Jebel Akhdar
Jebel Akhdar
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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  • Wajo
    Scheveningen, The Netherlands275 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Do not be afraid to drive up yourself
    How to get there : to the Saiq plateau in the first place… there is a check point on the road up, they do check your drivers license “check again on the way back” which we did not do because there was a row of cars waiting on the other side. The road up is excellent, better then some roads in the Alps. We did stumble on an news item about a serious road accident last summer: may the the way back down to Nizwa deserves respect and attention, there were several emergency lanes for cars with brake issues. But we did not consider this a road in need for 4WD. But we guess they would not let you pass the check point when not drving of 4WD. On the plateau itself we drove into a little village, when driving back up we were glad to have 4WD. And we did not drive off road. So don’t be afraid but be patient and careful , as one always should be when conducting 2000 kg of steel. The views are magnificant, the walks beautiful, it is cool and more quiet than in the Nizwa area, certainly worth while the trip
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 January 2024
  • WonderfulWorld59
    Lee's Summit, Missouri436 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    For Those Unable to Hike, There Are Still Many Ways to Experience this Beautiful Rugged Mountain!
    There are many ways to immerse yourself in experiencing the beautiful Jebel Akhdar! We were traveling with an 80 year old friend so hiking was not on our itinerary. Instead, we spent 3 days in the foothills under the embrace of this beautifully rugged mountain. From the confines of our 4x4, we wandered in awe of the ever-changing geological display of rock formations. An overnight stay at "The View" provided an opportunity to experience sunrise, sunset and various weather conditions. Enjoy!!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 March 2024
  • Sonia S
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cheapest but high quality professional Oman tours
    Oman Xtreme traveller offered the cheapest price for their trips , but of high quality and professionalism . What's app : +968 7997 8896 or the owner +968 9788 8013 ( their trips usually cost between 20 to 30 Omani riyals)... They have great customer service willing to answer all your questions. I had a fun relaxing trip with them which was superbly organised I'm pleased to have found them as all other tour agencies were offering very unaffordable tours which would have really limited my experience in Oman Xtreme traveller are also very accommodating and caring.. they went over and beyond for me when they knew I was a vegetarian. Instead of just offering me a basic salad which mostntoits would usually do, the owner went out of his way to find me a delicious meal and bring it to me! They're also attentive to detail and I would highly recommend them !
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 27 August 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles645 reviews
Excellent
444
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151
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44
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5
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1

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Nerina C
Perth10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Travel down the windy road to see the most amazing village, Schmook, that is being restored on the mountainside for guests to stay. We had the privilege of meeting Mohammed) who is restoring the houses) and his cousin Hilal. These two super, young gentlemen used their amazing engineering skills and contacts to fix our car so we could travel back safely. The family also gave us fruits and water for Eid. A very special experience. Travelling around you experience the best of Omani hospitality! Please note you must get permission to enter the village but the views on the drive and across to the village are amazing!
Written 1 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wajo
Scheveningen, The Netherlands275 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
How to get there : to the Saiq plateau in the first place… there is a check point on the road up, they do check your drivers license “check again on the way back” which we did not do because there was a row of cars waiting on the other side. The road up is excellent, better then some roads in the Alps. We did stumble on an news item about a serious road accident last summer: may the the way back down to Nizwa deserves respect and attention, there were several emergency lanes for cars with brake issues. But we did not consider this a road in need for 4WD. But we guess they would not let you pass the check point when not drving of 4WD. On the plateau itself we drove into a little village, when driving back up we were glad to have 4WD. And we did not drive off road. So don’t be afraid but be patient and careful , as one always should be when conducting 2000 kg of steel.

The views are magnificant, the walks beautiful, it is cool and more quiet than in the Nizwa area, certainly worth while the trip
Written 14 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Explorer31719146935
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
A great experience i had. I visited jebel akhdar with my family, jebel akhdar is the best place to escape during this summer time in oman a lot of beautiful mountain views. Thanks to our friendly guide
Written 11 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MIG007
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We decided to rent a 4x4 and drive oruselves instead of taking a tour, so we didn't learn a whole lot but had a great time nevertheless. The drive up to the top is amazing on its own. I felt we are on a different planet between those huge mountaints. The scenery - until you get to the top - is exactly like that in Star Wars and Mos Eisley. Creepy, yet awesome at the same time - unless you get stuck behind someone who can't drive.
Once at the top you can pick and choose your locations where to take selfies and pictures at an altitude of 2000m+.
We went for lunch in one of the hotels on the edge of what certainly looks like the Rocky Mountains.
I'd recommend to take a walk through some of the villages. They include tunnels under houses and some great terrace farming.
Certainly worth the trip!
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Blackfields
Grosseto, Italia1,993 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
We dedicated a day to it based in Nizwa to also see the green mountain as they call it, after the Jebel Shams (gold mountain). In reality, there is little green, at least in January. You get there from Nizwa after a 2000 meter climb uphill in 40 km. In fact there is a checkpoint that checks if the car is a 4x4 and that it is ok. Otherwise you won't pass. After many hairpin bends and the engine now red hot you arrive at a village which I think is called Saiq. All around mountains and canyons and some nice hotels. There are green vegetable gardens created in the valley bottoms and some bushy mountain walls. You can drive around the entire area, reaching several spots for short walks or impressive photographs.
Google
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

detroit_wing
Bangkok, Thailand157 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
Spectacular. Think Star Wars! It's truly a must visit when in Oman. The contrast between the green and desert colors is amazing. I was in a rental car and found myself stopping every kilometre or so for a different view. Very cool place.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pbhPlymouth
plymouth1,020 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
One of the highlights of my holiday in Oman. Amazing views across the mountain range and canyons. Nature at its best. Slowly being developed as a tourist destination. Some of the access roads require 4×4 vehicles.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amelie S
Jonzac, France962 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Friends
Great experience, great walk in this village under construction through the irrigation system. You shouldn't get dizzy but it's really nice to do a lot of walking which gets your cardio working. Too bad for us the rose bushes were not in flower. Nice discovery
Google
Written 11 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EmmaB36
Sydney, Australia26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2014 • Couples
Before visiting Oman I spent a lot of time reading reviews, blogs and destination guides but still couldn't work out the difference between these three places. This review is to help anyone like me who is struggling to piece it all together.

Jebel Akhdar:
Distance: Only about 40km from Nizwa but steep, windy roads. Takes about 30 mins to get to the check point, then another 20-30 minutes to reach the good view points and villages
Time allowance: recommend 3-5 hours round trip from Nizwa
Rules: There is an official checkpoint before starting the ascent to the mountain - only 4x4 vehicles are allowed beyond that point. There really is no point going just to the checkpoint, the only views worth seeing are past that point. If you don't have a 4x4 you can organise a local tour through your hotel (we did a 4 hour tour for 40 riyals) or hire a 4x4 in Nizwa or Birkat al Mouz
What to see: Mountains, farms, working villages and a hike to an abandoned village. This is distinct from other Omani mountains because of the "terraces" used for agriculture. We went in December and it was quite dry, not the lush green we'd seen in some pictures; but apparently from Feb onwards it becomes more verdant. There are some nice walks you can do between villages, meandering through the terraces and rocky paths. Not physically tiring but difficult if you struggle with rocks and uneven surfaces.

Jebel Shams:
Distance: About 135km or 1.5 hours drive from Nizwa
Time allowance: 4 hours round trip from Nizwa minimum (much more if you want to do the full hike).
Rules: There is no checkpoint, so technically you can take any vehicle up there. However, i would say the road is far more dangerous, steep and windy than the road to Jebel Akhdar and would strongly recommend a 4x4. About 10km of the journey is unpaved, gravelly, sandy road so a low car will get dirty and very likely scratched or even dented from the gravel. Also if you get car sick, take a pill before this journey!
What to see: Mountains, rocky valleys and canyons. There is a walk you can do all the way to an abandoned village which apparently takes 2.5 hours each way. We didnt have enough time so just did an hour round trip of the trail, which was great - wish we had time to do the whole thing. Not a difficult walk as far as we got, some beautiful views on the way. Take layers in December, its really cold at the top although you get hot when walking.

Wadi Ghul:
Distance: on the way to Jebel Shams, about 50 minutes from Nizwa
What to see: Not worth visiting unless en route to jebel shams. I heard it described as the grand canyon of Oman, but to me this is a wrong label - the real canyon views are from the top of jebel shams. Wadi Ghul is a very shallow valley with some farm land at the bottom and an old village on the other side

Both Jebels worth a visit if you have the time (would require a night in Nizwa between the two)
Written 2 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rajkumar Rajasekaran
Muscat, Oman2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
There are numerous reviews across travel forums which indicate that a 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) is mandatory for driving to Jabal Akhdar. Before our trip, I could not find any inputs if an All-Wheel Drive (AWD), in my case a Mazda CX-5, would be permitted to climb the hill.

Inquiry with local friends had mixed responses - some assured that ROP would allow our vehicle; whereas, few others noted that it will be a pure case of luck if our vehicle was allowed. We went with a sense of uncertainty, and we were just lucky enough to be permitted by ROP to proceed in our own AWD to Jabal Akhdar.

The police personnel at the entry checkpoint enquired a couple of questions like
• Is your vehicle 4WD?
• Is this your first trip or have you come before?

We answered positively to their questions and noted that our vehicle is 4WD. Nothing much then. The police personnel advised us to engage low gear, not to use the brakes too much & to drive down slowly (approx. 40 kmph) while coming downhill. They made an additional check if the number of passengers in the vehicle is as per the seating capacity shown in Mulkiya. If the Mulkiya indicates a seating capacity of 5, make sure that there are only 5 members (including kids) in the vehicle.

Upon reaching Jabal Akhdar, we found quite a good number of AWDs roaming there. So in my opinion, it is not just a luck factor, but indeed AWD vehicles are permitted in Jabal Akhdar.

I am attaching here a photo of our Mazda CX-5 transmission gear knob, which could be useful in confirming if your AWD vehicle too would be permitted up.

There was a brief check/instructions from ROP just before starting our descent downhill; and the instructions were the same as above. So if you own an AWD, don’t be confused (like I was confused prior to our trip), to take your vehicle to Jabal Akhdar. Drive safe and Enjoy!!
Written 16 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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JEBEL AKHDAR (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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