Jebel Akhdar Full Day Tour from Muscat: 4x4 to the Green Mountain

Nine hours climbing to Oman's highest plateau, through mountain villages and terraced gardens unreachable any other way

A full-day guided 4x4 tour from Muscat to Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain 170 km inland, combining a steep mountain drive through the Sumail Gap and Izki with walks through the Saiq Plateau's hanging gardens and remote villages. The tour includes an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant, and air-conditioned transport. The plateau itself has been reachable only by donkey for centuries, and the route passes through some of Oman's most inaccessible terrain.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jebel Akhdar by 4x4

• Leave Muscat through Sumail Gap and Izki
• Drive scenic mountain route to Saiq Plateau
• Pass by Hajar Mountains on steep roads
• Dine at local restaurant and walk hanging gardens
• Visit remote mountain village of Soqra
• Photo-stop at Fanjah

The experience

If you have a free day in Muscat and want to see beyond the coast, this tour takes you inland to one of the Sultanate's most remote places. The 4x4 leaves Muscat and climbs through the Sumail Gap and Izki, following steep mountain roads up to the Saiq Plateau: the roof of Oman at the heart of the Hajar range. The plateau sits 170 km from the city and was accessible only by donkey for centuries. The drive itself is the first part of the journey, winding through terrain most visitors never reach.

Once on the plateau, you walk through the hanging gardens that surround the villages, following the original falaj irrigation system that has fed pomegranates, apricots and lemons here for generations. A leisurely walk takes you down to Soqra, a remote mountain village, and a photo stop at Fanjah breaks up the return. Lunch happens at a local restaurant before the walks, so you eat where people live, not in a tourist zone. The weather on the plateau stays cool and dry even when Muscat is hot.

The tour runs nine hours total and includes an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup from Muscat, all transport in an air-conditioned 4x4, and lunch. WiFi is available on board during the drive. The itinerary is fixed, so everyone on the tour follows the same stops and timing. You're not choosing your own route or pace.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 transportation from your Muscat hotel.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• lunch at a local restaurant on the plateau.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except FridayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Pink Stone Travel & Tourism LLC

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a full day on the Saiq Plateau with a guide who navigates the mountain roads and knows which villages and gardens to visit, rather than driving yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Jebel Akhdar from Muscat, and how long does the drive take?

Jebel Akhdar sits 170 km from Muscat. The full tour lasts nine hours, which includes the drive up through the Sumail Gap and Izki, time on the plateau for walks and lunch, and the return to the city.

What exactly are the hanging gardens, and will I be walking through them?

The hanging gardens are terraced orchards of pomegranates, apricots and lemons that run alongside the original falaj irrigation system on the Saiq Plateau. Yes, you walk through them as part of a leisurely stroll after lunch, and the route also takes you down to the remote village of Soqra.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is included and served at a local restaurant on the plateau before the walks begin, so you eat in the mountain villages rather than at a tourist facility.

What kind of vehicle is used, and will the drive be uncomfortable?

A 4x4 is required because the roads are steep and the terrain is rough. The vehicle is air-conditioned. The drive is the main event of the day (the mountain route itself is what makes the plateau reachable), so comfort on the road matters, and the tour provides it.

Do I need any special fitness level or experience to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The walks on the plateau are leisurely, not strenuous, and the day is built around driving and walking at an easy pace, not hiking or climbing.