The marvels of Al Sogara village

Al Sogara or al Suwgra is a village 180 Kms away from Muscat carved into the mountainside of the Al Jebel Al Akhdar at an altitude of almost 2800 meters above sea level.

The village is described as one of the most remote villages in Oman. It existed for more than 500 years. Old villagers carved their houses into the limestone, creating a protective barrier against storms, cold winters and rain floods. Presently, the village is a tiny community of 25 residents living on the edge of the Green Mountain.

Al Sogara village has remained virtually untouched for centuries; until 2005, foreigners were barred from visiting. The village offers an amazing hiking experience and visitors can stay at one of the most authentic hotels in Oman, run by the villagers offering a real Omani food experience.

Electricity has been installed around 2005 to help provide power to a single cable car aiding villagers with transportation and deliveries to and from the village. Due to the high altitude and rocky terrain, a helicopter regularly helps deliver supplies to Al Sogara.

Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Sultanate of Oman- January 2025

Bandar Al Khairan, 31 kilometers away from the center of Muscat city, offers tourists a unique and tranquil experience. It offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural charm, making it a must-visit destination for travelers of all interests as it is known for its stunning views and serene atmosphere. Visitors can indulge in a variety of activities such as fishing charters, boat tours, wildlife spotting as an amazing hiking experience. Bandar Al Khairan is famous for its vibrant marine life and crystal-clear waters.

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman January 2025

Rediscovering Bandar Al Khairan

Hiking and swimming in Wadi Al Hoqain

Wadi Al Hoqain is worth a visit, especially since it's easily accessible. With its narrow canyon, cliffs, numerous water pools, and natural water slides, the fun in this wadi is unparalleled.

There are several roads leading to the wadi, but the easiest routes are from Rustaq and Al Suwaiq. You can drive across the roads or the Muscat expressway and observe numerous wadis descending northeastward from the mountain chain.

Surrounded by beautiful farms, Wadi Al Hoqain offers a serene walk along the falaj all the way to Al Hoqain Waterfalls.

The wadi is perfect for easy canyoning. Be prepared to jump into water pools, swim, and slide. It's not technical canyoning and doesn't require abseiling. You don't need a professional guide, but always check the depth of a pool before jumping.

Key facts:

Year-Round Water Flow: Wadi Al Hoqain features year-round flowing streams and waterfalls, making it a great destination any time of the year.
Historical Significance: The nearby Al Hoqain Fort, built in 1722, offers a glimpse into Oman's rich history.
Recent Developments: Recent rainfall has filled the wadi's turquoise pools with crystal-clear water, attracting visitors for a cool dip and picnics under the lush greenery.

Drive and Hike at Al Jeelah Village, Oman

The village of Al-Jeelah is located in the Tiwi Prosecution in the Wilayat of Sur in South Sharqiya Governorate in Sultanate of Oman, and it is one of the beautiful tourist mountain villages, within the mountain range called the Bani Jaber Mountains and is about fifty kilometers away from the center of the Tiwi Prosecution that is reached by powerful four-wheel drive cars.

The village of Al-Jeelah is characterized by a number of natural features that made it to be a station and a tourist destination, and perhaps what distinguishes it is its cool summer weather with tendencies to cold in winter, as well as containing a group of ancient tombs, as these burials are located in this village and are in the form of stone towers, known as the tombs of Kbikb. The village is also famous by its falaj «Falaj Al-Jeelah», which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Drive, camp and hike at Salmah Plateau and Al Tahiri cave in Oman

Al Tahiri Cave is located within the Eastern Hajar Mountains, just opposite to Fins coastal village in Al Sharqiyah Region of Sultanate of Oman, 160 kms away from Muscat, the capital. The cave is quite massive with one single entrance hiking (almost 6 hours both ways) from Salma Plateau. Therefore, it is always advisable to camp at Salma Plateau and start the hike early morning.

The road uphill all the way to Salma Plateau is considered one of the most challenging off-roading experiences in Oman and could be dangerous after and while raining.

Weather could be so cold during winter as temperature drops drastically especially at night. One should make sure to have enough thick suitable clothes and wood for the fire.

If you live in Oman or just visiting and interested in an unmatched hiking experience, Al Tahiri should be on your to do list.

Drive, Hike and swim in Wadi Mibam

169 kms away from the capital Muscat, Wadi Mibam is surely one of the top ten wadis in Sultanate Of Oman, with its waterfalls, turquoise water natural swimming pools, stones carved slides and stunning palm and banana trees all around.

Driving to the top of the Wadi is an adventure itself as the road is tight, one-sided most of it, sometimes slippery and requires very good driving skills. Visitors usually mix between Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Mibam. Yet, one needs to drive across Wadi Tiwi all the way till the end of the mountain road to get to Mibam village. At the end of the road, once you park your car, you need to take 420 steps down to reach the 1st waterfall where the adventure starts!

N.B. it is better to ask for abseiling’ expert help if you need to do the entire track as rocks could be slippery and very dangerous.

Wadi Al Arbiyeen

Wadi Al Arbiyeen, 126 kms away from Muscat city, the capital of Sultanate of Oman, is surely one of the most fascinating wadis in the country as it has a lot to offer for visitors who are looking for peace, a nice hike, a good swim, an adventurous drive and most of all an amazing stay at Wadi Al Arbiyeen Resort. Definitely as must do if you are living in Oman or just visiting- December 29th, 2023

Hiking trip to Wadi Al Jahawer: One of Oman’s best kept secrets

Wadi Al Jahawer is surely one of Sultanate of Oman’s best kept secrets. 113 kms away from the center of the Capital Muscat, Wadi Al Jahawer is part of Wilayat Al Suwaiq in Al Batinah Area.

The villages of Wadi Al-Jahawer took their names from the diversified demographics, such as Al-Hilain, Al-Mubarah, Badt, Al-Masifiya, Al-Wadia and Al-Hoor.

The wadi is home to many old watch towers, aflaj and monuments, which are intellectual heritage that gave the villages of Wadi Al-Jahawer the historical character, so the spread of water aflaj significantly between the corridors of the valleys and the slopes of the mountains is a clear evidence of the ingenuity of the ancient people and their technique in water distribution to the surrounding farms.