FULL DAY SALALAH EAST

Taqah-Khor Rori (Sumhuram)-Wadi darbat-Jabal Samhan-Baobab Tree-Mirbat

Taqah Castle, 33 KM east of Salalah, Oman, Taqah Castle was the residence of Sheikh Ali bin Taman Al Ma’shani, who was the Grandfather of the previous Sultan, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, this castle was built in the early 1900s, so not so old compared to other castles in the north of Oman, the castle is now a museum, and it is really interesting to visit, there are great exhibits.

Next to the castle cemetery of Mazoon Al Mashani, the mother of the previous Sultan, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said is buried there under identical marble gravestones, and uncles and grandfathers of the Sultans are buried there also.

From there we continue our journey to Khor Rori reports that the town of Sumhuram was founded on royal initiative and settled by Hadhrami emigrants, the Dhofar region was the main source of frankincense in the ancient period, and it seems likely that the foundation of the settlement by the Hadhramaut was in part motivated by the wish to control the production of this valuable commodity.

The excavations have uncovered the ground plan of the settlement and have attested maritime contacts with the Ḥaḑramite homeland, India, and the Mediterranean, it was inscribed in 2000, along with other sites along the incense route in Oman, as part of the World Heritage site “Land of Frankincense”.

From there we continue our journey to Wadi Darbat offering majestic views of the lakes, mountains, caves, wildlife, and waterfalls, Wadi Darbat is surely a paradise for nature lovers and history enthusiasts, watching the crystal clear water cascading down the 100-meter waterfall surrounded by lush greenery is surely a delight. Close to the waterfall are many natural cave chambers with stalagmites and old stalactites.

Jebel Samhan is one of the major mountain ranges in the administrative district of Dhofar, whose highest peak reaches 2,100 meters. Jebel Samhan has many levels that are traversed by deep and narrow mountain passes, some of which are up to a thousand feet deep.

In the plain of Jebel Samhan different plant species such as acacia and frankincense trees grow, the narrow mountain passes are poor in water, but there are numerous streams that serve as an important source of water for most of the animals living here, (Classified as an endangered species) In addition to the Arabian leopards are many other mammals native to these mountains, including the Arabian Gazelle, the fox, and the Nubian goat.

Leopards are usually considered the best adapted to the environment of animals, the Arabian leopard is usually smaller and lighter than its African relatives, for a long time lived the Arabian Leopard in the northern mountain range of the Arabian Peninsula.

Oman is a rich country in history, culture, and nature, get amazed by the stunning nature and modern architecture.

Baobab magnificent giants, their trunks sometimes ringed with snails, stand head and shoulders over the more typical Dhofari vegetation and are the only such trees on the Arabian Peninsula.

From there continue your journey to Mirbat coastal town in the Dhofar governorate, Mirbat was involved in the export of frankincense in ancient times, to places as far as China, in ancient times Mirbat was the capital of Dhofar, with an income derived from the frankincense trade and from breeding Arabian horses, visit the port of Mirbat and walk along with old houses of Mirbat.