15
Jabal al Qahar Hidden Village
732km
10km
Driving MODERATE/ADVANCED – INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING ROCKY TRACK
Best for A UNIQUE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Recommended for SKILLED OFF-ROADERS
The highlight of this route is the 4.5km off-road drive that takes you to the edge of Wadi Lajb via a challenging rocky path. This remarkable track sits in a ravine between two large cliffs and after a bumpy journey, it deposits you on an outcrop that provides spectacular views of the wadi below.
As this route takes you along the bottom of an escarpment, keep a watchful eye for falling rocks.
The paved road before the start of the route takes you past a series of beehives. The road (partially under construction) then swings to the left and you'll you need to come off onto the off-road track that sits in front of you. As you make your way along the route, you’ll see ruins perched on top of a rock. The aptly named 'rainbow track' is notable for the myriad of different coloured rocks that make up the rocky outcrops and escarpment wall itself.
After the mountain pass, the track becomes increasingly difficult and it's advised that only experienced drivers take on this section of the route. Taking you through the mountain, there are places where the track becomes suspended amongst the rocks and trees, with crevices dropping down on either side.
Eventually you arrive at the rocky outcrop where there's a chance to catch your breath before you head back on this memorable track.
Jabal al Qahar
Prior to starting the route, you might want to take a trip to see the majestic peak of Jabal al Qahar. Standing at nearly 2,000m above sea level, the summit is small and compact, with steep slopes and deep crevices. Its name roughly translates to ‘Mountain of Frustration’, apparently testament to how difficult it is to climb.
RAINBOW ROCKS
Rocks that display bands of different colours are referred to as rock strata. Each distinct layer represents a period in geological history when a new layer of rock formed on top of the old one. The different rocks have different compositions, meaning they appear as different colours and shades.
Escarpment & Rainbow Track
The escarpment and rocky outcrops in this area are made up layers of multi-coloured rock, creating a rainbow effect. Millions of years of volcanic activity, along with wind and rain erosion, has built up differing layers of sediment and formed this beautiful stonework.
Farming Ropeway
As you admire the hidden village, you’ll notice a truck and wires that stretch from your vantage point down to the fields below. This ropeway is an ingenious contraption, designed to move items up and down between the mountain and the farms in the valley below. The truck has been raised off the ground, its back tyre removed and its axle turned into a winch. As the axle spins, a large container is pulled along the ropeway taking goods up or down. Now defunct due to a route being established to the village, it is still a remarkable testament to the resourcefulness of local farmers.
Hidden Village
The hidden village comes into view as you drive over the mountain pass towards the end of the route. The flat valley floor hosts a small collection of houses, and the fields are sectioned off by sandbanks. Crops are being grown in some of these fields and despite the area’s isolation, electricity pylons are bringing power to this remote patch of agriculture.
