 136km A long trek following an ancient donkey path in the Western Hajar mountains.

Highlights 1km The tour allows spectacular views of Wadi Bani Awf and the surrounding mountains. Farm Balad Sayt 531,818E 2,559,046N alt. 950m School Hat S Starting point (GPS UTM ) alt. 1,000m From Al Hamra follow the road north up to the Ruined P village of Misfat al Abriyyin and look for settlement 5km the information sign W9. alt. 1,650m

Trek directions From the parking area follow the W8 coloured markers (W9) until you alt. 2,179m

reach the junction of the other alt. 2,000m treks (W8 and W10h) on top of the 3.5km W10h high plateau. P Sharaf Return by the same route, or alt. 2,050m Aqbat al Hamra 9 al Alamayn continue on path W8 or W10h. 9km W alt. 2,000m P Tip Misfat ! al Abriyyin This is the place where you can hire alt. 950m Al Hamra 25km donkeys. Nizwa 70km Hayl al Jawari S Farm

Al Hamra 4km Nizwa 55km S Starting point Stone house Trek Summary Trekking path Scenic view Timing Altitude Footpath unmarked Camping site Ascent: 5 – 6 hours Highest point: 2,000m Descent: 4 hours Difference: 1,050m Driveable track (4 WD) P Parking Degree of difficulty Main road Toilet Grade 2 Ancient donkey path PLEASE TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS AND TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO THE NEAREST BIN. Wadi Bani Awf Western Hajar Wadi Bani Awf Western Hajar

Al Khaburah W8 W8

As Suwayq G Juzor ad U L F h O F O Barka M A N As Seeb MUSCAT Intl Airport Yanqul Jamma

H A Ar Rustaq J Nakhal Bidbid A R A L Samail Ibri A R B I

Bahla Izki Nizwa

Manah Ibra

Location

150km from Muscat via Wadi Bani Awf Stone steps on the path 95km from Nizwa Closest town: Ar Rustaq A 4 WD vehicle is necessary as 30km of the road is graded.

Balad Sayt fort Western Hajar Overview Map Ref. F-5

Accommodation Motel at the entrance of Trekking path from Balad Sayt to Wadi Bani Awf (Map Ref. H-1) At the trailhead Sawadi Beach Resort (On the coast near the junction with W9 and W10h Al Musanaah) Useful guidebooks Camping Adventure Trekking in Oman Off-Road Explorer (Oman)

Introduction Ar Rustaq 35km Nakhal 56km Type of trek Muscat 136km An ancient path which winds its way up the north flank of the Western Hajar.

Highlights 1km The tour allows spectacular views into Wadi Bani Awf and southwards. Farm Balad Sayt 539,605E 2,564,508N alt. 950m S School Hat S Starting point (GPS UTM ) alt. 1,000m Follow Wadi Bani Awf untill the village of Ruined P Balad Sayt (road sign W8). Near the settlement 5km school you will find the information alt. 1,650m sign W8.

Trek directions W8 From the parking area follow the alt. 2,179m

coloured markers (W8) until you alt. 2,000m reach the junction of the other 3.5km W10h treks (W9 and W10h) on top of the P high plateau. Sharaf alt. 2,050m Aqbat al Hamra al Alamayn Return by the same route, or 9km alt. 2,000m continue on path W9 or W10h. Misfat W9 P al Abriyyin alt. 950m ! Tip Al Hamra 25km After rainfall this path can become very Nizwa 70km P Hayl al Jawari slippery – be careful.

Farm

Al Hamra 4km Nizwa 55km S Starting point Stone house Trek Summary Trekking path Scenic view Timing For sure-footed and Footpath unmarked Camping site Ascent: 3 – 4 hours experienced hikers only. Descent: 3 hours Driveable track (4 WD) P Parking Altitude Degree of difficulty Highest point: 2,000m Main road Toilet Grade 3 Difference: 1,050m Old donkey path, very exposed in parts to heights. PLEASE TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS AND TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO THE NEAREST BIN.

Al Qannah Western Hajar Al Qannah Western Hajar

Al Khaburah W6a W6a

As Suwayq G Juzor ad U L F h O F O Barka M A N As Seeb MUSCAT Intl Airport Yanqul Jamma

H A Ar Rustaq J Nakhal Bidbid A R A Al Awabi JABAL SHAMSL G H A R B I Samail Ibri Wukan

Bahla Izki Nizwa

Manah Ibra

Location

Jabal Shams ‘The Plateau’ road: The old city wall 220km from Muscat (80km from Nizwa) Wadi Ghul: 55km from Nizwa. Closest town: Al Hamra. Follow the road from Al Hamra to Wadi Ghul where path W6a starts at the lower

abandoned village. Tending the fields Alternatively, for a downward trek proceed towards ‘The Plateau’ (Jabal Shams) and turn right at the road sign for Path W4. Carry on until you reach the village of Al Khitaym. Taking a 4 WD vehicle to ‘The Trekking path from the village Plateau’ is recommended as the last 20km The ridge of the road is graded. of Al Khitaym to Wadi Ghul Western Hajar Overview Map Ref. C-4 Useful guidebooks Adventure Trekking in Oman Accommodation Off-Road Explorer (Oman) Jabal Shams Motel Hotels in Nizwa and other local towns Camping

Introduction

Type of trek An ancient donkey path which follows the west flank of the Rug weavers Closed road An Nakhur Gorge (known as the ‘Grand Canyon’) and connects Dar as Sawdah Wadi Ghul with Al Khitaym.

Highlights alt. 1,950m This trek affords good views into Wadi an Nakhr, and down to Al Wadi Ghul P Hamra, and leads through two abandoned villages at the lower 30km end of the trek. In the old days, caravans with as many as 25 THE PLATEAU W4 donkeys would use this route to take supplies to the villages Rug weavers higher up in the mountains, often spending the night at the Abandoned village village of Al Khitaym. Al Hayl

AN NAKHUR GORGE S Starting points (GPS UTM 521,101E 2,560,167N ) Jabal Shams Motel W6 At the end of ‘The Plateau’ road in the village of Al Khitaym (alt. 1,900m), marked with information sign W6/W6a, or from Wadi Ghul at the old village An Nakhur alt. 900m (alt. 750m), marked with information sign W6a. P Al Khitaym alt. 1,900m S

Rug Trek directions weavers From the parking area at Al Khitaym, follow the coloured markers (W6a) south- W6a west until just before the rim, and then follow the edge of the canyon most of the N way down until you cross a small wadi. Climb upwards to reach the crest of the 1km hill, which leads to the older of the two abandoned villages. From there, proceed along the old city wall down and through the second abandoned village to the

bottom of Wadi Ghul and Wadi An Nakhur. S Starting point Stone house

Trekking path Scenic view

Driveable track (4 WD) Accommodation ! Tip Abandoned villages Main road Via Ferrata Also visit the inner part of Wadi An Nakhur (this requires a 4 WD). Wadi Ghul The Plateau alt. 750m 30km Wadi Ghu Trek Summary l P Timing Altitude Ascent: 3 – 4 hours Highest point: 1,900m Descent: 3.5 hours Difference: 1,100m

Al Hamra 10km Degree of difficulty Distance Nizwa 57km Grade 2 6km Stony trek, but easy going PLEASE TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS AND TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO THE NEAREST BIN.