If you’re staying at The View Oman, you’re already in the heart of one of Oman’s most spectacular mountain regions. But with both Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar within reach, which one should make it onto your itinerary?
The answer depends on what kind of mountain experience you’re looking for.
Jebel Shams: For Dramatic Landscapes and Big Views
If towering cliffs, deep canyons and dramatic landscapes are your idea of a mountain adventure, start with Jebel Shams.
Known as the “Mountain of the Sun”, Jebel Shams is Oman’s highest mountain. Its most spectacular feature is Wadi Nakhr, where enormous cliffs plunge into the canyon below. The landscape is rugged, dry and wonderfully vast, a striking contrast to the greener scenery found elsewhere in the Hajar Mountains.
For those who enjoy walking, the famous Jebel Shams Balcony Walk offers an opportunity to experience the canyon from its edge. The route is particularly rewarding for travellers who want to combine scenery with a little adventure.
And staying at The View Oman makes it easy to dedicate time to the area. Jebel Shams is a short drive from the resort, so you can explore the mountains during the day before returning to the comfort of your room and those expansive valley views.
Jebel Akhdar: For Green Valleys, Villages and Orchards
Prefer a slower, more scenic mountain experience? Jebel Akhdar may be the better choice.
Meaning “Green Mountain”, Jebel Akhdar is known for its terraced farms, fruit orchards and traditional falaj irrigation systems. Depending on the season, you can see everything from pomegranates and walnuts to peaches, grapes and almonds growing across the mountain slopes.
Spring brings another reason to visit, when the famous Damask roses bloom across the mountains and local rose water production becomes part of the seasonal experience.
It is a wonderful choice for travellers who enjoy village walks, agricultural landscapes and discovering the quieter side of Oman.
Choose Jebel Shams if: you want dramatic canyon views, rugged scenery and hiking.
Choose Jebel Akhdar if: you prefer green landscapes, mountain villages, orchards and seasonal experiences.
Have more time? Visit both.
One of the advantages of staying at The View Oman is being well placed to explore the mountains and heritage of Al Hamra and the surrounding Hajar range. After a day spent on the road, walking through villages or taking in canyon views, you can return to the resort, slow down and watch the mountains change colour as evening arrives.
Because sometimes the best way to experience Oman’s mountains is not to choose just one.
