Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
signalled by a neat row of trees. If you're here in the spring, look out for a beautiful
yellow-flowering tree
(Tecomella Al-Zamah)
that some say is indigenous to the area.
WORTH A TRIP
MISFAT - AT THE HEART OF THE HAJAR MOUNTAINS
For a magnificent introduction to life among the date palms on the flank of Oman's highest mountain, a walk
through the picture-perfect village of Misfat is highly recommended. Understandably, locals insist on visitors
parking on the edge of the village and you'll see why as you begin to walk through the narrow alleyways of the
village and along the edge of the encompassed plantations on the well-marked trails. This is one of the few vil-
lages that actively welcomes tourists but in return visitors are requested to respect marked no-go areas and to re-
frain from picking fruit - the village's main livelihood.
If you're not keen on finding your own way between the flowing
aflaj
and abundant terraces of crops, the vil-
lage guest house offers a three-hour guided walking tour (OR20) with a local resident. This is quite the best way
of learning about life in a traditional Omani community at the heart of the Hajar Mountains.
Continue along the main track into Wadi Bani Awf ignoring the left fork at 57.2km that
leads into Wadi Sahten. At 59.4km you will pass through the small wadi village of Al-
Teekah and eventually arrive at Hwy 13 at 69.7km. Turn left for Rustaq, or right for
Nakhal and Muscat. Road construction in Wadi Bani Awf may mean you need to detour
through Wadi Sahten to Rustaq.
Sleeping & Eating
Al-Hoota Resthouse$
HOTEL
( 92 822473; hootaoman@hotmail.com; r OR20, chalet OR30; )
Run by the local Al-Abri fam-
ily, this simple guesthouse has a range of comfortable, uncomplicated rooms and chalets
near Sharfat al-Alamayn, the highest point on the mountain road to Hatt. A buffet dinner
(OR5) can be rustled up with some notice. A 3km, four-hour trek to a local village is one
of many walking options from the guesthouse.
Tourist Village Resort Motel$
HOTEL
( 97 588818; r OR25; )
This no-frills guesthouse at the opening of Wadi Bani Awf has 11
simple rooms and an occasional swimming pool (usable only when water is available) set
in a semi-wilderness of flowering trees and shrubs. A restaurant is planned but in the
meantime, dinner is a 'bring your own' affair.
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