Jebel Shams
جبل شمس
Oman's highest peak, at about 3,000 meters, with the 'Grand Canyon of Arabia' dropping nearly 1,000 meters. A balcony trail follows the cliff face to an abandoned village.
Jebel Shams (جبل شمس) means 'Sun Mountain.' At about 3,009 meters, it is the highest peak in Oman and in the eastern Arabian region, named for being the first place to catch the sunrise. On its south side, the Wadi Ghul canyon, known as the 'Grand Canyon of Arabia,' drops nearly 1,000 meters vertically. From viewpoints on the cliff edge, you can look down on layered ochre-red rock walls. The most popular route is the Balcony Walk (W6 trail). Starting from Al Khitaym village, it follows the canyon wall halfway up the cliffs for about 3 kilometers (1.5 to 2 hours one way, moderate difficulty). It ends at the abandoned As Sab village and seasonal pools below the cliffs, and the scenery along the way is spectacular. There are several camps and mountain resort hotels on the mountain, where you can stay a night to watch the sunset and stars. Getting there: it is about 1.5 hours' drive from Nizwa, passing the old village of Al Hamra. The last section is a steep gravel road that requires a 4WD. Note that temperatures on the summit swing widely between day and night, so bring a down jacket in winter. There are no railings at the cliff edges, so take care, and bring plenty of water and food.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Misfat al Abriyeen
- Al Hamra Old Village & Bait al Safah
- Wadi Bani Awf & Snake Canyon
- Al Hoota Cave
- Bahla Fort
- Tanuf Ruins
- Jabrin Castle
- Wadi Bani Habib