Jebel Harim Travel Guide

Travel to Jebel Harim - Tribal Heart of Musandam

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The whole of the Musandam peninsula is one huge rocky mass of limestone. Colliding with the Asian plate the effect is that Musandam is being pushed downwards at a rate of some 6mm per year at its northern tip. Given this the remarkable legends of ancient sailors collecting fresh water in leather bags from beneath the sea may well have a foundation of truth, given that the geological movement may mean springs that were once above sea level may now be below.

This is the land of the Shihuh people who are believed to have migrated here from Yemen several hundred years ago, but the truth is as yet unclear. They live a subsistence lifestyle here in the mountains, and as you drive into the hills you can see their homes tucked away in clefts in the rock. The Shihuh wear an axe, called a jerz and with its distinctive long handle it’s a design that has remained unchanged since the bronze age, however today it is increasingly being replaced by the khanjar, the dagger with a curved blade.

Higher up there are plateaus to explore, forgotten villages, strange, lockable houses and petroglyphs can all be found as you explore by 4WD, ideally spending nights camping.

Attractions in Jebel Harim

The views as one climbs high into the mountains are amazing. Make your way to the Sayh Plateau at 1100m which is just 2km long and 500m wide. Lush in the winter and brown by May the farmers here tend fields of wheat and alfalfa and farm sheep, goats and palm groves. The Sayh and the surrounding areas are in decline with villagers migrating to the coast. It is hoped that this can be reversed with sustainable tourism initiatives that will allow people to earn a living in the mountains and retain their traditional way of life, but as yet there is little sign of this.

The Musandam area is home to the unique Bair al Qufl, House of the Lock. Built as a way of ensuring that possessions were kept safe whilst the owners were away these stone houses have no windows, wooden roofs and a sunken floor. The house was sealed with a complex lock ensuring safety and these buildings can be seen here in the mountains, the only place they exist.

The Rawdah Bowl is another attraction of the area. Covering 10sq km there are a few settlements here and two interesting cemeteries. The valley is wooded with cedar and acacia trees and springtime brings a multitude of flowers and birds in abundance – it’s a great place to camp.

Activities in Jebel Harim

Allow at least two days and an overnight if you can to explore the area thoroughly. Walkers would need to be totally self sufficient, carrying all food and water.

Relaxing

Enjoy a night under the stars in the mountains, camping in one of the high plateaus

Getting Around

The best option is to hire a 4WD with a driver/guide, removing the need for you to worry about driving yourself on twisting mountain roads and will enable you to see easily missed interests; a local travel expert will be able to provide you with all you need from vehicle to camping gear, food etc.

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