A view of rugged rocky terrain and deep canyon walls with winding paths and steep cliffs.

Mountains and Rocks

Written by: Luca Krohn , Philip Eichkorn and Michaela Eckmüller Last updated at: May 21, 2025

Like hardly any other Arab country, Oman can be proud of a whole series of impressive and exciting mountain ranges. Indeed, these regions are one of the reasons why Oman is becoming increasingly interesting for more and more tourists. For spending a vacation here does not mean lying on the beach for 14 days and lounging around. Rather, one can discover a wide variety of things and natural wonders here. The mountains and rocky landscapes of Oman definitely belong to these natural wonders.

Jebel Shams – the highest mountain of the Arabian Peninsula

Jebel Shams (translated: Mountain of the Sun) is the highest mountain on the Arabian Peninsula, standing at 3009 meters above sea level, and is located in the Hadjar Mountains, which frame the Omani coastal region like a crescent moon. Jebel Shams features a variety of wonderful slopes and smaller peaks that offer a magnificent view. The mountain is equipped for tourism and designed in such a way that even inexperienced hikers can reach the summit on a mountain tour. However, it is advisable to take a knowledgeable guide along. Other exciting mountains include Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, which is famous for its extensive plateau just below the summit. The climate at Jebel Akhdar is more comparable to that of the Mediterranean region. In the winter months, it can even snow on the mountain's plains. By the way, the pomegranates grown here are among the best in the world.

Special Rock Types in Oman

In some parts of the world, one can find true wonders. This is also the case in Oman. In the Hadjar Mountains, for example, rock layers are exposed that are usually only found at depths between 35 and 70 kilometers beneath the continents. In addition to the so-called Molo rock, various other fascinating rock types and sediment layers can be found in Oman that would never be discovered on the surface in other regions of the world. Thus, it is no wonder that Oman is also referred to as a wonder of geology.

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