Nizwa, Jabal Akhdar & Birkat Al Moz day trip from Muscat

Nizwa's markets and fort, mountain terraces, and a thousand-year-old stone village in one day

A private day trip from Muscat to Nizwa, Jabal Akhdar and Birkat Al Moz combines the old capital's souks and 17th-century fort with walks through mountain terraces and a UNESCO heritage water channel system. The tour includes hotel pickup, air-conditioned 4WD transport, bottled water and an English-speaking guide. Nizwa Fort entry is optional. The drive covers roughly eight to nine hours, with stops for walking and exploring at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Nizwa Souk1h
2. Nizwa Fort1h
3. Jebel Akhdar2h
4. Birkat al Mouz Ruins45m

Explore Nizwa, Green Mountain, Birkat Al Moz

• Drive to Nizwa in the morning
• Visit Nizwa Market (Souq)
• Tour Nizwa Fort and Castle
• Drive to Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain)
• Walk in terrace gardens and Wadi Bani Habib
• Visit Birkat Al Moz and walk old water channel
• Drive back to Muscat

The experience

Nizwa was Oman's capital 500 years ago, and the day starts there. You'll walk through the famous souks (the old market, spice market, dates market, handcraft market and silver market), where vendors sell from authentic market halls. On Fridays, the cattle market opens in circus-style, with locals bringing goats, cattle, sheep and chickens. Catching that requires a 5:30 AM start from Muscat, which you can arrange after booking. Next to the souks stands Nizwa Fort, built in 1649, and the castle from 888. The fort is now a museum with passages, rooms and corridors that once held traps to deter intruders. It was a military stronghold of the Yaruba dynasty and offers views across the ancient town and surrounding mountains.

From Nizwa, the route climbs to Jabal Akhdar, the Green Mountain, part of the Hajar range and one of Oman's most scenic areas. The mountain earned its name from the green terraced gardens surrounding the villages. You'll walk in Wadi Bani Habib, a stone and clay village abandoned a thousand years ago, where pomegranates, apricots, apples, olives, grapes, roses, peaches and walnuts still grow on the terraces. The plateau itself was reachable only by donkey for centuries.

The final stop is Birkat Al Moz, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The village centers on a large falaj system, an ancient water channel, that supplies the date palms and vegetable orchards. You'll walk through the old part of the village before the drive back to Muscat. The tour includes pickup from your hotel, airport or residence, and transport in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle. Bring your own lunch or plan to eat in Nizwa.

What’s included

• Hotel, airport or residence pickup and drop-off in Muscat.
• air-conditioned 4WD transport.
• bottled water.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 23

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Discover Mazoon Tours Oman

Is this one for you?Book this full-day tour if you want to see Nizwa's markets, fort, mountain terraces, and a UNESCO water channel all in one outing with a single guide who speaks English.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 13 years); Infant (under 5): 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.

What can I see at Nizwa's souks?

Nizwa's souks sell vegetables, pottery, jewelry, handicrafts, Omani sweets (halwa), dates, spices and souvenirs from authentic old market halls. The Friday cattle market is a separate event where locals sell livestock in an open marketplace style.

What is Wadi Bani Habib?

Wadi Bani Habib is a village built from stone and clay that was abandoned around a thousand years ago. It sits on Jabal Akhdar's terraces, where fruit trees still grow, and you'll walk through it as part of the mountain portion of the day.

What makes Birkat Al Moz worth visiting?

Birkat Al Moz is a UNESCO World Heritage site centered on a large falaj system. An ancient water channel that has supplied date palms and vegetable orchards for centuries. Walking through the old village lets you see how the water system sustained the community.

Do I need to pay extra for Nizwa Fort?

Nizwa Fort entry is optional and costs extra if you choose to visit. The fort is a museum housed in a 17th-century structure with passages and rooms to explore, plus views of the town and mountains.

How long is the drive from Muscat?

The full day trip takes eight to nine hours including stops at each site. If you want to catch the Friday cattle market in Nizwa, you'll need to start at 5:30 AM from Muscat. Contact the operator after booking to arrange this.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel, airport or residence in Muscat; transport in an air-conditioned 4WD vehicle; bottled water; and an English-speaking guide. Lunch is not included, so you'll eat in Nizwa or bring your own.