Wadi An Nakhur
The Grand Canyon of Arabia.
Davide Mauro — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andries Oudshoorn — CC BY-SA 2.0 · dconvertini — CC BY-SA 2.0 · dconvertini — CC BY-SA 2.0 · dconvertini — CC BY-SA 2.0 · dconvertini — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Andries Oudshoorn — CC BY-SA 2.0 · dconvertini — CC BY-SA 2.0
Oman's highest mountain, in the Jebel Akhdar range of the Hajar Mountains north of the town of Al Hamra, about 240 kilometres from Muscat. It is called the Mountain of the Sun because its high summit is the first place in Oman to catch the sunrise. It has two summits: the North Summit, 3,009 metres according to the Ministry of Tourism, which is occupied by a military base and off limits, and the South Summit at 2,997 metres, reached on the W4 trail. Winter nights drop below freezing, while summer days hover around 20 °C. Its best-known sight is the Wadi An Nakhur canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Arabia, whose sheer walls drop hundreds of metres below the viewpoint; the Balcony Walk trail follows its rim to an abandoned village clinging to the cliff. The visit is free. The road to the top is steep and partly unpaved, so a four-wheel drive is advised, per visitor guides. There are no railings at the canyon edge, so keep well back and bring water and a jacket.
The Grand Canyon of Arabia.
Along the cliff rim.
Oman's first.
North of Al Hamra, about 240 km from Muscat
It is advised: the road to the top is steep and partly unpaved, per visitor guides.