Ad Dakhiliyah · Oman
Jebel Shams
Al Hamra to Jebel Shams Rim
A dramatic 40 km ascent from the mud-brick town of Al Hamra to the rim of Wadi Ghul, the Grand Canyon of Arabia, with views into one of the Arab world’s deepest gorges from the flanks of Oman’s highest mountain.
The drive leaves Al Hamra on good tarmac that climbs into the Al Hajar al Gharbi range, narrowing and steepening as the plains recede. After about 30 km the surface becomes graded gravel for the final 7-8 km to the plateau viewpoints, where sheer cliffs plunge 1,000 m into Wadi Ghul. A 4WD is strongly recommended; the summit base is off-limits.
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
Jebel Shams on the map24.4 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 13Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%651.7 – 2,013.4 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Viewpoint Old GhulViewpoint6.1 mi in
- View to Jebel ShamsViewpoint24 mi in
- Al MunizifLandmarkat the start
Hazards
- Unpaved final 7 km impassable when wet
- No fuel on the mountain
- Military zone at the true summit
- Steep drops from the canyon rim
See the typical season and live conditions for the high passes ›
Sources
“From here it is best to have a 4x4 because the route becomes steep, windy and there are unmade sections.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Jebel Shams: quick answers
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