A few weeks ago, I tagged along with Jessa and Ram on the Aqabat village trek. Aqabat village is an extremely remote village high in the Hajar mountains of the Musandam peninsula of Oman. Just getting to the trail head requires a 45 minute 4x4 ride through the steep rocky gorge of Wadi Khabb A’ Shamsi to the top of the wadi where the drainage begins. Then trek for an hour and a half through the mountains to reach the village.
I love this trek because of the diverse experiences it offers. Most of the trail is surrounded by breathtaking views of the high mountains. The ecosystem of the high mountains is very different from the lower elevations- there is more vegetation and because of the surrounding wilderness the wildlife is more abundant. My other favorite thing about this trek is the cultural aspect - seeing an old village still inhabited- the combination of the old ways and new technologies used in tandem. Relics of the old ways still sitting as if they were used yesterday.
I love this trek because of the diverse experiences it offers. Most of the trail is surrounded by breathtaking views of the high mountains. The ecosystem of the high mountains is very different from the lower elevations- there is more vegetation and because of the surrounding wilderness the wildlife is more abundant. My other favorite thing about this trek is the cultural aspect - seeing an old village still inhabited- the combination of the old ways and new technologies used in tandem. Relics of the old ways still sitting as if they were used yesterday.
