Salalah – Two newly approved hiking trails in Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve in Dhofar now allow visitors to retrace sections of ancient frankincense caravan routes that once connected the governorate to regional and global markets.

The Environment Authority announced on Monday that exploratory field visits under the Frankincense Caravan Routes Identification Project have been completed, leading to the documentation of historic paths used for centuries to transport frankincense across southern Oman.

The approved trekking routes aim to combine outdoor adventure with cultural insight, offering walkers access to landscapes that shaped one of Arabia’s most significant trade networks. For generations, frankincense caravans travelled through Dhofar’s mountains, carrying resin prized in temples and markets from the Mediterranean to Far East Asia.

Spread over 4,500sq km, Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve provides a dramatic backdrop for the initiative. Limestone peaks rise to more than 2,100m, intersected by deep canyons and plateaus. The reserve is home to frankincense trees and rare wildlife, including the endangered Arabian leopard.

Authorities said the project is designed to balance tourism development with environmental protection. Plans include installing information and direction signboards along the trails, as well as internationally recognised route markers to support safe navigation.

Rest areas will be created at selected points, alongside designated camping sites for trekkers. Waste collection facilities will also be introduced to preserve the reserve’s ecosystem and promote responsible tourism practices.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to boost eco-tourism in Dhofar while reviving awareness of the frankincense trade, which played a central role in Oman’s economic history. By reopening these trails to hikers, officials aim to link heritage conservation with sustainable tourism growth.

The trails are expected to attract both domestic and international visitors seeking nature-based experiences rooted in the region’s history. For Dhofar, the project offers a way to reconnect with the routes that once carried its most valuable export to the world, now reimagined for a new generation of travellers.