WHAT IF YOU had an aweinspiring mountain range nearly entirely to yourself ? With some epic views thrown in and a few tender young bleating goats for a company. Not to mention, with no trace of milling tourist miles away and a landscape that changes colour in the day from chalky grey and greens to sandstone oranges and reds. A remote place that rewards you with abundant stargazing experience with stars that are unusually big and brighter than usual. You may even spot a clear sight of Milky Way if you are lucky. An enticing idea, isn’t it?
Welcome to the Grand Canyon of Arabia, located at Jebel Shams in Oman. It is one of the well-kept secrets, a premier attraction that offers eye-popping views of a rare geological formation that are stark, barren, bare and breathtakingly beautiful dark hills. Jebel shams "Mountain of the Sun" is 9872 ft high and extends hundreds of miles away in the Western Hajar Mountains. After driving 200km on impeccable roads from the capital city Muscat via Fanjah, Izki and Nizwa, our land cruiser driver takes a detour and enters the craggy and jagged mountains with inclining flat mud roads. Imposing landscapes in dark and grey hues start to unfold and dominate the views. In a rare display of defiance, I see a speck of green here and a shrub there growing on otherwise bone-dry rocky mountains.
Mostly thorny acacia is all that grows here. As we zig-zag the mud roads, I see slender native goats playfully gather to feast on these patches with great relish and fanfare and a few playfully chasing our vehicle with excitement till we sped and receded from the view.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The 2023 Bucket List
Before the world as we know it changes forever, here's a partial list of experiences to try in the year ahead
Do You Have The Time To Read Your Watch?
Audemars Piguet Starwheel Code 11.59 is the latest among watches with unusual layouts
THEY CAME THEY RODE, THEY CONQUERED
FOUR WOMEN BIKERS TRAVERSING THE UNTOUCHED TERRAIN OF EASTERN ARUNACHAL ON THEIR DUCATI MULTISTRADA BIKES. THE 'EXPLORE BEYOND' BIKING EXPEDITION WAS AN INITIATIVE OF ARUNACHAL TOURISM TO SHOWCASE THE STATE AS A SAFE DESTINATION FOR SOLO WOMEN TRAVELLERS. THE RIDE WAS FLAGGED OFF BY CM PEMA KHANDU FROM THE BANKS OF THE SIANG AT PASIGHAT AND WOUND UP AT THE ORANGE FESTIVAL OF ADVENTURE & MUSIC, DAMBUK, WHERE THE BIKERS LET THEIR HAIR DOWN AND PARTIED LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW. YUP, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, AND IN ARUNACHAL THEY CAN - SAFELY
ΤΗΕ RIGHT ΤΙΜΕ
AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY BECOME BURNING ISSUES, WATCH BRANDS TOO ARE DOING THEIR BIT TO SUPPORT CAUSES, BOTH THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL THE TIMEPIECES THEY ARE CREATING AND THE INITIATIVES THEY ARE UNDERTAKING
THE GOLDENPASS EXPRESS
A LUXURY SWISS WINTER ESCAPE ROUTE
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
WITH BOUTIQUE LODGES AND ΝΟ CROWDS, THE MORE EXCLUSIVE TEHLA ZONE OF SARISKA NATIONAL PARK IS EMERGING AS THE DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO SPYDER TOP-DOWN ADRENALINE MACHINE
A machine sculpted to perfection, the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder is a sensational car in every sense. It is fast, it's beautiful, and it is just special
CARS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2023
WITH THE devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the acute supply chain disruptions caused by it beginning to ease, the automotive industry is rapidly accelerating out of the deep crisis it found itself two years ago.
DATING A SINGLE MOM
IT’S A COOL Friday evening. She is sitting with a cup of hot chocolate and unwinding with her phone. Her dating app has 10 unread messages. She hopes that at least one match will lead to a conversation and a date that weekend.
YOUR SHIP HAS COME IN
Go-karting, the world’s first freefall dry slide on sea, musical shows, spa, artwork... this new ship has raised the bar on many levels!
