Self-guided Solo Winter Day-Hike to Jebel Shams (2,997masl)

sightseeing Muscat and Oman's highest peak - Jebel Shams

March 17 to 18, 2017

Crossborder Bus Ride from Dubai, UAE (Hatta Border) to Muscat, Oman (Al Wajajah Border)

This mountain adventure is considered as my 7th major hike abroad. 

Jebel Sham is Sulatanate of Oman's highest peak located in Hajar Mountain range
Ascent: 5 – 6 hours with light pack               Descent: 4.5 – 5.5 hours
Highest point: 2,997masl                              Difference: 1,000m                 Distance: 9km
Degree of difficulty: long mountain trek... rocky, partly steep but relatively easy going.

Self-guided solo winter day-hike to the highest peak of Oman via crossborder bus trip and hitchiking... 12-hr challenge on a rocky terrain with chilling wind on 9km distance and around 1,100m altitude gain #oman #jebelshams #grandcanyon #winterhike #hitchhike #pinoymountaineer #taongbundok

No registration fee and no guide required. Trail is well-signed of yellow, white, red paint together with pile of stone. But still I got lost for how many times at night trek descent due to exhaustion. This is the best Middle East trek I gonna cherished. #winterhike #oman #pinoymountaineer

One of the moments I had on hitchhikes on my journey to trekking the Oman's highest peak. I had 3 hitchhike made, all of them intended to local drivers. #oman #hitchhike #goodsamaritan

Self-guided Winter Solo Hike to Jebel Shams (2,997masl) (Wadi Nakhar Grand Canyon)

2 Days Solo Backpacking in Winter Oman via Crossborder Bus Trip

sightseeing Muscat and Oman's highest peak - Jebel Shams

March 17 to 18, 2017

“Those who have achieved their dreams didn’t do it sitting in a comfort zone. They challenged the status quo.” - Sheikh Khalfan Al Esry

My 51st solo backpacking trip, 30th in Asian continent (11th in the Western Asia and 4th in GCC Countries), 59 countries visited so far and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. This trip is the first country I visited on the new beginning of my expat life and to accomplish the highest summit hike of Oman. 

Interesting Facts about Oman: 
1. Crime In Oman Is “Extremely Rare”
2. Omanis Breed The Finest Arab Horses
3. Oman Has Only One Public University
4. Oman is also one of the oldest human-inhabited places on the planet.

timezone - +0400H UTC;   capital - Muscat;   language - Arabic
currency - Rial (OMR) 1 OMR = 2.6 USD = 10 AED
visa - GCC Expat Professionals are visa on arrival

2 Days Solo Backpacking in Winter Oman via Crossborder Bus Trip (Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque)