Oman: Sidab (Muscat) Coast Trail

Sidab (Muscat) Coast Trail.

Below shared text is taken from Online posts (Oman based websites ) I found on this Sidab hike topic.

An important consideration in this trek is taking account of the tide risings as there are several beachheads you need to pass, and which can only be done at low tide – so make sure you check tide times in advance so that you can do the whole trek without being cut-off. If you feel like wanting to do your bit for the environment, do take a rubbish bag with you during the visit and try to pick-up whatever you can of the rubbish – unfortunately the beaches here are full of rubbish and plastic that are washed out from the sea 🙁

The hike starts just off the main road passing through Sidab village, take the first left as soon as you enter Sidab (if you’re driving from Muttra/Old Muscat side) and park at the big car park. You will see a ‘sports field’ and a walled cemetery with a gate through it leading to a mountain path – this is where Sidab Coastal Trek starts, if you focus you can also see a ladder in the mountain path giving idea of where to go.

Google Maps Link.
https://goo.gl/maps/oHMuWNRxodV7QjZp6

If you want to see the old cemetery which is located close to the sea, try Sidab trail. It has good view points where you can see the sea from different angles. You can swim there as well ( dive to see a freshwater fish).
You have to climb at some places where you have to be careful because it’s slippery with downhills. Most recommended right before the sunset or sunrise to enjoy the view with cup of coffee.

Sidab Coastal Trek is a trek off the mountains from the fishing village of Sidab, adjacent to Old Muscat. The trek takes you through the mountains and rugged coastline of the village, passing through a number of absolutely gorgeous beachheads and hills with stunning views throughout, including distant views of the Al Bustan Palace Hotel, and outlines of Muscat Bay at Qantab if you squint enough :D.

The trek isn’t straightforward and easy to navigate, with loose rocks and steep slopes increasing risk of falling down cliffs, and you need to take tide timings into account otherwise you risk being cut off (more on that below), but it is one that I really enjoyed and combines the best of Muscat’s stunning coastline, beaches and mountains! It is especially remarkable for how remote it feels while being almost adjacent to the Al Alam Palace .

Sidab Coastal Trek goes through a couple of rugged mountain passes that are quite steep and on really loose and sharp rocks, so it is not suitable for everyone and I do not recommend taking your kids, grandmothers or younger ones unless they are quite comfortable being outdoors and scrambling up & down steep slopes.

The first part of the trek requires scrambling through a very steep gully, and you should space out your group as there is a risk of rockfall onto the people below so put sufficient spacing between each other. In addition, the rocks get particularly slippery at the coast side where the water and smooth boulders make it extremely difficult to walk – so take extra caution there and as always you should have appropriate footwear (hiking boots or something similar).

The trek itself is not long, and the timing highly depends on how much of the coastline you want to explore – we trekked all the way until you reach the restricted access area (as it is adjacent to the Al Alam Palace grounds) and it took about 3 hours in total (going and coming back) – it can certainly be done in under 2 hours though!

One must travel light and have ample water to keep hydrated as the 3km trek, winding through rugged slopes can be quite exhaustive. Wearing sturdy shoes (which I missed out) is another precaution one must take to avoid hurting your feet as the rocky mountains can make the trek quite dangerous.

This trek seemed like a musical notation, swaying from various high and low notes, and so, it is recommended to always keep a keen eye on your next step.

The initial Tarzan act started when we needed to climb a ladder tied with a rusty chain to get to the first mountain. We used our basic instincts – crawling, squatting, running and hanging – to reach our target.

The cemetery had graves dating back to the eighteenth century and was home to the remains of a number of Commonwealth soldiers who fought in World War I.
Tombs of young sailors, as young as 21 years and dating back to the 1913s, laid peacefully among the mountains. All the tombs, around 20 in number, had been white washed and had emotional epitaphs engraved.

This ‘Portuguese’ cemetery is one of the most remarkable places with a history to boast of. Here lies the tomb of one of the first doctors from Muscat who set up hospital for patients way back in the 1900s. Dr Thomas, a missionary doctor, had a major contribution in the healthcare of the people of Muttrah and Oman. His grave along with his missionary father, Dr Sharon (buried in 1913) and Dr Morris French, a surgeon at Thomas Hospital (buried in 1967) lie peacefully under the skies. It was peaceful, though eerie, and we did not utter a word as we viewed the tombstones and read their inscriptions.

The Sidab Coastline Trek did not disappoint, despite it starting at the old village cemetery and passing near a couple more (please, please be respectful and careful as you tread through those areas ensuring you do not disrupt the peace, and keep to the small tracks through the graves as far as possible). The trek also gives you access to a couple of beautiful beaches that look perfect for snorkeling.

Please be respectful and considerate when passing through the cemeteries that you may encounter in this trek – the first one is almost inevitable as the trek path goes through it but you can walk adjacent to the mountain side to avoid the graves (many of which are unmarked) – while you can avoid the others completely unless you want to pay your respect. Remember, someone’s loved ones are there and you should be respectful and not disrupt their peace. In addition, the trek is adjacent to the Al Alam Palace grounds – and it is strictly forbidden to proceed further beyond the sign indicating the palace properties – so please do not try to cross it.

Enjoy the trail

Do Not Try Any Mountain Hikes If You Do Not Understand The Mountain Terrains, Dangers From Wildlife, First Aid, Hydration And Snacks, Your Own Fitness, Remote Activity Preparations, Communication Tools, Mountain Geography, Topography, Risk Factors, HSE Requirements, Hiking Risks, Fitness Level Of The Group Members.
Study All Above Matters Well Before Following Any Trails That You Find Online. Please Do Not Over Estimate Yourself.
Better Be Safe Than Put Yourself / Group In Danger And Regret Later.
Lately We Have Seen A Lot Of Unwanted Hiking Incidents That Could Have Been Avoided With Better Preparation.
Wish You All The Best.
Wikiloc, Only For Reference. There Can Be Errors On The GPS Recording Due To GPS Jumping In The Wadi Sections or Erroneous Recording.