Oman’s Majlis Al Jinn Cave A unique traveler’s destination, and not one for the untrained in the skill of cave exploration, is the Majlis Al Jinn cave in Oman. One of the leading tourist attractions in Oman, the Majlis Al Jinn cave is reachable by SUV or any type of 4WD off-road vehicle. One of the largest single-room caves yet known to exist, the favorite comparison given to tourists is that the entire pyramid of Giza in Egypt could fit comfortably inside the cave. The cave is illuminated during the day as light filters in through the small entrance holes on the cave’s ceiling.

Picture of the Majalis Al Jinn Cave Oman

The cave’s floor is littered with the bones of small animals such goats, birds and other unfortunate small creatures that fell into the cave through a well-hidden opening. The cave is nearly barren of the stereotypical mineral growths such as stalactites because very little water seeps into the cave except on the rare occasion of an Omani downpour. The cave’s floor looks almost as if someone has swept it clean.

There are three primary ways that you can enter the cave, all of which lead directly down into the open cave. Each entrance has a name, as well as a large enough circumference to be visible from space as is evident on Google Earth. The largest of the entrance trio is called the “First Drop,” and is measured at a maximum 20 meters wide. This large entrance is probably used the most of all three entrances to enter the cave. Smaller on the opening scale is the “Asterisk” opening, which is about 15 meters at its widest points.

Finally, the smallest entrance was named after one of the hydro geologists who were conducting research for the government of Oman in 1983. It was not until 2002 when the cave became better known, and went from a moderately weak tourist attraction to one of Oman’s most visited natural wonders and destinations. The Omani government grew concerned upon learning that so many tourists and cavers from all over the world would converge on Majlis Al Jinn that the ecosystem of the area began to break down.

The most heavily traveled paths and sections leading to the cave entrances have also shown signs of wear and tear that only restricted access can alleviate. Growing so popular with cave jumpers, even to the extreme of providing footage of cave jumpers for corporate promotions, the tourism ministry of the Omani government briefly considered making the cave a highly marketed tourist and corporate branding tool.

After the increase in visitors had reached a saturation point, the cave was closed to the public for a while, although you can now visit the cave with a permit. It’s a popular destination for BASE jumpers – and inside there is a little book that can be signed, so visitors to the wondrous cave can make their mark !