Explore Oman's Camping Scene

T-Mag Wednesday 31/August/2016 20:46 PM
By: Times News Service
Explore Oman's Camping Scene

Camping can be a bit of a commitment, especially when it comes to buying the gear. Here in Oman, there are only a few places where you can find camping equipment, the main Sultan Centre in Wattayah and Carrefour markets are where most people go to get their stuff. Another good option is to check OLX, as many people sell their tents and sleeping bags for a song when they leave the country. But, as I began shopping around for the basics, the most expensive of which was the tent, I started to feel a bit commitment-phobic. All I wanted to do was enjoy the great outdoors, go for a hike, and have a nice barbecue. I wasn’t ready for all the equipment it required. So, I began looking into alternatives, and I found two great options that afforded me the easy, gear-free weekend escape I was searching for.

Our escape started with a road test of the new 2016 Subaru Forester. I grew up seeing people using this long, all-wheel drive vehicle not only to transport their coolers and charcoal into the mountains of Colorado, but also as a place to sleep. With the back seats down, all you need are a few blankets and pillows to make a reasonably comfortable bedroom for two adults. My husband and I were confident about our rolling-tent, but as we followed our friends who were driving a monstrous, top-of-the-line four-wheel drive tank, we wondered if the Forester would be able to follow that beast through uneven terrain of jagged rocks and loose soil in Jebel Shams.

Our Forester was dwarfed by the other vehicle, but thanks to the boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive technology, we found ourselves crawling up the hills with absolute ease. When the going started to get really rough, we decided to try out the X-Mode. I had been told that when X-Mode is activated, electronic control of the engine, transmission, all wheel drive system, brakes, and the vehicle dynamics control system, is optimised to help reduce potential wheel slip on slippery surfaces, while climbing steep inclines, and when navigating rough roads. It was nothing short of shocking. The technology, which locks any of the wheels that lose contact with the ground and diverts the power to the three tyres still in contact with the earth (the electronic display shows the tyre contact and when the locking system is active), turned this mild-looking cross-over into an off-road hero. The more we drove, the more our confidence grew. Even without the X-Mode activated, when our tyres slipped, the vehicle dynamics control system automatically activated, which is designed to prevent skids and slippage by changing the torque distribution, engine output, and brakes to steady our course. This is a vehicle with an engine that is small and efficient enough to offer fantastic petrol consumption (averaging 8.1 l/100km), while being strong and efficient enough to keep up with the big boys on mountain trails and sandy beaches.

The Forester’s near panoramic windows offered us phenomenal views the entire way up the mountain, the audio system had enough bass to keep us in party mode, and its strength off-road made it possible to explore hiking and camping spots both on and off the beaten track. The Forester is practical, with the value and cost coming from useful, driver-focused technologies rather than frills, and it made for a great “lazy camper’s tent”.

In addition to our tent-on-wheels, we explored another tent-free option at the crest of the mountain at the Jebel Shams Resort. Not to be confused with the Jebel Shams Heights Resort (a mistake we made on the way up), this property offers a rustic, camping-like experience for those who don’t even want to haul up a cooler or charcoal. With a row of Sunset Chalets that offer gorgeous mountain views, cabins and air-conditioned tents, and covered “campsites” where you can pitch your own tent, all the cabins and tents feature a private bathroom, perhaps the hardest thing to live without during a camp out. Upon request, a fire pit will be set up in the sitting area behind your room, just be sure to bring your own hot cocoa packets and marshmallows for toasting.

The room rate includes a simple buffet breakfast and dinner, but for lunch, you should pack snacks or sandwiches that can be taken with you on a trek along one of the several trail heads surrounding the property. There are also guides onsite who can be hired to show you the way. If you can’t decide between a cabin or a tent on wheels, fear not, your destination is almost the same, and the proverbial “fork in the road”comes only at the end of your accent.

We headed for Jebel Shams early on Friday morning, excited to get our outdoor adventure started. We programmed “Jebel Shams Resort” into our Google maps, and set off towards Nizwa, stopping to order a breakfast of karak tea and Omani bread from a small shop adjacent to the petrol station where we fuelled up along the way.

The road leading up to Jebel Shams is far more rugged than the route up to Jebel Akhdar, but, ironically, it does not officially require an SUV. Partially paved and partially rock and stone, we followed the dust cloud our friends were kicking up, feeling very adventurous, that is until we saw a small sedan puttering down the same route. All the passengers had to get out of the car before it charged up the hill, and though it seemed to be making it up the mountain, I can’t say I recommend trying it if you have any love for your sedan’s suspension and undercarriage. We passed the struggling sedan and watched our friends bounce around on their tight suspension as they flew up the hill, meanwhile, we took the hills at a steady pace, smoothly following behind them, and the AWD Forester didn’t even flinch as we crawled up the rocky, unpaved paths.

We stopped at scenic overlooks along the way to take photos, and at the top of the hill (several kilometres past the Jebel Shams Heights Resort), we came to our fork-in-the-road. To our right was the entrance to the Jebel Shams Resort, and ahead of us and to the left was the dirt path leading to great campsites on the cliffs edge. (We were lucky to enjoy both experiences, with one night under the stars, and the next in a cabin with much-needed shower facilities.)

Around 4pm, as the sun softened, we drove 3km past the Jebel Shams Resort to the parking area and trail head for the W6 Hike. There are a few small village houses, and over by the cliff’s edge, painted rocks mark the beginning of this well-worn donkey trail. Weaving down through the gorge, there were incredible views of the sheer cliffs, and at an abandoned village part way down, we stopped in the shade for snacks and to take in the quiet surroundings. The entire route, there and back, takes about two hours, so we arrived back at the parking lot just as the sun was setting. I was feeling very fit and outdoorsy, never mind the fact that it is one of the easiest rated trails on the mountain.

We turned right just before we reached the entrance to the Resort, forging our own path through the rocks until we found a reasonably flat area at the edge of the cliff. We pulled out folding chairs and the cool box, a small BBQ grill, and firewood. Once the gear was out of the Forester, I unrolled our blankets and plumped up some pillows so we would be able to go to bed with zero effort later in the evening. (Sleeping bags would have been more appropriate, but hey, I wasn’t ready for all that).

The portable speaker was switched on and music pulsed through the night air as we got the fire raging.

The men began skewering marinated pieces of shrimp, steak, and vegetables to grill and we tossed foil-wrapped potatoes directly in the flames. Then we sat and sipped Nescafé, watching the crackling fire while the kebabs charred and filled the night air with their savoury aroma.

When we’d eaten our fill, we pulled our chairs closer to the crackling bonfire, and began skewering marshmallows on pointed sticks, holding them over the fire just long enough to brown, but not so long that they caught fire and blackened. After cleaning up our site a bit, we crawled into the warm cocoon we’d made in the back of our Forester, and let the night sounds of the wind rustling in the trees lull us to sleep.

The next day we got up with the sun and enjoyed a quiet breakfast of pastries and tea before breaking camp and heading across the road to check-in at the Jebel Shams Resort. After a much needed shower, we sat at the picnic table behind our cabins, enjoying the fresh, cool mountain breeze, and planning more adventures for the day.

Thursday
7pm
Do your pre-camping prep: Pack your clothes, hiking gear, and snacks. If you are staying at the Jebel Shams Resort, your job is finished. If you are going to camp in your Forester, then be sure to bring folding chairs and barbecue equipment, as well as pre-sliced and seasoned meat and veggies.

Friday
8am Have a quick breakfast and hit the road. Programme Jebel Shams Resort into your GPS and head towards Nizwa. Without stops, the drive will take about 3.5 hours, but enjoy the drive and make lots of stops at scenic overlooks, and detours to explore paths and wadis that look interesting.

12pm Stop along the way for a quick lunch at any roadside cafeteria.

2pm Arrive at Jebel Shams Resort. Check-in if you are staying at the resort, or continue down the road, turning left down the dirt path to find a campsite.

3:30pm Grab your backpack, water, snacks, sunscreen, and cellphones, and go back to the “main road” (it is unpaved). Three kilometres down, the road dead-ends at a parking lot where you will find the W6 trail head.

4pm Take photos at the beautiful cliff edge and on the way back through abandoned villages, stop at one of the shaded picnic benches to have a snack.

6pm Head back to the resort for dinner or to your camp to start the fire for your barbecue.

9pm Spend the evening around the campfire, making s’mores, listening to music, and trading stories.

Saturday
7am Wake up early and have breakfast, then have a leisurely coffee while enjoying the view and taking in the utter silence.

9am There’s plenty of time for another hike or for some off-road exploring before heading back to the city.

12:00pm Pack-up and start your journey home. There are little coffee shops and cafeterias waiting at the bottom of the mountain for a quick road snack or lunch. The drive back will take 3.5 to 4-hours.

4:30pm Arrive home, unload your gear, and start planning next weekend’s outdoor adventure.

READY-TO-ROLL CAMPING RIDE
Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium
The Basics:
• Engine: Boxer 4 cylinder, horizontally opposed, multi-point sequential fuel injection, 16-valve
• Capacity: 2,498
• Output: 171/5,800 ps/rpm
• Torque: 24/4,000 kg/rpm
• Ground Clearance: 220
• Transmission: Auto, paddle shift, continuous variable with X-Mode
• Seating Capacity: 5 (with five-point safety belts for each seat)

The Highlights:
• Designed for uninhibited views from every seat
• 18” alloy wheels (and amazingly good tyres provided, even for the base model)
• Led headlamps with auto levelizer
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Power rear gate
• 7.0” vga display audio with usb / iPod jack/ bluetooth
• Power 8 way adjustable driver seat
• Tilt adjustable and telescopic steering wheel with audio control
• One-touch folding rear seats
• Cruise control • Rear vision camera
• Hill descent control and hill start assist
• Anti-lock brake system with ebd
• Brake assist and brake override system
• Paddle shift
• Optional panoramic sunroof
• X-Mode button, which activates 5 different forms of control: 1. Engine throttle 2. Transmission 3. All-wheel drive 4. Vehicle dynamics control system 5. Hill descent control

TOP OF THE HILL CABINS
Jebel Shams Resort
+968 9938 2639
jebelshamsresort.com
Rates include breakfast and dinner

Toll free no. : 80050004
Website : www.subaru-oman.com
Facebook : www.facebook.com/subaruomanofficial

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