Hiking and camping in epic mountain ranges; bathing in luscious turquoise waterfall and diving off pristine beaches to swim with whale sharks and turtles. Oman, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, is a land of natural wonders and is gaining popularity as a playground for adventure types.
Here to explore after landing in the beachside capital of Muscat, my group and I head straight for the mountains of Jabal Akhdar. That is, after a roadside coffee stop, as is Omani tradition. At every opportunity here hot black coffee is thrust at you, and a word of warning: it is strong.
Highly caffeinated we are then safely ensconced in a seemingly country-wide prescribed white SUV for a few hours. It becomes clear why this is the vehicle of choice. Snaking up smooth switch-back roads which rival those of the Alps, our driver explains that 4x4s are the only cars permitted on this route — a safety precaution due to the extreme incline. This bodes extremely well for why we’re here — to hike.
The highest mountain range in the Gulf, Jabal Akhdar (the Green mountains) offers some of the best hiking in the region, so-named for the stark contrast between the arid limestone peaks and lush green valleys.
Arriving in spring, we set straight out towards the region's rose terraces, which are in full bloom for this month only every year. Following the ‘Three Village Hike’ we trek through the traditional villages of Al Aqur, Al Ayn, and Al Sharijah, traversing the narrow walls of the country’s old irrigation channels known as ‘falaj’.
Reaching a bright pink blooming hillside, we discover the crops these waterways feed. The air is rich with the scent of the rare Damascus rose, which locals here harvest to produce rose water for its scent, for cooking and to use medicinally.
Beyond the brilliant magenta fauna is a panoramic view of Jabal Akhdar’s jagged peaks — a sight that would whet the appetite of any keen hiker, climber or caver. This area is the launch point for many challenging adventures including the balcony walk of Jabal Sham (Oman’s highest peak at 3018m) where walkers can trek to the abandoned village of Sab Bani Khamis to reach stunning views into Oman’s Grand Canyon.
The Jabal Akhdar hike to Al Sogara, a hidden village carved into the cliffside, is also not to be missed. On our visit, climbing steeply in unrelenting heat, the village emerged like a mirage, and a hole in the rock provided possibly the best iced coffee I’ve tasted.
For those wanting to fully immerse in this landscape, wild camping is permitted across Oman. Pitch up on Jabal Shams for arguably one of the best sunrise camp spots in the world, or rest on the Jabal Akhdar terraces and wake to breathtaking views across the canyon.
If luxury recovery is more your thing, head to Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort or The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort is £357 per night
© The Standard Ltd