Balcony Walk, Wadi Nakhur

In the far west of Jebel Akhdar, the finest and highest region of the Western Hajar Mountains, is Wadi Nakhur, also known as Oman’s Grand Canyon, a huge and truly spectacular hole with vast cliffs dropping to its deep and, in its lower reaches, lush bottom.

The Balcony Walk from Al Khitaym on the high rim plateau to As Sab abandoned village is justly famous and undoubtedly one of Oman’s finest walks.

This straightforward (if at times a tad vertiginous) but exciting and enormously atmospheric trail (W6 in the Explorer guide) follows a wide, sloping ledge/fault in the vast cliffs of the canyon’s western side to a superbly sited village in a corner-bowl.

The village had permanent water (there is a gorgeous pool under the cliffs which screams for a dip) so was self-sufficient, with terracing still surviving along with the mainly stone houses under a high overhang; but it was very inaccessible, so occupied during mediaeval times of unrest. It was abandoned in the early 1970s.

3 hrs including exploration of the village. 

You can link this walk with the Grand Canyon Rim Walk to make a long but marvellous day.

Oman Trekking (Explorer) and Adventure Trekking in Oman (Anne Dale and Gerry Hadwin) have worthwhile sections on some of these walks. Recommended. Find relevant books on Amazon.

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For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Western Hajar Mountains walk page. See also our Jebel Akhdar page.