Exploring Oman › Mountains in Oman › Jabal Akhdar
Photo: Andries Oudshoorn · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jabal Akhdar
Rose terraces, cold air, and villages hanging off a cliff.
The Green Mountain, cool enough to grow roses and pomegranates, high enough that you'll want a jacket in the evening. The terraced village walk is one of the best easy hikes in Oman.
| Best for | Cool air / terraced villages |
|---|---|
| Time needed | Half–full day |
| Hike | 2–3 hrs (village loop) |
| Vehicle | 4×4 REQUIRED, enforced at a checkpoint |
| Best season | Oct–Apr (roses Mar–Apr) |
| Entry | Free |
Open Jabal Akhdar in Google Maps
How to get to Jabal Akhdar
- 1 hr 40 from Muscat to Birkat Al Mouz.
- There's a police checkpoint at the bottom of the mountain road.
- They WILL turn you back in a 2WD. This isn't a suggestion, it's enforced.
- 4×4 only. No exceptions. In a 2WD, park at the Birkat Al Mouz pickup point and arrange a driver up and down.
What you'll do
- Walk the terraced-village loop: Al Ayn → Ash Shirayjah → Al Aqr.
- The paths run down through rose terraces and pomegranate orchards, with the canyon opening below.
- Two to three hours. One of the best easy hikes in the country.
Tell us your dates and how many you are and we'll connect you with an MHT-licensed tour operator, who organises and runs the trip.
WhatsApp Explores OmanThe guide is free. If you'd rather hand the planning to a licensed guide, send me your dates and I'll build your route: the order, the drives, where to sleep and what it costs. Every trip is different, so I quote each one.
Request a quote on WhatsAppTips from a local guide
- 4×4 or you don't get up the mountain. The checkpoint is real.
- Mar–Apr for the rose harvest and the rosewater distilleries.
- It's cold up there in the evening. Bring a layer.
What to bring
- 4×4, there's a checkpoint and they turn 2WDs back
- Warm layer for the evening
- Water
Good to have
- Go Mar–Apr for the rose harvest
- Good camera, terraces at dawn
- Cash for village stalls
Jabal Akhdar: questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Jabal Akhdar?
Oct–Apr (roses Mar–Apr). Oman's summer (roughly May to September) is extremely hot inland, so plan outdoor places for the cooler months and go early in the day.
How long do you need at Jabal Akhdar?
Half–full day.
How long is the walk at Jabal Akhdar?
2–3 hrs for the terraced-village loop; longer trails available.
Do you need a 4x4 to reach Jabal Akhdar?
Yes, the last stretch needs a 4x4.
Is Jabal Akhdar good for kids?
Yes, it works with children.
Open Jabal Akhdar in the guide app →
More near Nizwa
- Misfat Al Abriyeen, A mud-brick village in the mountains that time forgot to ruin.
- Wadi Damm, Holds water all year, almost no wadi here does.
- Wadi Tanuf, A ruined village, a gorge, and almost nobody there.
- Oman Across Ages Museum, The billion-dollar museum in the middle of the country, worth the detour.
- Rose season on Jabal Akhdar, Three weeks a year, the Green Mountain turns pink.
- Birkat Al Mouz, Ruins, banana groves and a UNESCO falaj, the gateway to Jabal Akhdar.
From Exploring Oman, a guide to Oman by Hussain, a licensed Omani tour guide (@hussain_explores). 67 places and two 1-day plans, free to read; the 3, 5 and 7-day routes are in the app.
If you face an issue or something is incorrect, please contact us and we will make the necessary adjustments.