How to Drive the Defiant Road to Quran in Oman?
Quran is a cliff-hugging village located in the Ad Dakhiliyah Region of Oman. The route to the town is one of the most memorable drives in Sharqiya. The road is strictly 4WD and is not for the faint-hearted, as the last part of the ascent is a near-vertical climb with sharp hairpin bends.
What is the condition of the road to Quran?
The road is rough and totally unpaved, with sheer drops virtually along the entire route and enough hairpin turns to make a whirling dervish dizzy. It comprises about 50 km of generally good graded track, but there are some pretty rough and extremely steep sections—so 4WD is essential, as are strong nerves if you’re driving yourself.
How to find the start of the road?
Look out for a brown sign to ‘Qaran’ or ‘Kbaikab Graveyard and Al Jayla Village’ off the Muscat–Sur Highway, 5 km northwest of Wadi Shab.
Are there facilities along the road?
Beware: there are no facilities whatsoever on top of this desolate plateau. The nearest petrol station is in Sur (or along Highway 23 on the Ibra side of the mountains). Watch out for grazing gazelle along the route.
What should drivers expect from this road?
This road to Quran, also known as Qaran or Qur’ran, is a graded track carved out of the rock face that leads to the cliff-hugging village. The track tests the skill and courage of any driver. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or fear of landslides.
The ascent offers panoramic views of the coastal plain and a sense of the arid plateau that characterizes the top of the Eastern Hajar range.
Can you continue past Quran?
If you’re feeling brave, have a good sense of direction, and spare petrol, you can follow the road across the plateau to the tombs at Jaylah and descend towards Ibra on the other side of the mountains.