Peaks & canyon villages
Oman’s high mountains offer a completely different landscape from the coast and desert. Jabal Shams rises above the dramatic depths of Wadi Ghul, while Jabal Akhdar is known for terraced villages, cultivated slopes and cooler mountain air.
Jabal Shams and the canyon
Jabal Shams is Oman’s highest mountain area and one of the country’s most dramatic landscapes. The road climbs towards viewpoints overlooking Wadi Ghul, often called Oman’s Grand Canyon, where sheer cliffs fall into the valleys below.
The area is also home to the Balcony Walk, one of Oman’s best-known hikes, following an old path along the canyon wall towards the abandoned village of As Sab.
Jabal Akhdar
Jabal Akhdar — the “Green Mountain” — has a different character. Terraced farms and traditional villages sit high in the mountains, with pomegranates, apricots and roses grown in the cooler climate.
Walking between villages and terraces is one of the best ways to experience the area, particularly during the cooler months and the spring rose season.
Explore the mountains with Nizwa
Both mountain areas pair naturally with Nizwa and the historic towns and villages of Al Dakhiliyah. Depending on your route, a mountain journey can include Nizwa Fort and souq, traditional villages, viewpoints and short walks before continuing higher into the Hajar Mountains.
