Misfat Al Abriyeen & Jebel Shams Tour from Nizwa

This day trip from Nizwa combines Misfat Al Abriyeen, a centuries-old mountain village in Wilayat Al Hamra, with the rim of Jebel Shams, Oman's highest mountain. You walk the village's terraces and falaj in the cool of the morning. Then you drive up to look into the canyon of Wadi Ghul. Your local guide drives the 4x4 and explains the history, farming and daily life you see along the way.

Why visit Misfat Al Abriyeen

Misfat Al Abriyeen sits in the foothills of Jebel Shams in the Hajar Mountains, about 1,000 metres above sea level and roughly 55 km from Nizwa. Its houses are built from mud brick and stone on a rock ledge above green terraced farms. The lanes below the car park are for walking only, so the village is quiet and car-free. UN Tourism lists Misfat Al Abriyeen as one of its Best Tourism Villages.

Walking Misfat's terraces, falaj and old houses

The village depends on its falaj, an ancient irrigation channel that carries spring water down through the lanes to the farms. Your guide follows the falaj path through date palms, banana plants and fruit trees, and explains how the water is shared between the village's farms. On the way you pass old mud-brick houses, narrow alleyways and viewpoints over the terraces. Paths have steps and uneven ground, so wear comfortable shoes.

Jebel Shams: views over Oman's Grand Canyon

From Misfat, the drive to Jebel Shams takes about an hour through Al Hamra. The last stretch is a gravel road, which is why the tour runs in a 4x4. At the top, viewpoints on the canyon rim look straight down into Wadi Ghul, where the cliffs drop hundreds of metres. You then walk a short section of the Balcony Walk, the trail that runs along the canyon wall towards the abandoned village of Sab Bani Khamis. The air is much cooler than in Nizwa, so bring a warm layer from December to February.

Want more time on the rim and a longer canyon walk? Our Jebel Shams Grand Canyon tour spends the full day on the mountain.