Jebel Qihwi Twin Peaks Hike. Musandam, Oman.

Jebel Qihwi, nestled in the breathtaking Musandam region of Oman, stands as a testament to the mesmerizing natural beauty that graces the Arabian Peninsula. This majestic mountain, with its rugged peaks and winding trails, offers a captivating panorama of the surrounding landscapes.

Located in the northernmost part of Oman, Musandam is renowned for its fjord-like inlets and dramatic cliffs, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Jebel Qihwi, with its towering heights, provides an ideal vantage point to soak in the awe-inspiring views of the turquoise waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the craggy coastline.

In 2024, I hiked this majestic mountain of Qihwi at 1790 meters amsl under the guidance of Britisher Mr. John Young who has summitted this mountain about 30 times.
This year in 2025, I hiked this mountain again with friends.

I have classified this hike as Difficult for a very valid reason.

Its a moderate hike with no tricky areas till the Qihwi summit plateau at 1700 meters amsl.

From here the ascent section to the twin summits is more of bare hand climbing, serious scrambling, crawling through narrow gaps and chimney which also requires the hiker to be very determined to balance himself well and push himself up within limitations.

An experienced hiker with above mentioned skills can complete this climb with good preparations.

Please do not take this advisory lightly.

To access this mountain, you need to drive via Dibba UAE and enter Daba Musandam Oman via the border gate.
Then you need to drive the offroading track (good quality track) for about 30 Kms. This offroading drive is separately recorded as below.
https://www.wikiloc.com/offroading-trails/dibba-uae-to-jebel-qihwi-musandam-oman-offroading-reverse-128097245

There is not much of parking spaces available at the start of the hike.
You can choose to hike a long trail from Khasab road T junction making it 18 Kms long or you could drive up as we did and make it a short hike.

In any case, the summit access challenges remain to be conquered
You really need some bare hand climbing skills and manouvering tactics..

Parking Location:

25.750345, 56.212972

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UE2pLS8hRbbc44Yc9

Grade: Moderate / Difficult

Base Village: Daba

Range: Qihwi

Download:

GPX

File1

File2

jebel qihwi oman musandam rainbow hiker patrick

Jebel Qihwi Summit

With John Young at the summit in 2024

Vertical crevasse climb section

Vertical crevasse climb section

Jebel Tafif in the background

Summit

Summit route

Trail.

4 responses to “Jebel Qihwi Twin Peaks Hike. Musandam, Oman.”

Happy Hiker – Ganesh Kumbhar

April 10, 2025

What an amazing hike! We’re so grateful to Vijay Patrick for putting it all together. Jabel Qihwi is a special place with its own kind of beauty, and the climb through the mountain crack is something else. Driving off-road around it was like being inside a beautiful picture book. Getting to the very top means squeezing through a crack in the rocks, and it can be a little tough. If you’ve got long legs and stretchy hiking pants, it might be a bit easier to step through. The views from both summits were so impressive, and we had such a good time. (Tip: Wear stretchy hiking pants!)

Reply
Praveen Prakashan

March 7, 2025

Jebel Qihwi, one of the highest mountains in Musandam-Oman. Driving through the rough road between the hills from UAE to Musandam was a pleasant and fascinating experience. Although the hike was brief, some climbing ability was needed to reach the summit of the twin submits. The experience of climbing along the tight trail was challenging and unique. Overall, the view from the summit was breathtaking, offering an extensive view of the Musandam.

I’m thankful Patric Bro. For all your hard work and coordination in making it happen.

Reply
Anonymous

March 6, 2025

Jabel Qihwi has its own unique charm and pull. The off-road drive through the surrounding landscape was incredibly scenic. It’s a bit tough to get to the top through the crack in the rock but if you have long legs, it’s a bit more easier. Once you conquer the first rock and make it past the second, the view from the top is truly rewarding—nothing short of spectacular.
The decent was straight to the road, but once cap take the same way back for an easier exit.

Reply
Vikram Kamath

March 3, 2025

We did this trail after completing the smugglers route the previous day. I felt that Qihwi has a unique attraction and calling. The offroad and the surrounding landscape was very pleasing. Abhijeet was kind to take us through the rough terrain in his Raptor, and we had to hike till the base of the mountain. The elevation during the accent was good and manageable. One at the base of the rock, that’s when the real journey starts. Without experienced people around you, this can be very challenging and demanding, as climbing the rocks over a slippery surface can turn out to be a unique art that you will discover. However, once you are through with the first rock, followed by the climb at the second rock, the view from the top is very beautiful. If you are into meditation, this rock could be an ideal spot for internal focus and self-reflection (considering the challenging climb this rock has to offer).

The way back to the start point was very challenging especially if you wear shorts. The rocks are loose, and the path was filled with dry plants with thorns. I had many cuts on my legs due to tough terrain. Its better if you hike with long hiking pants if you are planning for this trail.

Reply

Distance:	5 kms
Difficulty:	Moderate
Elevation gain:	300 m
Elevation loss:	300 m
Max elevation:	1780 m
Min elevation:	1500 m
Trail type:	Loop
Moving time:	1 hour 50 minutes

Jebel Qihwi Twin Peaks Hike. Musandam, Oman.

Jebel Qihwi Twin Peaks Hike. Musandam, Oman.

4 responses to “Jebel Qihwi Twin Peaks Hike. Musandam, Oman.”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply