Sitting below Oman’s highest mountain of Jebel Shams, the old village of Misfat al Abriyyin is the sultanate’s rural star. Multi-story mud houses loom over shaded lanes, while tiny pathways descend through palm groves, natural springs, and a UNESCO-listed web of 1,500-year-old falaj irrigation channels. For good reason, the top things to do in Misfat (often simply called Misfah) center on absorbing its history and beauty. Take in its rough-and-ready dwellings, stroll falaj-watered fruit orchards, and expand your horizons on visits to forts, towns, and Wadi Ghul, Oman’s epic Grand Canyon.
Exploring Misfat al Abriyyin in Oman’s scorching summer (May-September) is possible, but can be uncomfortable. Visiting during peak season (November-April) is a more pleasant prospect; December temps settle at a comfortable 71°F (22°C) average. That said, Misfat gets busy during winter weekends, so come early on weekdays for a quieter and calmer experience. During Ramadan, a few places here (including the information center and some cafés) may close.
The only way around the old part of Misfat al Abriyyin is on foot: its cramped, stepped passageways are inaccessible to cars, 4WDs, cabs, and buses. If driving, follow the zig-zagging road from nearby Al-Hamra village, bear left before reaching newer Misfat, and park in the road or parking lot, which is a 5-minute walk from the old village. Then, follow the signposted trails or consult the maps at the visitor center.
Misfat’s mud houses may appear rundown (some are in ruins) but many are inhabited and have stood for around 300 years. The original builders used the mountain’s rock slabs as their foundations before constructing the multi-floor dwellings using stones, sticks, and grass fixed with mud and adobe plaster. The results are higgledy-piggledy dwellings that blend perfectly with each other and look as if they’ve grown from the mountain itself.