Caves in Oman
Al-Hoota Cave
The Al-Hoota Cave (Al-Hotta cave), opened in July 2006, is located at the foot of Jabal Shams, in the vicinity of the Tanuf Valley in Al Hamra district. The lower part of the cave has been developed into an environmentally sound tourist attraction following 3 years of planning and implementation, enabling visitor’s access to an important underground ecosystem.
The guided tour takes visitors along pathways illuminated by a special lighting system during which themed music is played. stalactites, stalagmites, rimstones and other crystals which garnish the walls, ceiling and cave floor are evidence of the pluvial era. Visitors will also witness the presence of a rare phenomenon blind transparent fish ‘garra bareimiae’ which exist in the underground lake and are nourished by organic materials brought by floods inside the cave.
Al-Hoota show-cave is outfitted with a standard of tourist facilities including a visitor centre, natural history museum, restaurants, Children’s area and heritage shops.
Opening Hours
Show-Cave Visit:
Saturday – Thursday:
9:00am – 1:00pm and 2:00pm – 5:15pm
Fridays: 9:00am – 12:00pm
2:00pm – 5:15pm
Previous reservation is required
Reservations:
t +968 92 404444
e reserve@alhootacave.com
w www.alhootacave.com
Majlis Al Jinn Cave
One of the most famous caves in Oman is the Majlis al Jinn, the second largest cave chamber in the world. This is one of the most difficult caves to negotiate and involves two drops, one of 160 metres and the second of 120 metres. The find at the end of these drops is well worth the effort as the Majlis Al Jinn is a half-domed cave measuring 60,000 square metres, dwarfed only by the Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia’s Borneo region. To get a better idea of its size, imagine that the Majlis al Jinn could easily accommodate the Great Pyramid of Giza.
