Cars & Autos | Wednesday 22 January, 2020 1:14 am |

Could the trail that leads to Oman’s Jebel Shams be the Middle East’s most spectacular driving route?

 

With a challenging climb over gravel roads which showcase the jaw-dropping beauty of Oman’s incredible mountain landscape, it is certainly one of the region’s Greatest Driving Routes – a new video series that highlights the capabilities of the new Ford Ranger. You can see the video here.

 

Set in the heart of the Al Hajar Mountain range, Jebel Shams is a 3.5-hour drive from the Omani capital of Muscat, and just over four hours from the UAE border crossing at Al Ain. At over 3000m, it is the highest point in Oman, and there is an access road that takes visitors to the summit.

 

As a tool for exploration, the Ranger is the perfect vehicle to take you there. With its on-demand all-wheel-drive system, torquey petrol and turbodiesel engines, cargo tray capacity and comfortable and well-appointed interiors, the Ranger is perfectly suited to handle the most challenging off-road driving routes the region has to offer.

 

The area attracts thousands of tourists every year, drawn to the natural splendor of the mountains and the access to spectacular trails, picnic spots and camping locations it offers. It’s also perfect for astronomers who can enjoy unobstructed views of the night sky from the mountain’s southern plateau.

 

The route that leads to the summit is peppered with hairpins, off-camber bends and a gravel road that hugs the mountain as it climbs sharply up the mountain. The route delivers visitors to the lower southern summit where they can see the spectacular Wadi Ghul and Wadi Nakhr, colloquially known as the Grand Canyon of the Middle East.

 

“It is just a very peaceful place, where locals come to relax and enjoy nature,” said Omani guide and episode host Aiman Mossa Al Tobi. “The road to Jebel Shams gives you a real sense of adventure as you drive over it, especially in the last two kilometres where the sharp turns, steep rises and falls, and narrow roads give you a taste of exciting driving. The best part is that once you’re at the top, the only way down is via the same road, so you get to enjoy it twice.”

 

The route is navigable in two-wheel-drive when it’s dry but the added security of the Ranger’s four-wheel-drive helps all year around. The Ranger’s engine torque makes easy work of even the steepest sections while its ground clearance helps when negotiating the hard grey limestone viewing areas and sharp rocks that lie just off-piste.

 

The southern summit rewards you with incredible views of the main summit and the precipitous Wadi Nakhr canyon where you can get as close to the edge of the enormous drop as you dare. 

 

The best times to drive the route are at either end of the day. Sunset on the mountain is staggering, and sunrise often illuminates Jebel Shams and the surrounding peaks in a rich orange glow of morning light. But it really doesn’t matter that much because the views make the trip an unforgettable experience regardless of the time of day you see them. Jebel Shams is certainly one of the region’s Greatest Driving Routes.