Jebel Akhdar

الجبل الأخضر

The Green Mountain, a high plateau of the Al Hajar range known for terraced villages, rose gardens, and pomegranate orchards. Visit for cool air, dramatic canyon viewpoints, and scenic hiking between abandoned stone hamlets.

Things to do

• Hike the Village Walk (W18b) — Follow the terraced path linking the abandoned and living hamlets of Al Aqar, Al Ayn, and Ash Shirijah along the canyon rim.
• Diana's Point viewpoint — Gaze across the dramatic Wadi Bani Habib canyon from the platform named after Princess Diana's 1986 visit.
• Explore Wadi Bani Habib — Descend into the wadi to wander the crumbling stone ruins of an old village shaded by walnut trees.
• See the rose terraces in bloom — Visit the Damask rose gardens of Al Ain and Al Aqar in April and May when petals are harvested for rosewater.
• Watch rosewater distillation — Stop at a village home or workshop to see rose petals steamed into traditional attar rosewater over wood fires.
• Tour pomegranate and fruit orchards — Walk the falaj-fed terraces where pomegranates, apricots, and peaches ripen through the cool mountain summer.
• Visit Saiq Plateau — Take in the high central plateau area around the villages and military checkpoint at roughly 2,000 metres elevation.

Food to try

• Rosewater sweets and drinks — Sample local rosewater flavoring sweets, tea, and desserts made from the mountain's Damask roses.
• Mountain pomegranates — Buy or taste the prized sweet pomegranates grown on the terraced orchards, especially in autumn.
• Omani shuwa — Try the celebratory dish of spiced lamb slow-cooked underground in an earth oven, often served on special occasions.
• Harees — Enjoy this creamy porridge of wheat and slow-cooked meat, a comforting Omani staple served warm.
• Omani halwa with kahwa — Accept the traditional gelatinous date-and-rosewater sweet paired with cardamom coffee as a welcome offering.

Local customs & good to know

• Dress modestly — This is a conservative rural region, so cover shoulders and knees and dress warmly as evenings turn cold at altitude.
• 4WD is required to ascend — A checkpoint on the mountain road only permits four-wheel-drive vehicles, so rent one or arrange a tour.
• Respect village homes and orchards — Many terraces and hamlets are private property, so ask before entering gardens or photographing residents.
• Accept coffee graciously — If offered kahwa and dates, accepting is a sign of respect; shake your cup gently to signal you've had enough.

Nearby

• Diana's Point — 1 km
• Wadi Bani Habib — 3 km
• Birkat Al Mouz — 14 km
• Nizwa — 20 km