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Jebel Jais trek: three days and two nights camping in the Hajar Mountains

Jebel Jais is the highest mountain of the UAE, a limestone massif of the Hajar range in Ras Al Khaimah whose summit, at 1,934 m, sits just across the border in Oman. Three days on it means steep wadis, ridge paths above the coast, two nights in a tent and every litre of water on your back. You can do it with the organised HIGHLANDER event that has run here every winter since 2021, or on your own or with a local guide on the marked trails. We walked the first edition of the event in November 2021. Here is what to expect on both, from the camping rules to the cold nights.

By HoyooTrek editorial team · Updated · 11 min read

Layers of blue mountain ridges in morning haze seen from high on Jebel Jais, with the winding mountain road on the slope at right
Photo: Monica Dass / Unsplash
High point
1,892 m · UAE's highest point, west of the Jebel Jais summit
Duration
2–3 days
Best months
Nov–Mar
Difficulty
Moderate, non-technical
Guide
Not required

For guidance only. Check details with your operator and the official sources listed at the end before you book.

On this page
  1. Choosing a route
  2. Organised HIGHLANDER event, three days itinerary
  3. Real costs
  4. Insurance
  5. eSIM and data
  6. Getting there
  7. Gear
  8. Add-ons
  9. FAQ

Which route should you choose?

Jebel Jais rises from the coastal plain of Ras Al Khaimah to 1,934 m. The summit is in Oman's Musandam governorate; the UAE's highest point, at 1,892 m, is just west of it. A paved road of about 36 km climbs the western side in hairpins to the Jais Viewing Deck Park at about 1,250 m and the attractions of the upper mountain.

Around the road, Ras Al Khaimah has built a network of marked trails that RAKTDA puts at 94 km, with short front-country walks near the road and longer back-country routes for backpacking. An 80 km Grand Loop and a five-day via ferrata were announced in September 2026 and are not open yet. Three days on foot means one of three things: the yearly HIGHLANDER event, your own route on the marked trails with nights at the roadside camping areas, or a trip with a licensed local guide.

A hiker in silhouette sitting on a block of limestone at a canyon edge on Jebel Jais, facing a huge layered rock wall under a blue sky
A break on the edge of a canyon on Jebel Jais, facing a layered limestone wall: the scale of the mountain from the trail. Photo: Pascal / HoyooTrek
RouteDaysSceneryCrowdsAcclimatisation
Organised HIGHLANDER event, three days itinerary belowA yearly, self-guided group hike on a marked route with marshals, first-aid checkpoints and organised camps. The three-day format has measured 51 km (2021), 40 km (2024 and 2025) and 37 km (2026), and it changes every edition. You carry your own pack. It is not a race. 3ExcellentMediumVery good
Independent, marked trails and roadside campingDay walks on the marked trails, such as the Ghaf Summit trail up to about 1,640 m, linked by nights at designated camping areas along the Jebel Jais road. There is no water on the mountain, so you go back to the car or the road to resupply. For experienced hikers in a group of two or more, under 10 people. 2–3ExcellentMediumVery good
With a licensed local guideA private or small-group trip with a guide who holds a Ras Al Khaimah licence and can arrange vehicle support with water at road crossings. The only way to tackle the steep wadi routes, such as Wadi Ghalilah, if you don't know the mountain. Groups of 10 or more need a licensed guide and an RAKTDA permit. 2–3ExcellentLowVery good

3-day Organised HIGHLANDER event, three days itinerary at a glance

The HIGHLANDER three-day route changes every year. The itinerary below is the one we walked at the first edition, in November 2021: about 51 km in three days, 15 km to 18 km a day with full packs. Day 1 starts low in Wadi Ghalilah and climbs steeply on the Ghaf Summit trail to an organised camp near the summit. Day 2 follows a rocky ridge with the sea on one side and cliffs on the other, then drops to a second camp beside a farm in a valley. Day 3 continues down past Wadi Haqeel to Shimal on the coast.

Because it was an event, the organisers ran water stations along the route: we each carried 5 litres and refilled on the way, which you can't do on your own. Nights were about 10 °C at the summit camp and 15 °C in the valley. Later editions reworked the route; in 2026 the three-day route started on the north face, by Wadi Latibah (the trail known as Stairway to Heaven) or Wadi Ghalilah.

A rope-wrapped metal railing along a ledge of pale limestone below an overhanging cliff on Jebel Jais, with a small pool in the rock below
On our route, a rope-wrapped railing guards a ledge of smooth limestone below an overhanging cliff. Photo: Pascal / HoyooTrek
  1. Day 1 Wadi Ghalilah Organised camp near the summit via Ghaf Summit trail 1,640 mcamp at 1,770 m
  2. Day 2 Organised camp beside a farm in a valley camp at 400 m
  3. Day 3 Shimal, on the coast camp at 50 m

The camp altitudes are approximate: the organiser does not publish them, and the summit camp is given here at about the height of the upper mountain road (1,770 m). Only the summit (1,934 m), the UAE high point (1,892 m) and the top of the Ghaf Summit trail (about 1,640 m) are published figures. The organiser gives each hiker a map of the current route; treat the figures here as a guide only.

What it really costs

Three days on Jebel Jais costs little in fees. The real costs are the event registration or a guide, getting to the start and back from the finish, and the camping gear. Here is what to plan around.

HIGHLANDER Ras Al Khaimah registrationThe organiser publishes the fee when registration opens; the press releases give only early-bird or promo-code discounts (for 2026, 20% off). Ask what it includes: camps, meals, transfers to the start and back from the finish.
Set by the organiser each year
Jais Viewing Deck Park entryThe park's page lists AED 10 per person for a one-day ticket, but since the mountain reopened in February 2026 visitors have been able to drive up without an entry fee. Check at the gate.
AED 10 or free
UAE visa, if your passport needs oneAED 250 plus VAT is the fee for the 30 days eVisa, extendable once, open to expatriate residents of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman whose profession is on the approved list. GCC citizens, for example, need no visa. Other passports: check the current rules and fees with ICP.
Depends on your passport
Dubai to Ras Al KhaimahThere is no public transport to the trailheads or up the mountain road. Plan a car, or a taxi from Ras Al Khaimah city to the start and from the finish.
Bus AED 22–27, taxi from about AED 300
CampingThe designated camping areas along the road are free. Organised camps such as Camp 1770 and the cabins at Bear Grylls Explorers Camp are paid and booked in advance.
Free roadside areas to paid campsGetting there
Travel insurance
Hiking cover with mountain rescueInsurance notes
Gear
Tent, sleeping bag, stove and water capacityGear list

Fees and estimates checked on 3 November 2026.

Insurance that covers Jebel Jais

If you live in the UAE, your local health cover may apply, but check that it includes hiking and rescue in the mountains. Visitors need a travel policy that covers hiking and medical evacuation in the UAE.

Rescues on Jebel Jais are carried out by the Ras Al Khaimah Police, sometimes by helicopter. Keep your policy number and the insurer's emergency line on your phone and on paper.

Staying connected in United Arab Emirates

The UAE's mobile networks are e& (formerly Etisalat) and du. Visitors can install a UAE eSIM before they travel or buy a tourist SIM at Dubai airport with their passport; if your home network offers roaming in the UAE, as Gulf networks do, that works too.

There is signal near the road and the upper mountain, but it can disappear entirely in deep wadis and on remote trails. Download an offline map, share your route with someone before you start and carry a whistle.

Getting there and where to stay

Fly into Dubai (DXB); Ras Al Khaimah is about 130 km north by road, one to one and a half hours. Coming from Abu Dhabi, add the drive to Dubai. The trailheads are at the foot of the mountain beyond the city, and there is no public transport to them.

Looking down from the rocks of Jebel Jais into a deep brown valley with a small village and terraced slopes, clouds over the far ridges
Looking down from Jebel Jais to a village in a deep valley of the Hajar Mountains. Photo: Dilip James / Unsplash
Flights

Getting there by air

Dubai (DXB) and Sharjah (SHJ) have direct flights from across the Gulf, and a connection through Dubai works from most of the world. Ras Al Khaimah's own airport (RKT), about 20 km from the city, mainly serves South Asia and Egypt. From Oman and Saudi Arabia, many travellers drive. Check current schedules.

Transfers

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah and the trailheads

Drive 130 km on the E311, or take the RAKTA bus from Union station in Dubai (about two hours, AED 22–27) or a taxi (from about AED 300). From Ras Al Khaimah, a car or taxi takes you to the trailhead; the organised event usually runs a shuttle between finish and start (ask). Fill up with fuel before the mountain road: there is no fuel station up top.

Where to stay

A night in Ras Al Khaimah before and after

Hotels in Ras Al Khaimah city and along the coast are a short drive from the foot of the mountain. A night before lets you buy water and food and start at dawn; a night after avoids the drive back to Dubai tired.

Gear: rent or buy

This is backpacking: you carry tent, sleeping bag, food and water. The two things that matter most are water capacity and a warm enough sleeping bag. On your own, plan 4–6 litres a day, because there is no water on the mountain; on the event we carried 5 litres each and refilled at the water stations. Our November nights were about 10 °C at the summit and 15 °C in the valley, and in December to February they drop near 5 °C or lower, so bring a bag rated to about 0 °C.

  • Hiking boots or trail shoes with stiff soles for scree and sharp limestoneBuy
  • Backpack of 45–60 litresRent or buy
  • Water bladders and bottles for 4–6 litres, plus electrolytesBuy
  • Light tent that stands on rock, with extra stones or anchorsRent or buy
  • Sleeping bag rated to about 0 °C and a sleeping matRent or buy
  • Stove, fuel and pot (open fires and firewood collection are banned)Rent or buy
  • Warm layer and windproof jacket for the eveningsBuy
  • Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreenBuy
  • Headlamp, whistle, first-aid kit and power bankBuy
  • Gloves for the rope-railing and scrambling sectionsRent or buy
  • Trekking poles for the long descentsRent or buy

Add a few days in United Arab Emirates

The upper mountain has attractions on the road that take a few hours and need no hiking gear.

Jais Viewing Deck Park

Seven viewing platforms at about 1,250 m over the ridges and the coast, with cafés and parking.

Jais Flight

A zipline of about 2.8 km, opened in 2018 and listed then as the longest in the world. Booked in advance, with weight and age limits.

Wadi Shawka

A 10 km marked trail from Wadi Shawka dam past natural pools, in the foothills about an hour south of Jebel Jais.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is a three-day trek on Jebel Jais?

Harder than the altitude suggests. The organised three-day route covers 37 km to 51 km on rocky paths and scree, with long steep climbs out of the wadis and the same again on the way down, and you carry all your gear. The organiser says adults with moderate fitness can take part, with no hiking experience needed. The Stairway to Heaven route on the north face is far harder and exposed. We walked 15 km to 18 km a day with full packs: the climbs out of the wadis were the hardest part.

Do I need a permit or a guide?

No permit is needed to walk the public trails in a small group, but groups of 10 or more must register with RAKTDA in advance and need a licensed guide, and organising a hike without a permit can bring a fine of AED 10,000. Some official trailheads ask you to scan a QR code and register your start time. Stay on marked trails, never hike alone, and note that drones, alcohol and loud music are banned. The organised event has its own permits.

Can I camp anywhere on Jebel Jais?

No. Camping is allowed only in the designated areas along the Jebel Jais road, which are free but have few or no toilets, water or bins, and at paid camps such as Camp 1770. Camping outside approved places can be fined, and so can lighting open fires, collecting firewood or leaving rubbish. Never camp in a wadi bed: flash floods can arrive from rain you can't see.

Is there water on the trail?

No reliable water at all. Carry at least 3 litres for a short hike and plan 4–6 litres a day on a backpacking trip, more if it is warm. On the organised event, ask what the camps provide. On our 2021 event we each carried 5 litres and refilled at the organisers' water stations along the route.

What about food, dietary needs and faith on the trek?

Meat sold and served in the UAE is halal by default; pork is sold only in a few labelled outlets and never in camp catering. Ask the organiser or your guide what the camp meals are, and tell them when you book if you eat vegetarian or vegan, have an allergy or follow another diet. Kosher food is not something to expect at camp; bring your own if you need it.

There are mosques in the villages at the foot of the mountain. On the trek, Muslims pray at camp or on the trail: a qibla app and a light mat are enough, and organisers in the UAE are used to planning prayer stops. For any religious practice, ask the organiser or guide before you book how the day's schedule can leave time for it.

Which languages do guides speak?

Arabic is the local language, and many guides in the UAE work in both Arabic and English. Before you book, ask the organiser or guide which language the briefings and the guiding are in, and ask about other languages, such as French or Spanish, if you need one.

Should I tip?

On the organised event, ask the organiser whether tipping marshals or camp staff is usual. For a private guide, a tip at the end is common but not required; ask what is usual when you book.

Which visa do I need?

It depends on your passport: check the current rules with ICP, the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, or on the government portal u.ae. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, for example, need no visa and enter the UAE with their national ID card or passport. Expatriate residents of those countries can apply online for a 30 days UAE eVisa through ICP (AED 250 plus VAT) if their profession is on the approved list.

When is the best time to go?

November to March. Days on the mountain are 11 °C to 17 °C and nights can drop near freezing in December to February; in November 2021 we had about 10 °C at night at the summit camp and 15 °C in the valley. The HIGHLANDER three-day event takes place in winter: November in 2021 and 2022, February in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Avoid May to September, when the heat makes backpacking dangerous, and check the forecast for storms in winter.

Is it safe?

Most rescues on Jebel Jais are heatstroke, exhaustion, and falls on scree or exposed rock, and in April 2026 a hiker collapsed from heatstroke on the Stairway to Heaven route. In April 2019, flash floods stranded about 570 people on the mountain overnight. Start early, carry more water than you think, stay on marked trails, tell someone your route and return time, and leave wadis at the first sign of rain. In an emergency call 999 (police). The summit area borders Oman and there is no border post on the trails: check with your organiser before walking towards it.

Is there a rope or climbing section?

Some routes have short steep passages with fixed ropes or cables as a handrail. You don't need climbing gear, but you do need a head for heights and gloves help. On our route, a rope-wrapped metal railing guards a ledge of smooth limestone below an overhanging cliff.

Sources and last check

Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026.

Image credits

LebanonLebanon Mountain TrailJordanJordan TrailNepalChisapani–Nagarkot