Misfat Al Abriyeen is one of Oman’s most picturesque and historic villages, located on the mountainside in Al Hamra. After spending the night camping in Jebel Hat, I always stop in this traditional Omani village for a nice walk (and coffee) amongst its green terraced farms. Despite the recent increase in tourism and visitors, walking along the narrow streets beside ancient mud-brick houses, and intricate falaj (irrigation) system, is still a nice experience. If you ignore the signs of modern times, Misfat seems like a place untouched by time, providing a window into the country’s past, with a rich heritage and traditional lifestyle. There is evidence of Persian occupation dating from 1,500 years; Misfat itself is at least 500 years old but the falaj system that maintains the terraces of palm and banana trees is said to be even older.
The best (and really the only) way to visit Misfat is on foot; before exploring old Misfat, it is worth making a stop in the modern village across the valley, where most of the population lives. They still take care of the plantations, and slowly the old homes are being turned into guest houses. I still remember the first time I visited Misfat about 20 years ago; it was an abandoned village, with houses falling into disrepair and crumbling. There are several marked trails in the area that are worth exploring, as they will take you across the shaded green terraces. I walked around for a while, but the temperature and humidity were rising as the morning went on; thus, I stopped in a local coffee shop for a refreshing drink before driving back to Muscat.
