Jebel Akhdar
The Green Mountain of Oman: a plateau two thousand metres above the plain, terraced for roses and pomegranates, and up to fifteen degrees cooler than the coast.
- Arrival
- Muscat International · MCT
- To the mountain
- About two hours from Muscat by road
- Private jets
- Jetex FBO at MCT, then by 4×4
- Best time
- April to October
The city
Roses at two thousand metres.
Above Nizwa the Hajar range lifts into the Saiq Plateau, where villages such as Al Ain and Al Shuraijah hold to the edge of the gorges. Falaj channels carry water along the contour to stone terraces of walnut, apricot, grape and pomegranate, and in spring the roses are gathered and distilled into rose water in the old village stills. Between 1954 and 1959 the mountain was the stronghold of the Imamate in the Jebel Akhdar War.
People come up from the coast in summer, when Muscat swelters and the plateau stays in the twenties. The roses bloom from March, peak in April and are finished by early May; the pomegranates follow in August and September. Winter afternoons are crisp and bright, and the nights can drop below freezing. A four-wheel drive is compulsory beyond the checkpoint at the foot of the road.
- Diana's Point A viewing platform over the canyon, named after the Princess of Wales, who stood here in November 1986.
- The rose villages Al Ain and Al Shuraijah, where the spring harvest is still distilled into rose water.
- The terraces Stepped orchards fed by falaj channels, best walked from village to village along the rim.
Arriving
Land at Seeb, drive into the Hajar.
There is no civil airport on the mountain. Flights land at Muscat International in Seeb, and the plateau is about 150 km away by road, past Nizwa and up a steep climb where only four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed.
- Abu Dhabi 50 min
- Riyadh 1 h 50
- Baku 3 h 00
- Tashkent 3 h 20
- Marrakech 8 h 40 long-range jet
When to go
April to October.
A mountain climate in a desert country. From April to October the afternoons stay at 21 to 28 °C while the coast passes forty; winter days fall to about 12 °C and nights can freeze. Rain comes in late winter, and again in July and August.
- 12° J 6
- 14° F 60
- 17° M 52
- 21° A 33
- 25° M 26
- 28° J 13
- 27° J 37
- 26° A 51
- 24° S 19
- 21° O 2
- 16° N 6
- 13° D 12
Where to stay
On the rim of the canyon.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
Where to dine
Dinner at the two resorts.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Oman. On the plateau the best tables are inside the two resorts; we list the main dinner restaurant of each, from the hotels’ own pages.
- Al Qalaa Signature restaurant, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Middle Eastern Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Saiq Plateau
- Juniper Signature restaurant, Alila Jabal Akhdar Omani and international Alila Jabal Akhdar, Saiq Plateau
Flying to Jebel Akhdar?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.