Balad Sayt village: A hub for tourism, adventure
The village captivates international thrill-seekers due to its location along Wadi Bani Auf. It also serves as a gateway to an ancient mountain pathway officially recognised among Oman's mountain trails, linking Balad Sayt to the Wilayat of Al Hamra.
Dr Al Mutasim bin Nasser al Hilali, Director of Heritage and Tourism in Al Batinah South, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the village boasts five tourist facilities with 42 rooms, attracting numerous daily visitors. Its natural and heritage diversity, coupled with unique experiences, makes it particularly popular in winter (September to April) when temperatures drop and tourism peaks. Summer tourism (May to August) also thrives due to the village's moderate climate.
Balad Sayt lies along an active tourist route promoted by travel companies for its historical landmarks, natural springs and traditional markets. These attractions complement the adventure offerings of Wadi Bani Auf and extend towards Al Hamra in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
The canyon, a dramatic rock fissure in Wadi Bani Auf, earns its name from its serpentine twists. Adventurers can tackle three rappelling points — the highest at 23 metres — and navigate 13 natural water pools across a 3-kilometre stretch. A shorter trail, "Baseer Al Zama," features a 4-metre rappel and opportunities for swimming and cliff-jumping amid striking rock formations.
Balad Sayt's origins are deeply rooted in history, with landmarks like the fortified "Al Manie Tower," the ancient "Al Madiq Mosque," and the 400-year-old "Great Falaj" irrigation system, now a Unesco-listed architectural heritage site. The village also preserves intangible heritage, including traditional crafts like basket-weaving, rope-making and palm-frond handicrafts.
Funded by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and Al Zubair Institution, the "Agri-Ecotourism in Aflaj Systems" project aims to revitalise rural areas. As Oman's first such initiative, it seeks to bolster economic sustainability and local community development. - ONA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Wakan village attracts over 27,000 visitors
NAKHAL: Wakan Village in the Wilayat of Nakhal, Al Batinah South Governorate, welcomed 27,428 visitors from January to July 2025, compared to 24,093 visitors during the same period in 2024, according to official statistics. Dr Al Mutasim bin Nasser al Hilali, Director of Heritage and Tourism in Al Batinah South Governorate, said that the village's diverse tourist attractions have established it as a year-round sustainable destination. He noted that summer tourism peaks due to the village's mild climate and seasonal fruit harvests, which begin with apricots in June, followed by peaches, then figs and pomegranates in July, and three varieties of local grapes (Al Maqdmani, Al Malasi and sour grapes) in August. The recent opening of "View Wakan" cafe, the village's third cafe, has further boosted visitor numbers, especially on weekends and official holidays. The village offers unique experiences such as mountain stays at its guesthouse and hiking along ancient agricultural and mountain trails, which have become popular among international adventurers. Wakan also features several historical landmarks, including an ancient mosque, old neighbourhoods and agricultural terraces dating back hundreds of years. - ONA
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
India PM likely to meet Trump in US next month
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet President Donald Trump during a visit to the United States next month to attend the UN General Assembly meeting, the Indian Express newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing sources. India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An Indian official familiar with the matter said a decision has not yet been taken, and that countries usually reserve slots for the General Debate at the assembly, which is why India's "head of government" features in a provisional list of speakers on September 26. "The list will go through revisions," the official said, adding that it had not yet been decided if Modi would be going to the assembly. The General Assembly kicks off on September 9, but the debate, the annual meeting of heads of state and government, will be held from September 23-29. Although the reason for the potential visit will be to attend the UN meeting in New York, a key objective will be to hold talks with Trump and iron out trade and tariff issues that have led to some souring of ties between the two countries, the newspaper reported. News of a possible Modi trip to the U.S. comes days after Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods to penalise New Delhi for continuing to buy Russian oil. The penalty took the total levy on Indian goods exported to the U.S. to 50%, among the highest levied on any U.S. trading partner. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India's vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. On Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said several large trade agreements were still waiting to be completed, including with Switzerland and India, but New Delhi had been "a bit recalcitrant" in talks with Washington. Bessent told Fox Business Network's "Kudlow" he hoped the Trump administration could wrap up its trade negotiations by the end of October. "That's aspirational, but I think we are in a good position," he said, adding "I think we can be, we will have agreed on substantial terms with all the substantial countries."
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Wakan Village in South Al Batinah attracts over 27,000 visitors
Nakhal: Wakan Village in Wadi Mistal, the Wilayat of Nakhal in South Al Batinah Governorate, welcomed 27,428 visitors from January to July 2025, compared to 24,093 visitors during the same period in 2024, according to official statistics. Dr. Al-Mu'tasim Nasser Al-Hilali, Director of Heritage and Tourism in South Al Batinah Governorate, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the village's diverse tourist attractions have established it as a year-round sustainable destination. He noted that summer tourism peaks due to the village's mild climate and seasonal fruit harvests, which begin with apricots in June, followed by peaches, then figs and pomegranates in July, and three varieties of local grapes (Al-Maqdmani, Al-Malasi, and sour grapes) in August. The recent opening of "View Wakan" café, the village's third cafe, has further boosted visitor numbers, especially on weekends and official holidays. The village offers unique experiences such as mountain stays at its guesthouse and hiking along ancient agricultural and mountain trails, which have become popular among international adventurers. Wakan also features several historical landmarks, including an ancient mosque, old neighborhoods, and agricultural terraces dating back hundreds of years.
