By Yeru Ebuen
Instagram: yru_here
Numerous adjectives had been used to describe Balad Sayt — fairytale-like, mystical, picturesque and many more — all of these words will give no justice to how magnificent this place truly is.
Located in the Wilayat of Rustaq, deep into the heart of its rugged mountains, accessible only with four-wheel drives and by battling rough roads, it’s a dreamy place that perfectly combines the past and present into an amalgam of green gardens, date palm forest, traditional village and very few modern facilities like school and administrative offices.
It’s easy to see where the old ends and the new begins but all of the differences make a fascinating view in the middle of nowhere.
The official Oman Tourism website, experienceoman.om said that it’s ‘widely regarded as one of the most beautiful mountain villages in the Sultanate” and finally seeing it for myself, I cannot agree more.
In the time of Covid-19, Balad Sayt has become a sanctuary for its inhabitants and with agriculture as its primary source of livelihood, the villagers here have learned how to live sustainably getting the majority of their food supply from the bounty of their lands.
There are two ways to reach Balad Sayt. Both ways, as described by other visitors, are a little bit tricky. We choose the Jabal Hatt Road through Al Hamra passing through Shorfet Al Alamain. Running for about 15 kilometres, the road was paved but eventually became rougher a few kilometres after the Shorfet guest house.
From here, the view is already as picturesque as one will imagine. These mountains are still part of the long stretch of the Al Hajar range.
There are lots of interesting features along the way. It is through this road that one can access both the Snake Canyon and the little Snake Canyon trails. A few villages are scattered along the way with Balad Sayt seemingly at the very far, remote end. A popular football field, once used in a commercial, can also be found here gathering dust and seldom used by the locals.
Balad Sayt is home to barely a thousand inhabitants with many of them coming from the same family. Other than the regular harvest of dates, they also produce spices and other root crops including onions and garlic.
Exploring the old village, a mosque welcomes you at the entrance. Houses are built in typical traditional Omani fashion and while there is no more trace of fortifications and walls, the houses are built next to each other mixing perfectly with one side of the mountain.
At the adjacent side of the old villages are newer buildings including a school. Possibly a way to engage tourist, a building is also being constructed to serve as a bed and breakfast or inn.
The weather in Balad Sayt stays relatively cooler. Even in the middle of summer, temperatures at noon can still be at a good 28 to 30 degrees.
The inhabitants of Balad Sayt are also very welcoming to guests offering help when needed. Some of the younger generations also have started their own social media accounts and using their platforms to showcase what the place can offer.
For those travelling to Balad Sayt, it is also a great starting point for amazing hikes. The village tour alone will already take nearly two to three hours of your time but if you wanted more, there are treks that go into the nearby mountain that will allow you to have a bird’s eye view of the village. For this hike, you may need to coordinate with the locals to show you the way.
From Balad Sayt, the Snake Canyon and its junior version (because apparently, it’s smaller and easier to navigate) can also be great alternatives for those looking for a more diverse hiking adventure.
Thankfully, because of its remote location, Balad Sayt remained relatively safe from Covid-19. For this reason, if you are planning to visit, it’s always better to keep your mask on when interacting with the locals. Or better yet, enjoy the sceneries and the hiking trails without interrupting the daily grind of the inhabitants. It is a village that you do need to visit when in Oman and be amazed at how small farming communities thrive and how the Omanis work with their environment to enjoy a life of relative comfort in the middle of the mountains.
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