Mountains and forts guided tour

Depart Muscat first thing and drive to Nizwa to visit the Nizwa Round Tower fort and the souk. Continue to the pretty village of Birkat al Mauz and enjoy a walk through the lush green date plantations. From Birkat al Mauz, you reach Wadi al Madeen, the gate into Jebel Akhdar village (the 'Green Mountain'). From here, a 35km stretch of winding road takes you to Jebel al Akhdar (2000m), the green jewel of the Al Hajar mountain ranges. Enjoy the cool climate up in the mountains and see Jebel al Akhdar which is famed for fruit orchards laid out in terraces along the mountain slopes and irrigated by falaj, traditional water systems.

A large variety of fruit including peaches, apricots, figs, grapes, apples plums and pears are grown here from July to September and almonds and walnuts are cultivated. Tiny villages, including picturesque Saiq, Al Ain, and abandoned Wadi Bani Habib, dot the landscape and overlook a spectacular vista of peaks, gorges and wadis. The roses of Jebel al Akhdar fill the air with fragrance from March to April, when they are in full bloom, and rose water is distilled in the homes of the villagers. Overnight at the Al Jebel al Akhdar Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Jabrin, the finest castle in Oman, with original paint on the walls and the ceiling. On the way, you stop at the old and abandoned village of Tanuf right at the exit of a deep mountain wadi. After a stop in Misfah, a pretty mountain village with stone dwellings carved into the mountainside, head for Jebel Shams, the highest peak in the Jebel Akhdar range. Enjoy the spectacular views over Omanâs 1000m-deep equivalent of the Grand Canyon. Overnight at The View Camp Site.

Descend from Jebel Shams to Al Hamra, a wide plantation in between the rough mountain terrain. From here, climb on off-road tracks to another high point from which you can enjoy stunning views of the valley below. Continue down into the Wadi Bani Awf, one of the most fascinating and astonishing mountain valleys. You pass the little village of Hat and reach the beautiful mountain oasis of Bilad Said, famous for its terraced agriculture. After leaving the wadi, drive through the date palm plantations and pass the sparkling springs to the fort at Nakhl. After visiting the fort, head back to Muscat.