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Tourism: Only villagers live up in Wakan and we doubt there are any guesthouses/hostels in the tiny village! Best to go there on a day trip while also exploring Nakhal/Al Rustaq area!
*A view of Wakan village
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | APRIL 16, 2022
It is surprising but true. It is one of the wonders of the world. There exists a village where residents fast for only three hours in the month of Ramadan, yet residents are Muslims.
Wakan is a village whose residents are mostly Muslims. It is a small mountainous village located in the Sultanate of Oman. It is located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level where the sun rises at 11.00 am and sets at 2.30 pm.
Wakan is located 2,000 meters above sea level and in the Western Hajar Mountains is Wakan village (قرية وكان), a small mountain village with beautiful terraced gardens overlooking the surrounding mountains above and Wadi Mistal below. Wakan village is officially part of Wilayat Nakhal in the South Batinah Governorate, although it is located right on the border with Al Dakhiliyah Governorate through the Al Hajar mountain range.
As you enter Wakan village
A viewing platform is the first sight that greets you as soon as you enter the village. It offers spectacular views of Wadi Mistal (وادي مستل) and the surrounding mountains. There is also a visitors information centre building which is still not opened. From there you can be exploring this beautiful village on foot. There are a couple of hiking tracks that start at the village, and they are marked by the familiar yellow, green and red flags that mark most hiking tracks in Oman.
The track that goes through the village is the easiest and most accessible, compromising 700 steps across the terraced gardens and along a falaj stream ending at the watchtower at the top of the village. The walk takes less than 30 minutes in one direction with several observation points and rests stops.
There is also a track (trail number W24a/W25) that connects Wakan village to Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate as well as the village of Hadash (حدش) – that is a hike that will take several hours and you can read about it on the Wakan-Hadsh Hike post.
*Wakan village has its fair share of riches too
The inhabitants of Wakan rely on farming and agriculture for their livelihood and the first thing you will notice once you reach Wakan is the beautiful terraced gardens that are used to cultivate pomegranates, apricots, grapes and other produce. Depending on the season, you may have the experience of seeing beautiful apricot flowers in full bloom and the butterflies feeding on them. However, please should remember not to pick any fruits and vegetables as the villagers depend on them for their livelihood. Please also note that you should stick with the designated path when exploring the village and its surroundings, as the tracks pass through villagers’ homes and their privacy should be respected.
We really loved Wakan and thought it is a wonderful place to visit, that makes you wonder for a second if you were still in Oman! The weather is great, and can probably get quite cold (relatively speaking of course) during winters. We have been several times since our first visit (which you may guess with the photos showing the village at different seasons) and will keep going back. What about you – have you visited Wakan Village? What did you think of it?
Tourism: Only villagers live up in Wakan and we doubt there are any guesthouses/hostels in the tiny village! Best to go there on a day trip while also exploring Nakhal/Al Rustaq area!
Wakan is about 150 km from Muscat and can be reached from Nakhal by taking the turn to Wadi Mistal on the Nakhal-Awabi road. The paved road continues for a few kilometres before turning to a graded road, although an extension of the paved road is almost complete and should be opened soon. The graded road leads up to Al Ghubrah Bowl, which also contains signs of the various villages in the area. From here Wakan village can be seen high up in the mountains. The path to Wakan is on a narrow and steep mountainous road and should only be attempted in a 4WD car.
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