We visited Oman for the first time in December 2021 for our five-year anniversary. It was a perfect and easy trip away from Abu Dhabi while pandemic restrictions are still in effect in the UAE. We wanted to ease our way into traveling internationally again, so hiking and via ferrata in the cool mountain air was just the break from the desert we needed! Then, in March 2022, we ventured up to Musandam, Oman to deepwater solo for a dear friend's birthday. The water is such an inviting, vibrant blue, and we had an amazing time with some of the best company.
What We Did
Pre-trip notes
Exiting Abu Dhabi sometimes has long lines at the border due to a slow exit visa process. We recommend getting there before 10 am.
To enter Oman from Abu Dhabi by car, it is best to obtain the Oman visa online beforehand to avoid extra time at the border.
The road up to Jabal Akhdar is very steep and has a police checkpoint near the base to check vehicles for 4WD capability. The 4WD is not necessary per se, what's important is shifting to a lower gear on the way down to avoid excessive braking. The 4WD component is a secondary safety measure that engages all four wheels against the engine.
Nizwa
Anantara Jabal Akhdar: A beautiful resort with the types of activities we love.
Jabal Activity Wall: We were guided through our first via ferratta and absolutely loved it. The safety was top-notch and the views unbeatable. We think our rock climbing experience certainly helped make us feel more comfortable, but it's definitely not a necessary prerequisite. Our guide also took some really awesome photos!
Three Village Trail Hike: We wanted to do something on our own, so this self-guided hike was great. We had some trouble finding the entry point to the trail (hint: if you've walked on the road a while to start, you've gone the wrong way), but once we found it, the rest of the hike was easy to follow. The walk is easy, and you can make the adventure as long as you'd like, as the terminus is open-ended (we took just under four hours). The highlight was walking by the terrace farms that have lasted for about 500 years. Because of their elevation, farmers can grow a lot of different things here, such as: apples, walnuts, pomegranates, olives, apricots, almonds, roses, figs, and more). The Omani government is encouraging its people to again live in such traditional villages for culture preservation and tourism. Over 22,000 people live amongst the current villages on Jabal Akhdar. However, most have moved away from the particular villages we visited due to a significant decrease in rainfall (partially climate change, partially cyclical).
Lost Village Hike (Wadi al Hijri): This hike kicked our butts! We did the hike in about four and a half hours, and there are some aerobically-challenging bits. But, the wadi views, farming, and the Lost Village were so cool! The farm down in the wadi is able to grow a few things the farmers are unable to cultivate on the mountain terraces because of warmer temperatures (e.g. bananas, date palms, and papaya). We stopped for some dates and cardamom tea with one of the farmers. For this hike, our guide told us it's best to go with someone who knows the wadi. A European couple (who claimed to have lots of experienced hiking) got lost and had to be rescued not long ago. The Lost Village itself is fully abandoned and is thought to be 500-700 years old. We perused the building style, and even saw a very small mosque with the mihrab inside.
Dibba, Musandam
Deepwater Solo (DWS): Our friend put together such a fun day for her birthday by renting out a dhow to go deepwater soloing. Basically, you get boated to the rock face, at which point you climb without a rope vertically and/or horizontally until you decide you are done or you fall (into the water). People even had the option to kayak, wake board, and snorkel. And, there were all kinds of (healthy) snacks, lunch, and tea while on board. It was the perfect day celebrating an amazing friend, and we can't wait to DWS again!
Food
Nizwa
Bella Vista: Really great Italian restaurant. However, we wished the hotel had more restaurant options, because we felt a bit burnt out by this one by the end.
Al Baha: Really good breakfast to start each day.
Diana's Point: An amazing spot to feel as though you're immersed in the mountains. The food and service were excellent. You do feel a bit far away from the rest of the hotel, which is obviously great, but there was also longs spans of time we'd be waiting for a waiter to order more drinks. But again, the service and food were really good. They even wheeled out a heater and brought us blankets!
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