04/06/2023
The village of Bilad Sayt, located in the bottom of a valley but already almost 1000 mts high, is in the Wilaya (province) of Ar Rustaq, but in reality it is hours of ride by 4WD from it; to reach it from Ar Rustaq you have to cross the entire Wadi Bani Awf, along an uncomfortable dirt road; which then continues crossing the ridge of the Hajar mountains and descending into the Nizwa plain. Being reachable only through difficult roads, Bilad Sayt is one of the most secluded traditional villages in Oman, but perhaps also the most beautiful (at least, as it has been defined by some travellers). In fact, arriving at the village, it presents itself in a scenic way, perched on a spur of the mountain, which the village completely covers with its earthen houses; and at the same time at the foot of the village, a thick palm grove can be seen on one side, and well-ordered herbaceous crops on the other, divided into square-shaped plots, green in every season: both irrigated by water coming from the aflaj, the typical Omani water pipes now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is worth leaving the cars and visiting both the village and the orchards. As happens in these cases, there are no single monuments to admire, but the whole village and fields, with their strong personality. Starting from the village, there are signposted itineraries for the surrounding overhanging valleys, suitable ( Snake Canyon )(judging by the walking times) only with guides
GOOGLE MAPS 📍 Snake Canyon Local Guide