Adventure Trekking in Oman

The mountains of the Hajar in Oman have been virtually untouched since they first became accessible ten years ago. Rising to 3000 metres and sporting endless walls of limestone cut by wadis and hanging valleys, these mountains were destined to become an adventure trekking paradise.The new guide book written by Dale and Hadwin has been assembled form their own experiences. This is not a book that has been cobbled together from other existing guides. As such it is fresh, honest and accurate. The meticulous detail of the maps and descriptions of the individual treks leave you in no doubt as to the authenticity of the text.The Hajar offers sensational trekking in a harsh enviornment. The authors have succeeded in producing a guide that not only provides detailed information on some huge days to be had in the high mountains, but also shorter treks in and around the capital area of Muscat.There is no duplication with the standard fare of travel guides to Oman, this book deals solely with the routes themselves.I found it to be totally inspirational. I have climbed and travelled extensively in Oman and in these mountains, but the absence of a detailed walking and scrambling guide meant that I have been forced to explore every step of the way myself. This book has cracked open Pandora's box. Sitting reading through the range of treks I have started to make plans for further forays into the mountains this winter. That to me is the measure of a good guide. It has to be accurate, comprehensive and user friendly. If that is achieved and then combined with an inspirational subject matter then it is a gem.That is my conclusion to this book.Buy this book, visit Oman, trek these treks and see for yourselves just how great Allah can be.

Having lived in Oman for the past 4 years I am a keen climber and walker and frequent the Jebel Al Akhdars with friends and children from my school on their Duke of Edingburgh Award expeditions. Whilst the book is very informative of where the good walks are, the actual directions for completing the walks are sometimes far off the beaten mark. Many of the old routes are marked with paint and cairns and are obviously the correct routes to follow - something the book never hastens to add! Whilst some of the instructions are very informative there are times when huge gaps are missed out leaving the trekker to negotiate his own route. Timings are vague and the number of 'old thorn trees', or 'large boulders' which are used as landmarks, becomes somewhat laughable, especially when the landscape in Oman is made up of thorn trees and large boulders, but it does add some fun to the walks. The book is useful in that it can indicate where the good walks are. The maps are more informative and more useful than the route descriptors. Using it as a guide book should be used with caution.

This book is as much a guide book for those wishing to trek in Oman as it is an armchair book.I have done some of the walks myself and it brings back vivid memories;it is also a pleasure to read about walks I have not done. The photos are very evocative of the terrain and well chosen. I can say that it has been very well researched and presented and is a good size to take with you.