Jebel Shams: the Balcony Walk (W6) to Sap Bani Khamis

From the car park by the Wadi Ghul viewpoint at Al Khutaim, high on Jebel Shams, take the signed path of route W6 north along the wall of the canyon. OpenStreetMap maps it as a path of 3.7 km, graded hiking, that rises and dips along the canyon side at 1,800 to 1,970 m. It ends at the abandoned hanging gardens of Sap Bani Khamis (the old village is also called As Sab), where terraces cling to the canyon wall. Walk back the same way.

It is 7.6 km there and back with 526 m of ascent by the height data, most of it in short rises and falls along the way (we found no published figure to check it); allow 3½ to 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: a rocky path with steady ups and downs at altitude.

The path follows the wall of the canyon, and in places the ground falls away steeply beside it. Keep to the path, stay back from the edge, and turn round if the weather turns or the light fades. There is no water on the way and little shade, so carry plenty; Visit Oman says the Al Hajar mountains stay pleasant when the lowlands are hot, but start early all the same. The UK government advises following marked trails in Oman.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.