Stairway to Heaven - Full Loop, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 16.94 mi
- Elevation gain
- 5,105 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 5,105 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,495 ft
- TrailRank
-
64
4.3
- Min elevation
- 769 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 8 hours 16 minutes
- Time
- 11 hours 35 minutes
- Coordinates
- 4562
- Uploaded
- November 28, 2020
- Recorded
- November 2020
near Ra’s al Waḩḩ, Musandam (Sultanate of Oman)
Viewed 3636 times, downloaded 113 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
It is one of the most famous hikes in the UAE and definitely difficult. It is about a 17 km route which requires about 10-12 hours to accomplish. It includes some basic scrambling. GPS has an issue when you are deep in the canyon and draws a false saw-like line, that is why it says 27 km.
Some parts of the trail are well marked (Wadi Litibah, the scree slope), but on some parts, it is difficult to find a way (the Stairways to Heaven). I do not recommend taking it alone and it is much better if you have someone who already has done this route. It is also not recommended to have many people in the group (at most 10). Do not attempt it during summer.
You will pass wadi Litibah, the stairways to heaven, several villages, farms, and Jabal as Sayh. The route offers stunning views of wadi Ghalillah, wadi Litibah, and Jabal as Sayh.
Must-have gear:
1) High-cut hiking shoes
2) 5 liters of water, some electrolytes, enough food
3) Sun protective clothing (many parts of the track do not have shade at all)
4) Head lump (you will finish after sunset)
Recommended gear:
1) Hiking poles (useful on the Woh Village Descent while going down)
2) Gloves (useful on the Stairways to Heaven)
Track parts:
1) Wadi Litibah
From start to P-01. This part is well marked and does not require description actually. A GPS track here should be enough.
2) The Scree slope
P-01 - P-04. Start at the stone marked with red paint (P-01). It is a split between the left and right bank starts. You will return to this point later after completing the Woh village descent. Pass a huge block with a crack (P-02), a fenced tree (P-03), and reached a tree that is almost at the top of the scree slope. It is a point of no return since you will start climbing after that. There are red paint marks on this section.
3) The Stairways to Heaven
P-04 - P-08. This section has multiple small stairways and one big at the end. The section is the hardest and most risky with very high exposure. You should not rely only on a GPS track here since you stay very close to the cliff. Go with someone who has done the route. Stones polished with boots can be good markers sometimes.
4) The Peak of false Horizons
P-08 - P-12. Head to "a peak" keeping the drop off to your right. This ascent requires good stamina since when you reach the peak you will see one more and then again and again. Enjoy perfect views of the plateau and the village. After passing the false peaks you will reach a dirt road and an amazing view of Jabal as Sayh.
5) The Traverse
P-12 - P-18. This part is mainly flat and easy. You will pass a lay-by/road supply point (P-14) on the road and some little farms (P-15 and P-16).
6) The Woh Village Descent
P-18 - P-01. After you reached Woh village you will have an amazing view of the Plateau, the stairway part, and wadi Galilah. The descent has a lot of zig-zagging and sometimes steep. You will pass farms and flat cliff ledges. There are a lot of manmade steps and several benches to take breaks. The section is over at the split point (P-01). It is a difficult part of the hike for your legs.
There are multiple pictures from this section here
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/stairway-to-heaven-right-bank-60011742
7) Wadi Litibah (return)
Sedans can go till Wadi Ghalilah dam and park at a proper parking at 25.980979, 56.145422. After that you have to walk to the starting point or drive 4x4 that you can park here 25.984311, 56.167752
Some parts of the trail are well marked (Wadi Litibah, the scree slope), but on some parts, it is difficult to find a way (the Stairways to Heaven). I do not recommend taking it alone and it is much better if you have someone who already has done this route. It is also not recommended to have many people in the group (at most 10). Do not attempt it during summer.
You will pass wadi Litibah, the stairways to heaven, several villages, farms, and Jabal as Sayh. The route offers stunning views of wadi Ghalillah, wadi Litibah, and Jabal as Sayh.
Must-have gear:
1) High-cut hiking shoes
2) 5 liters of water, some electrolytes, enough food
3) Sun protective clothing (many parts of the track do not have shade at all)
4) Head lump (you will finish after sunset)
Recommended gear:
1) Hiking poles (useful on the Woh Village Descent while going down)
2) Gloves (useful on the Stairways to Heaven)
Track parts:
1) Wadi Litibah
From start to P-01. This part is well marked and does not require description actually. A GPS track here should be enough.
2) The Scree slope
P-01 - P-04. Start at the stone marked with red paint (P-01). It is a split between the left and right bank starts. You will return to this point later after completing the Woh village descent. Pass a huge block with a crack (P-02), a fenced tree (P-03), and reached a tree that is almost at the top of the scree slope. It is a point of no return since you will start climbing after that. There are red paint marks on this section.
3) The Stairways to Heaven
P-04 - P-08. This section has multiple small stairways and one big at the end. The section is the hardest and most risky with very high exposure. You should not rely only on a GPS track here since you stay very close to the cliff. Go with someone who has done the route. Stones polished with boots can be good markers sometimes.
4) The Peak of false Horizons
P-08 - P-12. Head to "a peak" keeping the drop off to your right. This ascent requires good stamina since when you reach the peak you will see one more and then again and again. Enjoy perfect views of the plateau and the village. After passing the false peaks you will reach a dirt road and an amazing view of Jabal as Sayh.
5) The Traverse
P-12 - P-18. This part is mainly flat and easy. You will pass a lay-by/road supply point (P-14) on the road and some little farms (P-15 and P-16).
6) The Woh Village Descent
P-18 - P-01. After you reached Woh village you will have an amazing view of the Plateau, the stairway part, and wadi Galilah. The descent has a lot of zig-zagging and sometimes steep. You will pass farms and flat cliff ledges. There are a lot of manmade steps and several benches to take breaks. The section is over at the split point (P-01). It is a difficult part of the hike for your legs.
There are multiple pictures from this section here
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/stairway-to-heaven-right-bank-60011742
7) Wadi Litibah (return)
Sedans can go till Wadi Ghalilah dam and park at a proper parking at 25.980979, 56.145422. After that you have to walk to the starting point or drive 4x4 that you can park here 25.984311, 56.167752
Waypoints
Photo
1,519 ft
Waypoint
Tree
Summit
Comments (15)
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Hi Anton,
Do you have the coordinates for the descent point ?
Thanks in advance
Lingesh
Hi Lingesh,
The main descend starts at P-18 point (coordinates 25.968911, 56.167923) and ends at P-1 (25.980183, 56.181273).
These are coordinates from my Garmin.
Hi Anton,
Thank you and much appreciated
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Difficult
Hi, my friend and I did this route on the 18 Dec 2021. It ascent can be a little tricky if you’ve not downloaded the exact route. Moreover, certain section on the ascent are very exposed and not for walkers who get nervous of heights. I would allow 9 hours for the route and take at least 4 litres of water.
Hi how are you can we camp on top and return back to next day?
For camping, I recommend going to the right bank only, not the full loop. It is much easier. You will reach Woh Village, camp, and descend the next morning. This is what many people do.
Stairway to heaven - Right bank is here:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/stairway-to-heaven-right-bank-60011742
Hi Anton thank you for reply
I wish to camp up there any hazards or suggestion
Welcome, Sehrish. The right bank is technically easy, but it is a long ascent. Since you are going to camp there, make sure you have a headlamp with spare batteries, a power bank for your phone as you are going to use it for GPS navigation and camping stuff like a sleeping bag.
The left bank (full loop) is risky. Again I would not recommend it for camping except you are very experienced
Hey Anton,
Did you do it with the guide? Can you recommend any by any chance?
Hi Olga, yes I did it with Alpine Trekkers. You can find them on meetup.com
Chogo Ree was leading our group.
Hey Anton,
4) The Peak of false Horizons
P-08 - P-12.
Is there any trail while climbing up these three mountains.
Hi Mohit, not really, but the gps track is absolutely enough for this part. It is not a difficult segment at all, just a gradual ascend
Thanks Anton, I made it difficult for myself last time i guess.i just started climbing up three mountains, , there has to be way around that's why I asked.
I will follow this trail next time.
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Very difficult
Did it without a guide - exhilarating but tough! There is no marked route from the top of the stairway to the beginning of the descent at the village: it’s very hard going, and detracts a great deal from the overall hike. But a good one to tick off the list.
Thanks for sharing your tips!