Highest Point in UAE: Galilah Dam-Wadi Lithbah-STH RB- Village-Jebel Jais True Summit (1930m)-Ghaf Summit-Galilah Trail
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 15.84 mi
- Elevation gain
- 8,406 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 8,406 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,204 ft
- TrailRank
-
81
4.7
- Min elevation
- 464 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 6 hours 57 minutes
- Time
- 9 hours 58 minutes
- Coordinates
- 4544
- Uploaded
- February 5, 2021
- Recorded
- February 2021
near Ḩārat ‘Awālī, Raʼs al Khaymah (United Arab Emirates)
Viewed 5170 times, downloaded 126 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This is the second time i went to the Highest point in UAE - Oman border. First one was a one way trail which starts from Wadi Lithbah and ends at Jebel Jais observation deck :-https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/highest-point-of-uae-galilah-stairways-2-heaven-woh-village-oman-weather-station-hh-palace-ghaf-sum-61606901
This trail is a loop and we did finish in 10 hours (7 hours moving time). Started from Galilah Dam at 7.00AM, walked 2-3km though the gravel road to the starting point of Stairways to Heaven trail (Wadi Lithbah).. its like a warm up before you pick the elevation.. Then we took the Right bank route and reached the Ras Al Ghash village (people used to call it as woh village, but woh village is actually at the summit of Galilah trail) in about 3.5 hours. From the village, there is no proper trail to the summit point, this part is difficult to pass but still, no bouldering required.. We reached summit point around 12.30 PM... Due to some errors, the altitude in wikiloc shows 1892m where the real altitude at the top point is about 1930m (in my previous trail recorded as 1926m)
While coming back, we walked heading to HH Sheikh Qasimi palace, and then further towards the Ghaf Summit Trail.. After the Ghaf summit points, closer to the puro restaurant, we took link to Galilha trail.. Descending through Galilah trail is also bit tricky as most of the areas are with loose rocks.. Finally reached back to the dam car parking by 5.00 PM..
People with good fitness can attempt to do it in one day.. also doable with camping on top of village (be prepared with enough water / jackets / sleeping bag / foam mat etc. if camping)
Starting : Wadi Galilah Dam (25.98103817224828, 56.1455065067679) Sedan accessible
Duration : 10 hours with breaks for people who are fit
Difficulty : Difficult (because of the continuous elevation gain and the distance)
Highlight : Highest point of UAE, Rash Al Ghash village, Galilah Summit, Ghaf Summit
Note the waypoints and read their description. Please reach out for any further info / clarifications
This trail is a loop and we did finish in 10 hours (7 hours moving time). Started from Galilah Dam at 7.00AM, walked 2-3km though the gravel road to the starting point of Stairways to Heaven trail (Wadi Lithbah).. its like a warm up before you pick the elevation.. Then we took the Right bank route and reached the Ras Al Ghash village (people used to call it as woh village, but woh village is actually at the summit of Galilah trail) in about 3.5 hours. From the village, there is no proper trail to the summit point, this part is difficult to pass but still, no bouldering required.. We reached summit point around 12.30 PM... Due to some errors, the altitude in wikiloc shows 1892m where the real altitude at the top point is about 1930m (in my previous trail recorded as 1926m)
While coming back, we walked heading to HH Sheikh Qasimi palace, and then further towards the Ghaf Summit Trail.. After the Ghaf summit points, closer to the puro restaurant, we took link to Galilha trail.. Descending through Galilah trail is also bit tricky as most of the areas are with loose rocks.. Finally reached back to the dam car parking by 5.00 PM..
People with good fitness can attempt to do it in one day.. also doable with camping on top of village (be prepared with enough water / jackets / sleeping bag / foam mat etc. if camping)
Starting : Wadi Galilah Dam (25.98103817224828, 56.1455065067679) Sedan accessible
Duration : 10 hours with breaks for people who are fit
Difficulty : Difficult (because of the continuous elevation gain and the distance)
Highlight : Highest point of UAE, Rash Al Ghash village, Galilah Summit, Ghaf Summit
Note the waypoints and read their description. Please reach out for any further info / clarifications
Waypoints
Photo
493 ft
Tree
Lake
Intersection
Summit
Waypoint
Comments (21)
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Hi, Great Job. Highest point is on UAE side or Oman side? U had Oman visa? Since you map shows the highest point on Oman side
Hello Satheesh,
In this summit area, you will be passing though UAE, OMAN again UAE etc.. There are a number of border stones.. But in Wikiloc if you see the end point i reached is a part of Oman.. Thats why i mentioned in the description highest point in UAE - Oman border.. And probably thats the highest point in Oman that we can reach by hiking from UAE.. (Real peak of Oman is in Jebel Shams)..
However, you dont need to have VISA.. Its just like how you drive through Shees - Madha - Nahwa areas..
Wow this is a hike you would feel proud of once completed. Really good job, and you are super fast completing 25km in 10 hours. The descent part is a pain..
Thanks Ausra, indeed its a very special hike..
Last time, when i did it was a one way type and we took a day (with camping) to finish it.. At that time itself i had plan to make it a loop and to do it in 10 hours.. But yes it is really difficult especially descending through the slippery Galilah trail.. when you start the trail from the top of Jais its really boring, moving very slow and there are lot of newbie hikers also without poles and hiking shoes struggling in between.. so it was tough to pass..
I swear once i was nearby the dam about 2-3km (where the trail is flat) i was literally running to finish it in 10 hours... kinda trail run finish! haha :)
waw, well done, really impressive:) i did that ghalilah jebel jais route up and down, and I hated the down part, it wasn't exciting at all:)) in general climbing down is my least favorite part of the hikes.
Thanks Muhasin.
I am planning to do thr hike in 2 days (with overnight in tent). Would you recomend to do it the otherway round? Climb up and on way down via Woh Village?
Hi mdseeger01,
I assume you have plan to go up through galilah - jebel jais - shk.palace - true summit and come back though woh village - right bank.
Yes it is possible. Try to stay overnight at the village.
Thank you for the quick answer. As you walked the loop, which direction you think is better - woh village first or on the way down?
Both seems okay.. The Hardest part in the loops is from woh village to summit point where there is no trail.. but descending will be okay ... Also the area where Galilah trail closing to jebel Jais where the rocks are very slippery...so the descending was difficult for me..
So you can start from dam (afternoon) and do summit by sunset and then come back to woh village for overnight.. next day morning STH RB descending... It's fine..
Be prepared with enough water and stuffs.. keep your head lamps charged...
Hello,
Can someone tell me whether it's ok to hike solo along this trail?
HI Nishana,
NOT recommended to do this trail alone if you are doing it for the first time and of course the the weather is hot.
Are there any groups that you're aware of. I'm looking for a team to join with.
Send you some suggestions
I am adding all your trails to my "want to go" list, lol
@Mambet,
Enjoy and have safe hikes... When you have plans to do these hikes crossing border, please make sure to walk close to UAE and when you are in oman after summit, return to UAE ASAP
Did this today! super Nice and enjoyed. Great weather too. Thank you ❤️
Hi Vinita,
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it..
Now i believe it is much easier as you have well laid trail from Lithbah - Ras Al Ghash village - Galilah Summit (as a part of highlander)..
Only descending through galilah is a bit tricky now..
Keep hiking!
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Followed the trail today . Thanks
I have followed this trail View more
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the way up is good, but way down now in poor condition. anyway very nice track, most probably will repeat
Thanks mike51 for the review..
Yeah the descending part (Galilah Trail) is not properly maintained and mostly washed out..