Trail Running Tour in Oman
Etienne, a SNAM-UIMLA-certified mountain guide, wants to take you on this 9-day trail running experience in Oman, a jewel of Arabia at the entrance of the Persian Gulf!
Al Hajar Mountains
9 Days
Jan - Mar, Dec
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Unveil Oman's stunning scenery, from towering mountains to vast deserts.
- Ascend the majestic Jebel Shams, the highest peak in the Hajar range
- Explore ancient forts, mosques, and caves
Description
Lying at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, the Sultanate of Oman is a land brimming with open spaces and hidden treasures.
This trail-running trip to the land of the Arabian Nights is a real immersion in its sublime landscapes and in its ancestral traditions.
Jebel Shams (3000 m) —the most spectacular of all Grand Canyon mountains, known as ‘mountain of the sun’— is waiting for your ascent.
We will run 20 km a day so you’ll need to be in a very good physical level and have experience hiking on altitudes higher than 1500 m. It’s also important that you do not suffer from vertigo.
The itinerary I propose for this 9-day tour is as follows. The first and the last day will be saved for the airplane trips. From the second day to the seventh day, we will dive in this almost virgin territory. At the foot of many canyons, we’ll find exuberant oases called Wadi. We will descend from the mountains until these bodies of waters and take a big dip.
We will also get the chance to meet the sea turtles, that slumber on the sandy beaches of Ras Al Hadd.
Besides, this trip could be a perfect opportunity to explore the ancient Bahla Fort, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the mystifying Al Hoota cave as well as the souks of Nizwa and Muttrah.
During this trip, we’ll stay some nights at very comfortable hotels, with breakfast and traditional Omani meals. But the adventurous part will be sleeping in a bivouac in the desert of Wahibah.
Admire the most glorious sunset of your life over the ocher-colored sands of Wahibah! Send a request and book this 9-day tour.
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Transportation start and back
- Luggage transfer
- Flight to the start
Price details
- Included:
- Air tickets (A / R Paris CDG - Muscat) -NOT Included for the Feb 1-9th Group Date-
- Transport by 4x4, 7 seats
- Visits: Al Hoota Cave, Bahla Fort, Great Mosque, Wadi Shab, etc.
Itinerary
Day 1: Wadi Shab Resort
RDV Airport Paris CDG to Muscat (7h30, direct flight) Transfer in 4×4. Overnight at Wadi Shab Resort.
Day 2: Ras Al Hadd
Wadi Tiwi (4×4). Trail from Wadi Tiwi to Wadi Shab by Al Ghomb (23 km). Ras Al Hadd (4×4) After dinner, a nightwalk in search of laying turtles on the beaches of Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jinz. Night at Ras Al Hadd Guest House.
Day 3: Wahibah
Sand Desert of Wahibah Sands (4×4). Trail crossing the northern tip of the Wahibah Sands desert (10 km). Bivouac in the middle of the desert, under the splendid starry sky.
Day 4: Nizwa
End of the Wahibah desert crossing (5 km).Nizwa (4×4).Visit of the souk of Nizwa. Night at the Al Diyar Nizwa Hotel.
Day 5: Al Hoota
Visit to Al Hoota Cave. Ghul (4×4). Ascent to the Jebel Shams base camp at Al Khitaym and balcony of the Grand Canyon of Arabia (12 km). Overnight at Jebel Shams Resort.
Day 6: Jebel Shams + Jebel Akhar
Ascent to the highest point of the Arabian Peninsula, the Jebel Shams (3075 m – 23 km). Jebel Akdhar (4×4). Overnight at Sahab Hotel.
Day 7: Wukan + Muscat
Ascent to the pass of Wukan (20 km) Muscat (4×4). Overnight at Ramee Guestline Hotel Qurum, close to the mangrove.
Day 8: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Visit of Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Mutrah Souk and Muscat. Night at Golden Tulip Airport Hotel.
Day 9: Departure
Muscat to Paris CDG.
Details
Disclaimer
Physical conditions / Technical level: -Be able to run 20 km per day for 6 days (or have already run an ultra-trail) -Have already run more than 25 km, -Have already done hiking or trails with a difference in altitude > 1500 m D +, -Be comfortable in difficult technical parts -Do not have vertigo.
More info
For 2025 I have 2 scheduled group dates:
From Februray 1st to 9th -> This will be a HIKING trip, following the same itinerary as described for the trail running trip. For this HIKING option, the price quoted DOESN'T INCLUDE the airplane ticket Paris-Muscat.
From February 15th to 23rd -> This will be a TRAIL RUNNING trip with the itinerary, price and inclusions as described here.
Meeting point
FAQs
What is the duration of this Oman tour?
The trip lasts for 9 days, with the first and last days allocated for airplane travel.
What is the level of physical fitness required for the Oman running tour?
Participants should be in very good physical condition as we will be running approximately 20 km each day. It's essential to have experience hiking at altitudes higher than 1500 m and not suffer from vertigo.
What are the accommodation arrangements in Oman?
Accommodation will be provided in very comfortable hotels for most nights, with breakfast and traditional Omani meals included. Participants will also experience sleeping in a bivouac in the Wahibah desert for an adventurous night under the stars.
What should I pack for the trip?
Make sure to pack appropriate trail-running gear, comfortable clothing for warm weather, sun protection, hiking shoes, and any personal medications or items they may need. A detailed packing list will be provided upon booking.
What can I expect on this Oman running tour?
Together, we will explore almost virgin territories, descend into canyons to reach lush oases called Wadi, and have the opportunity to witness sea turtles at Ras Al Hadd. Additionally, visits to the Bahla Fort, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Al Hoota cave, and souks of Nizwa and Muttrah are included.
About the guide
Etienne
Mountain Leader
As a certified International Mountain Leader and an engineer in geology and mountain biology, I am passionate about the many facets offered by the mountain environment, in France or abroad.
I like to escape for several days in the great outdoors of Scotland, Oman, Corsica, the Alps or Kyrgyzstan with my backpack. But I also like walking the most beautiful trails in the world running, in "light" mode, with little equipment on the back.
I am indeed a trail-running specialist since I am one of the best French in the discipline, accumulating dozens of victories on many races all over France.
I will be listening to you and I will know how to give you good advice at the right time to help you progress in your practice. I will not hesitate to talk to you about geology, botany, fauna or geomorphology, sciences that I particularly like.
Languages
French | English
Certificates
SNAM | UIMLA
What people are saying about Explore-Share
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
Read all our verified reviews
Find more trail running trips
Join our newsletter!
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.