I visited Jabel Shams with several friends for the objective of spending the night at one of the Camp sites on top of Jabel Shams, and exploring the W-6 Trek ( aka, The Cliff Trek, The Abandoned Village).
In this Blog I will provide:
1. Directions on how to arrive at Jabel Shams
2. Description of the resort we stayed in
3. The W-6 Trek
4. Do's and Don't of the Trip.
Directions:
The directions are quite simple. From Muscat, follow the Directions to Nizwa. Once you've arrived at Nizwa, follow the directions to Bahla. Once you've arrived in Nizwa, you will take the Round About prior to reaching the old Souq and Fort.
If you have reached the Souq/Fort Parking lot, you've gone too far. The Nizwa fort has a lot of history associated with it, so please take the time to visit it and explore.
On the Road going to Bahla, you will notice that this wrong becomes a two lane road, and each lane for the opposite directions. Drive carefully as drivers tend to speed and trucks will share the road with you.
Keep the look out of Sign the directs you to 'Al-Hamra'. The turn will appear at one of the few roundabouts on this long road. The town will show up after passing 'Al-Tanuf' city and water bottling.
Tanuf is a local company that sells spring water. I highly recommend the local spring water over the 'Purified' Pepsi Aquafina.
Once you've made the turn, continue until you read another R/A. At this R/A you will see sign directing you to Jabel Shams, and a Shell Gas Station, Make sure to fill up, as you will not see another one until you return!!
From here the directions are extremely simple. Honestly just continue going straight, you will drive along a river that has a dam.
One you find the first steep incline, its time to switch to 4-WD. A lot of local drivers would prefer the 2-WD; for the speed, but due to the frequent sharp turns and inclines, I would highly recommend driving slow and take you time. Plus, you will want to enjoy the view.
During the dirt path, you may see several turns, you may take them and explore, but please remember your way back!
On the dirt path you will see a sign for a resort pointing left, Dont take it! As the resort I stayed at was not this one!
Once you reach the top of the Mountain, you will see a resort on the left, it looks quite sad and no one is there, and there is a reason for that. Continue ahead until you see a Resort by the name of Jabel Shams Resort on your RIGHT.
Jabel Shams Resort
http://jebelshamsresort.com/ (Unfortunatly they have yet to update, set up, or acknowledge, their website, but the receptionist speaks perfect english and will be able to help you.)
I've stayed at some camps before, but I have yet to see anyone as nice as this one. This resort has several campfires, which the camp will lit at night. A restaurant, a food stand, clean bathrooms with warm water, Mountain Bikes (Not sure if payment is required to rent, as it is not locked and I took it and rode around for a bit)
The accommodations include:
- Sunset rooms 65 RO
- Regular Rooms 55 RO
- Arabain Tents
- Camping Sites
My friends and I stayed in the Arabian Tents. The tents include two thin mattresses, one twin and one king size. The tents are actually very big and can fit two more twin size mattresses. In front of the Arabian tents was a communal campfire, which provided us warmth in the freezing night!
We decided to bring out on grill and food, and spent the night grilling our own food and smoking our own Shisha!
I went to Jabel Shams in mid February, that temperature reached 6 C! So please dress warm!
The sunset view from Jabel Shams Resort in Breath taking!
Make sure to wake up in time for the Sunrise and Prepare for the W-6.
W-6 Trek.
The directions to the W-6 Trek is simple as well. From the Resort go left, follow the dirt trek until you reach a few houses, where the locals will attempt to sell you hand crafts.
The Hand crafts include key chains, bracelets, rocks, and fossils. The Bracelets and keychains were priced at 1 RO. I am not aware of the rocks and fossils.
In preparation for the trek, keep in mind that it will most probably take 5 hours to complete. Five hours does seem a lot, but then again it is not a race, and you will want to stop many times to enjoy the views.
Please remember to take enough water for everyone and some food. PLEASE DO NOT LITTER!!!!!!!
The trek is very simple and impossible to get lost. Follow the Tri-Colored flags that mark the trek.
Once you reach the abandoned village, the tri-colored flags end, but do not be fooled! There is more to see! Go the end of the village, passed the waterfall, until you reach the farms, and find ways to go the higher levels. Look for the UNNATURAL rock formations. Unnatural Rock formations will consist of small rocks stacked on each other to form a Pyramid. These formations were used as a marker for other trekkers to follow. When you explore the other treks in Oman, you will notice them as well.
Follow the Trekkers Markers until you reach the pool and cave. When I went, it was somewhat dry and the water did not look swimmable. A guide told me that the pool is 20 - 30 Meters deep.
Do's and Dont's
- Do Drive on 4-LOW when descending the mountain. Be easy on the break!
- Make sure to take food with you to the Resort. Even the Restaurant serves Breakfast (4 RO, Very overpriced, very limited menu), Lunch, and Dinner. If you get the munchies, you will have no where to go get food.
- You may take alcohol to the Camp. The camp does not sell, but they did not seem to have an issue. But please respect the local culture and do not have drinking games in the open. Be discreet.
- Take a lot of warm clothes! It gets pretty cold.
- There are a lot of Goats, please beware!
In this Blog I will provide:
1. Directions on how to arrive at Jabel Shams
2. Description of the resort we stayed in
3. The W-6 Trek
4. Do's and Don't of the Trip.
Directions:
The directions are quite simple. From Muscat, follow the Directions to Nizwa. Once you've arrived at Nizwa, follow the directions to Bahla. Once you've arrived in Nizwa, you will take the Round About prior to reaching the old Souq and Fort.
If you have reached the Souq/Fort Parking lot, you've gone too far. The Nizwa fort has a lot of history associated with it, so please take the time to visit it and explore.
On the Road going to Bahla, you will notice that this wrong becomes a two lane road, and each lane for the opposite directions. Drive carefully as drivers tend to speed and trucks will share the road with you.
Keep the look out of Sign the directs you to 'Al-Hamra'. The turn will appear at one of the few roundabouts on this long road. The town will show up after passing 'Al-Tanuf' city and water bottling.
Tanuf is a local company that sells spring water. I highly recommend the local spring water over the 'Purified' Pepsi Aquafina.
Once you've made the turn, continue until you read another R/A. At this R/A you will see sign directing you to Jabel Shams, and a Shell Gas Station, Make sure to fill up, as you will not see another one until you return!!
One you find the first steep incline, its time to switch to 4-WD. A lot of local drivers would prefer the 2-WD; for the speed, but due to the frequent sharp turns and inclines, I would highly recommend driving slow and take you time. Plus, you will want to enjoy the view.
During the dirt path, you may see several turns, you may take them and explore, but please remember your way back!
On the dirt path you will see a sign for a resort pointing left, Dont take it! As the resort I stayed at was not this one!
Once you reach the top of the Mountain, you will see a resort on the left, it looks quite sad and no one is there, and there is a reason for that. Continue ahead until you see a Resort by the name of Jabel Shams Resort on your RIGHT.
Jabel Shams Resort
http://jebelshamsresort.com/ (Unfortunatly they have yet to update, set up, or acknowledge, their website, but the receptionist speaks perfect english and will be able to help you.)
I've stayed at some camps before, but I have yet to see anyone as nice as this one. This resort has several campfires, which the camp will lit at night. A restaurant, a food stand, clean bathrooms with warm water, Mountain Bikes (Not sure if payment is required to rent, as it is not locked and I took it and rode around for a bit)
The accommodations include:
- Sunset rooms 65 RO
- Regular Rooms 55 RO
- Arabain Tents
- Camping Sites
My friends and I stayed in the Arabian Tents. The tents include two thin mattresses, one twin and one king size. The tents are actually very big and can fit two more twin size mattresses. In front of the Arabian tents was a communal campfire, which provided us warmth in the freezing night!
We decided to bring out on grill and food, and spent the night grilling our own food and smoking our own Shisha!
I went to Jabel Shams in mid February, that temperature reached 6 C! So please dress warm!
The sunset view from Jabel Shams Resort in Breath taking!
Make sure to wake up in time for the Sunrise and Prepare for the W-6.
 |
| The Goats Appeared in the Morning and ate all our leftovers! |
 |
| Making Friends with the 'Locals' |
W-6 Trek.
The directions to the W-6 Trek is simple as well. From the Resort go left, follow the dirt trek until you reach a few houses, where the locals will attempt to sell you hand crafts.
The Hand crafts include key chains, bracelets, rocks, and fossils. The Bracelets and keychains were priced at 1 RO. I am not aware of the rocks and fossils.
In preparation for the trek, keep in mind that it will most probably take 5 hours to complete. Five hours does seem a lot, but then again it is not a race, and you will want to stop many times to enjoy the views.
Please remember to take enough water for everyone and some food. PLEASE DO NOT LITTER!!!!!!!
The trek is very simple and impossible to get lost. Follow the Tri-Colored flags that mark the trek.
Once you reach the abandoned village, the tri-colored flags end, but do not be fooled! There is more to see! Go the end of the village, passed the waterfall, until you reach the farms, and find ways to go the higher levels. Look for the UNNATURAL rock formations. Unnatural Rock formations will consist of small rocks stacked on each other to form a Pyramid. These formations were used as a marker for other trekkers to follow. When you explore the other treks in Oman, you will notice them as well.
Follow the Trekkers Markers until you reach the pool and cave. When I went, it was somewhat dry and the water did not look swimmable. A guide told me that the pool is 20 - 30 Meters deep.
 |
| The Pool and Cave |
 |
| Early Morning, in the Clouds, Near Cliff |
 |
| Same Cliffs, No Clouds! |
 |
| Le Bro Time |
 |
| The Grand Canyon |
 |
| The Trekkers Markers |
 |
| A Friendly Goat, I wouldn't dare to Touch! |
Do's and Dont's
- Do Drive on 4-LOW when descending the mountain. Be easy on the break!
- Make sure to take food with you to the Resort. Even the Restaurant serves Breakfast (4 RO, Very overpriced, very limited menu), Lunch, and Dinner. If you get the munchies, you will have no where to go get food.
- You may take alcohol to the Camp. The camp does not sell, but they did not seem to have an issue. But please respect the local culture and do not have drinking games in the open. Be discreet.
- Take a lot of warm clothes! It gets pretty cold.
- There are a lot of Goats, please beware!
