Highest Point of UAE (Galilah - Stairways 2 Heaven - Top Village - J.J True Summit - HH. Palace - Ghaf Summit - Jebel Jais)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 13.38 mi
- Elevation gain
- 7,411 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 4,698 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,318 ft
- TrailRank
-
76
4.3
- Min elevation
- 708 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 5 hours 41 minutes
- Time
- 21 hours 19 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3774
- Uploaded
- December 3, 2020
- Recorded
- December 2020
near Ra’s al Waḩḩ, Musandam (Sultanate of Oman)
Viewed 4690 times, downloaded 88 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
We did this very special hike on the 49th National Day of UAE. We wanted to reach the Top point of UAE where the altitude is above 1900m+.
17 hikers, 21km carrying 5 litres of water, sleeping bag, mat, jacket, food and snacks etc. .
Started afternoon from Galilah - Stairways to heaven trail then took the right bank which leads to the Ras Al Ghash village (people used to call it as woh village, but woh village is actually at the summit of Galilah trail). By starting afternoon, we could avoid the sunlight as we were walking almost the time through the shades. We reached the village just after the sunset. That was our camping spot for the night.
Early morning we started to walk aiming the Highest peak. There is no proper trail from the village to this peak. This was one of the hardest part as we had to pass through multiple mountains and wadis where there are no proper trails.
Finally we reached the Peak by the Sunrise. Standing at 1930m elevation. You can see a lot of UAE-OMAN border stones over there. There is one more peak next to it which is actually a part of Oman and we did go there. From there you can see the khasab area sea side as well.
Coming back was through the Sheikh's palace area close to the fencing. This way leads to the top of Jebel Jais. From there we took the Ghaf trail a bit and then the rest is walking through the road to one of the view point in Jebel Jais.
You can alter the trail, while coming back you have multiple options:
1- You can come through the same way (back to village- stairways RB - galilah ) - will be a loop trail
2- You can come to the to of Jais through palace area and then take the Jebel Jais - Galilah trail - will be a loop trail
3- You can come to the to of Jais and take Ghaf trail fully and then reach the observation deck in Jebel Jais - will be one way trail
4- You can take Ghaf summit partially and then reach the observation deck in jebel jais via waking through the road - will be one way trail
The trail is doable with 10-12 hours for moderate hikers without camping (single day) but we wanted to camp and do the summit at the morning and that is why we took a longer time.
Make sure to have enough water, hiking poles, jackets etc.
Please reach out for any further info / clarifications
17 hikers, 21km carrying 5 litres of water, sleeping bag, mat, jacket, food and snacks etc. .
Started afternoon from Galilah - Stairways to heaven trail then took the right bank which leads to the Ras Al Ghash village (people used to call it as woh village, but woh village is actually at the summit of Galilah trail). By starting afternoon, we could avoid the sunlight as we were walking almost the time through the shades. We reached the village just after the sunset. That was our camping spot for the night.
Early morning we started to walk aiming the Highest peak. There is no proper trail from the village to this peak. This was one of the hardest part as we had to pass through multiple mountains and wadis where there are no proper trails.
Finally we reached the Peak by the Sunrise. Standing at 1930m elevation. You can see a lot of UAE-OMAN border stones over there. There is one more peak next to it which is actually a part of Oman and we did go there. From there you can see the khasab area sea side as well.
Coming back was through the Sheikh's palace area close to the fencing. This way leads to the top of Jebel Jais. From there we took the Ghaf trail a bit and then the rest is walking through the road to one of the view point in Jebel Jais.
You can alter the trail, while coming back you have multiple options:
1- You can come through the same way (back to village- stairways RB - galilah ) - will be a loop trail
2- You can come to the to of Jais through palace area and then take the Jebel Jais - Galilah trail - will be a loop trail
3- You can come to the to of Jais and take Ghaf trail fully and then reach the observation deck in Jebel Jais - will be one way trail
4- You can take Ghaf summit partially and then reach the observation deck in jebel jais via waking through the road - will be one way trail
The trail is doable with 10-12 hours for moderate hikers without camping (single day) but we wanted to camp and do the summit at the morning and that is why we took a longer time.
Make sure to have enough water, hiking poles, jackets etc.
Please reach out for any further info / clarifications
Waypoints
Photo
1,338 ft
Comments (10)
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That looks like an awesome hike. Where did you guys camp? Was it freeing already? Would it be possible to hike up to the highest point at 1900 meters (as per your map) and then return the same way instead of continuing to jebel jais?
Hi Ausra,
Indeed it's an awesome hike. We did camp on the top of woh village. It was 11 degree over there.. We were carrying everything for the camping.. From village to the highest peak there is no proper trail.. just be careful.. You can reach the highest point 1900m in UAE side and also there is another peak (2000m) which is in Oman next the Oman wether station. From there you can see the khasab sea area as well..
If you want you can return the same way or you can return after the palace to Ghalilah dam through Galilah trail..
We parked some cars in Jebel Jais as we had to come back ASAP.
I'm aiming for another one which is coming back through Galilah dam.. 👍
Hey Musahin,
what is Ghalilah trail exactly? The one that is called Ghalilah to Jabel Jais, on the other side?
I did that one 2 weeks ago and coming down was a pain for my knees.. But I guess either way it will be as elevation gain is quite a bit.
Do you know if going back the same way would be tricky, as you said there is no proper trail from Woh village so hghest point?
Yes what I meant was the Galilah to Jais trail..
Of course in all these trails coming back will be difficult for the knees as these are all having high elevation..
You can come also through the same way but have to just be careful as there is no trail.. I suggest you may decide it once you reach on top... Cz by then you know how the way is and also you know the Jais Ghalilah trail. So you can decide which one to chose... For me I haven't done Jais to Galilah... And I am looking to try it 👍
Thank you for your tips. I was wondering if that tricky part from Woh village to the peak is also a part of the stairway to heaven loop trail.. I read about it before that there is a lot of scree and its quite dangerous when climbing down. But yes best to decide once there. Even better, skip the going down part as you did :)
Yes Jebel Jais Ghalilah trail is like a leg workout, easy trail to follow (although we still managed to get lost at one point, got carried away and followed wrong green arrow markings, that leads to some village). Going down that trail, although nothing hard, no big boulders, still killed one of my knee. I started to have sharp pain in the back of my knee, as if my leg was being twisted to opposite directions...not sure how to explain this:)) so had to slow down a lot, and it wasn't pleasant at all. Probably will have to get either hiking poles or knee support of some sort.
Oh.. Better to have poles always when you go for such high altitude hikes.. Take care next time.. 👍
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Hi Muhaissin,
We 2 friends hiked this trail and then continued to Ghaf Trail towards Ghalilah Dam Descent and finally towards our cars parked at STK Right start point.
23 Kms hike, 2300 meters elevation gain in 9 hours.
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/wadi-litibah-sth-right-jebel-jais-true-summit-ghaf-summit-ghalilah-dam-loop-63999704
Hi Patrick..
Glad to hear that you did it..
I m gonna do the same way you did and try to finish in less than 10 hours..
Muhaissin,
With your Youth, Fitness and Endurance, I am sure you will complete it in less than 7.5 hours Inshallah.
Hi Ausra,
My Hiker friend Imran agreed to join me.
We started from Wadi Ghalilah in RAK at 6.30 am.
Hiked up on STH Right Bank till the Ras al Ghash village in 3 hours, continued till True Summit of Jais at 1932 Meters Elevation in 1.5 hours ( Total 4.5 hours to the Summit )
Turned Right towards HH Sheikh Qassimi palace, further towards the Ghaf Summit Trail.
Then descended to wards the Ghalilah Dam via the Ghalilah Trail.
Reached down to the Dam and walked flat Wadi to our cars parked at Wadi Litibah ( STH Strat point )
Total 23 Kms distance, covered in 9 hours ( including breaks ) and 46,000 Steps during the Trail.
Total Elevation gain 2,300 meters.
I also met the Owner of the STH top villageof Ras al Ghash Mr. Ali Salem Shehhi at the Wadi, he was courteous enough to have a short conversation with us and pose for a picture.