A small village at the end of the plateau road. The path drops off the rim here and onto the ledge.
The path hugs the canyon wall, mostly level, with the full depth of Wadi Ghul opening up beside you.
A few sections are narrow and rocky, with no railings. Watch your footing, especially on the way back when legs are tired.
An abandoned stone village tucked under an overhang, with old terraces and a small spring. Rest here, then walk back the same way.
There are no railings along the edge. Wear proper walking shoes, carry plenty of water, and don’t start late in the day. Not suitable for anyone uncomfortable with heights.
Jabal Shams is one of the best places in Oman to spend a night outside. The plateau is wide and open, the sky is properly dark, and waking up at the canyon edge as the sun hits the far wall is worth the cold night. Our rooftop-tent 4WDs arrive with everything you need.
One of the best-preserved old towns in Oman, with multi-storey mud-brick houses at the foot of the mountains.
Stone houses stacked on a rocky slope above a green oasis, with a falaj running through the gardens below.
The village at the bottom of the canyon — good for looking up at the walls you'll stand on later.
The interior's big cultural stops, all within easy reach on the same trip.
See Nizwa →Drive up in the morning, walk the Balcony Walk, and head down before dark.
Sunset at the rim, a night under the stars in a rooftop tent or a mountain lodge, and the Balcony Walk first thing in the morning.
Combine both great mountains of the Hajar with Nizwa in between — three to four days of the interior.
8 Hours
Eight hours from Muscat: Bait Al Safah in Al Hamra, Wadi Nakhar and the rim of the canyon on Jabal Shams. Lunch at a…
2 Hours
A guided hike on the famous ledge path along Oman’s Grand Canyon to the deserted hamlet of Sab Bani Khamis, and back.
4 Hours
Cross a rope bridge 20 metres up across the mouth of a cave, with ladders and cables high above the canyon. Guide and all…
5 Hours
About five hours of swimming, scrambling, jumping and abseiling through Snake Canyon in Wadi Bani Awf, with a certified guide and all safety gear.
7 Hours
A demanding high-level hike beside the Grand Canyon to the summit ridge of Jabal Shams, at close to 3,000 metres.
3 Hours
A gentle guided walk of about two and a half hours through the stone lanes, terraces and falaj channels of Misfat Al Abriyeen.
It's cooler than anywhere else on a typical Oman trip. In winter, nights on the plateau can drop below freezing.
Tell us your dates — we'll plan the drive, the walk and a night on the plateau, in a lodge or your own rooftop tent.
