Private Jebel Akhdar tour from Muscat: Mountains and villages

Mountain road tour: hiking to Birkat Al Mouz ruins with views of ancient and restored stone houses

A private full-day tour from Muscat to Jebel Akhdar, Oman's Green Mountain, by 4WD with a driver-guide, stopping at Nizwa's fort and souk, UNESCO-listed irrigation systems, fruit and rose gardens, the abandoned village of Habib, and a viewpoint where Princess Diana once stood. Hotel or airport pickup is included. The tour runs 8–9 hours. Al Suwjara village entrance costs 1 OMR per person and is optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jebel Akhdar and Surroundings

• Travel from Muscat to Nizwa
• Visit Birkat Al Mouz village
• See Al Kattmyn irrigation system
• Walk through Jebel Akhdar hills
• View Birkat Al Mouz from afar
• Explore Al Suwjara ancient village
• Visit Princess Diana viewing platform
• Drive to Wadi Bani Habib and explore

The experience

If you've just landed in Muscat or have a free day between city stops, this tour handles the difficult mountain terrain without you at the wheel. A driver-guide with local knowledge picks you up from your hotel, airport or port and takes the 4WD into Oman's interior, where the road climbs to Jebel Akhdar. The journey passes through Birkat Al Mouz at the mountain's foothills, then up through the Al Kattmyn irrigation system (one of five UNESCO-listed heritage irrigation networks in the region) before reaching the plateau where fruit plantations and rose gardens spread across the slopes.

The stops unfold as the elevation changes. Nizwa, Oman's old capital, sits lower on the route: you walk through its fort and souk before heading higher. Once on Jebel Akhdar itself, you climb to a viewpoint where the landscape opens below: the same platform Princess Diana visited. From there, the tour moves through Al Suwjara, a restored village built with mud and stone in the traditional Omani style, where you can walk among the houses and see how ancient building methods have been preserved alongside modern touches. The route then descends into Wadi Bani Habib, where walnut orchards still operate around the recently abandoned village of Habib, a place few tourists reach. Water is provided throughout, and the driver-guide speaks English.

The full day (8 to 9 hours with travel time included) means you see the mountain's different elevations and the villages that depend on them, without managing the steep switchbacks or navigating the terrain yourself. Children from age 3 are welcome. Al Suwjara village entrance is optional. If you choose to enter, it costs 1 OMR per person at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel, airport or port pickup and drop-off in the Muscat area.
• transportation in a climate-controlled 4WD vehicle.
• an English-speaking driver-guide with local knowledge.
• water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 60 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 3

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Get Your Omani Guide

Is this one for you?Book this as a private tour if you want to explore the mountain without driving steep switchbacks yourself, or if your group prefers not to share the vehicle and guide with other travelers. The fixed route and timing mean you see all the major stops (Nizwa, the irrigation systems, the viewpoint, Al Suwjara and Wadi Bani Habib) in a single full day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

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 is Jebel Akhdar and why is it called the Green Mountain?

Jebel Akhdar is a mountain plateau in Oman's interior, rising high enough to catch moisture and support agriculture where the lowlands are dry. Fruit plantations and rose gardens grow on its slopes, which is why locals call it the Green Mountain: the vegetation that thrives at this elevation sets it apart from the surrounding desert.

Do I need to walk much on this tour, or is most of it driving?

Most of the day is spent traveling by 4WD between stops, but you do walk through Nizwa's fort and souk, climb to the viewpoint on Jebel Akhdar itself, stroll through Al Suwjara village, and explore around the abandoned village of Habib in Wadi Bani Habib. The walks are at your own pace and not strenuous, though the mountain elevation and terrain vary across the day.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is not included in this tour. Your driver-guide can recommend places to eat during the stops, or you can bring food with you. Water is provided throughout the day.

How far is Jebel Akhdar from Muscat, and how much of the tour is driving?

Al Suwjara village sits 176 km from Muscat. Travel time is built into the 8–9 hour tour duration, so you're not spending extra hours on the road beyond what the total time accounts for. The stops and the driving are woven together across the full day.

What makes Al Suwjara different from other villages we might see?

Al Suwjara is a restored traditional Omani village on Jebel Akhdar where mud and stone houses have been preserved and adapted with modern touches, creating a working example of how ancient building methods can coexist with contemporary use. Entrance is optional and costs 1 OMR per person if you choose to go inside.