Jabal Akhdar

Jabal Akhdar (the Green Mountain), with its craggy peaks, gorges, ancient villages, and picturesque terraced hillsides, towers high above the plains surrounding Nizwa and is one of Oman’s most imposing attractions. Visitors are drawn to the mountain by its stunning panoramic views (including ‘Diana’s Point’), opportunities for adventure, and the prospect of pampering themselves at its luxurious resort hotels.

The area is renowned throughout Oman for the fertility of its soil, and, remarkable in Arabia, it is dotted with carefully tended orchards where pomegranates, apples, apricots and walnuts flourish. The Jabal Akhdar’s damask roses bloom between March and May, turning the hillsides pink. The roses are harvested annually and are used to make rose water – a staple of many Omani households. Much of the Jabal Akhdar is above 2,000m in altitude, giving the region a cooler Mediterranean-style climate that is wonderfully refreshing when contrasted with coastal Muscat. A more temperate climate makes Jabal Akhdar an ideal location for outdoor adventure. Hiking, cycling, and via ferrata are all popular activities. The Four Villages walk between the villages of Al Aqur and Sayq follows the irrigation canals and is easy-going and particularly scenic.

In contrast, the Al Masdara walk offers the opportunity to do something more challenging with the prospect of a swim in a natural pool at the end. Families are also well catered for in the Jabal Akhdar, with hotels such as the Alila Jabal Akhdar offering daily children’s activities. A visit to Jabal Akhdar mountain will change your perception of Arabia.