A short hike from Jebel Jais, this trail will surprise you with a hidden oasis below right before the trail of Wadi of Giants. Short and sweet and with a different view, look no further!
Disclaimer: The Hidden Oasis can also be hiked from Wadi of Giants. It can be hiked up to Jebel Jais which is the reverse route of this post. However, this post is focused on the trail from Jebel Jais to Hidden Oasis only. Whichever way you want to do it, go ahead and enjoy the trail!
Hiking Trail Overview:
- Route: Jebel Jais -> Old Village -> Hidden Oasis -> Wadi of Giants (optional)
- Distance: a total of 9.8 km
- Moving Time: 3 hours and 50 minutes including rest stops
- Difficulty Level (own opinion): 1 out of 5
How to get there and how to get out?
As I always mention about hiking in UAE, jump-offs or trailheads are not usually accessible by public transportation. Hence I do not include an option of public transportation anymore. However, here are the coordinates of the parking location and the trailhead below for your reference.
Not to be confused with the other Hidden Oasis Trail, this is a backtrack trail towards the Hidden Oasis between Jebel Jais and Wadi of Giants. Jebel Jais is a mountain in the North-Western Hajar range of UAE and Oman. Over the years, its popularity skyrocketed due to its breathtaking views and the now accessible hiking trails, zipline and even sledding. The last viewing deck accessible by the public is where you can park for this trail which is about 2-hours drive away from Dubai.
The parking gets full on weekends and holidays so plan your hike early and accordingly.
Getting out of the trail options:
This particular post is a backtrack trail which means you will start and finish your hike at the same trailhead. So to get out of the trail is to hike back up to the trailhead in Jebel Jais. From there, drive back to Dubai as how you came earlier.
Another option is to continue hiking the whole trail up to Wadi of Giants. However, you should secure a car waiting for you at the end of the trail (location shared below) before you start hiking. I'm not 100% sure of the condition of the area at the moment, but there were times before when you could drive further up to the dam. Always check the condition of the area before you leave the car.
Hiking Trailhead:
The parking location and the viewing deck have a public washroom but there are no food trucks nearby. Make sure to bring enough snacks and water before your hike.
Walk further ahead (heading to the Zipline) for a few meters and you will eventually see the stairs going down which is your trailhead.
Hiking Trail Sections:
Divided into three main sections, the direction of this trail starts downhill and then uphill at the end. Let's go, shall we?
1. Jebel Jais' Slope & Old Village
As you start your hike down, you will follow the easy trail along the slope of Jebel Jais. There were a few boulders along the way but not really part of the trail. You will also come across the zipline sections but they are located on a higher ground.
The trail is easy and mostly flat but exposed to the sun. You will also be rewarded with an eye-level view of the zigzag road of Jebel Jais from another angle as you walk further ahead.
The trail will finally veer to the left side of the mountain and once you follow the trail, the view of the Old Village will be sighted right away. What was once a donkey trail is now an established trail after a particular event. It's now wider, yet remains a little sandy and with no shade at all.
The old village is now just a stone's throw away so continue walking down.
2. Stairs (lots of them!)
At the village, there are multiple layers of plateau. There were newly-built houses during my last visit (December 2023) and a cemetery on the upper parts.
We usually take the lower area where there were enclosed areas with water gallons. Walk further to the last house at the end of the plateau and the edge after is the top of the stairs to go down the hidden oasis.
As you go down the stairs, there are new railings built for support although the texture is a little meh. Some parts don't have railings but don't worry as they are not narrow anyway. There were no technical sections here and you just have to walk. The use of trekking poles is helpful in this part though.
A few more meters down, the hidden oasis will be peeking right away. Be careful going down and follow the stairs down to the hidden oasis.
3. Hidden Oasis of Wadi of Giants
Depending on the season, the oasis could be a hit or miss. I've been here multiple times and of course, there were times when it wasn't as green as you'd expect. It's just nature.
There were footpaths to follow to reach the trees where you could take rests. Beware of the goats (lots of them) as they will start circling around you once you take your snacks out.
On the left side (facing the wall from the trees), are enclosed areas on your left. If you wish to continue walking to the Wadi of Giants trail, the trail is on that side. It's been years since I took the Wadi of Giants trail, I will write about that when I get a recent hike.
In the meantime, to go back is just to go up the stairs again and follow the same trail to Jebel Jais.
Personal Thoughts:
As I always say, we all have different adventure appetite or what I call ‘#hikeppetite’ to begin with. So, a good trail for me might not be a good trail for you and vice versa. And that’s completely okay, we don’t need to agree with everyone all the time. Anyhow, here’s what I think about the Hidden Oasis Trail from Jebel Jais:
Pros:
- The trail is easy and child-friendly which is similar to Wadi Shawka Loop Trail. There are no technical sections along the trail and the trail is visible. The only confusion could be after the village leading to the stairs downwards.
- It is a short trail that you can do in a couple of hours only. The trail can be done up to the old village only and you can go back if you feel like it. Or you can go further up to the Hidden Oasis (which is the highlight for me) and hike back.
- Getting to the jump-off or the trailhead is easy too.
Cons:
- If you continue to finish the whole trail which ends at the off-road section of Wadi of Giants, going back to the trailhead in Jebel Jais' viewing deck is challenging if you only have one vehicle.
- If you're looking for a challenging trail to test your capabilities, this is NOT the trail for you. You may want to check out the challenging trails that I have: Stairway to Heaven - Wadi Litibah Loop Trail and the Wadi Naqab Loop Trail instead.
Overall, the trail is easy and refreshing. We all have days were we just want an easy hike, enjoy the view, and just walk aimlessly (somehow) alone or with friends. If that's your mood right now and looking for a perfect trail for that kind of mood, THIS IS IT!
Whatever decision you make, always remember to prepare beforehand, stay safe, and last but not least, enjoy the outdoors! #happyhiking!
With lots of love,
PINAYHAKAWATI 💗
AND AS A GENTLE OUTDOOR ETHICS REMINDER:
LEAVE NO TRACE!
