Jebel Shams

The trail runs along a ledge with nothing but air below. A kilometre of it. Vultures circle inside the gorge at eye level, riding thermals that push warm air up the canyon walls. The abandoned village of Al Khitaym clings to a shelf halfway down, its stone houses now home to nothing but wind.

Jebel Shams — the Sun Mountain — is Oman's highest peak at just over 3,000 metres and home to the country's deepest canyon, often compared to the Grand Canyon for its sheer scale. The Balcony Walk, a rim trail that traces the edge of Wadi Ghul's kilometre-deep gorge, is the most famous hike in Oman. The trail passes through the abandoned settlement of Al Khitaym, perched on a narrow ledge above the void. Eagles and Egyptian vultures are regular companions, circling the thermals at eye level. Overnight camping on the rim offers sunrise above the cloud layer, while the mountain's cooler temperatures make it one of the few places in Oman where autumn and winter bring genuinely cold nights. The drive to the summit requires a 4x4 and passes through increasingly dramatic scenery as the terrain drops away on all sides.