The Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel is a 5 star Oman resort located at the top of Jabal Akhdar Oman. Also known as ‘the green mountain’ Oman. This luxury hotel in Oman is undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Oman, a real bucket-list experience and we are going to tell you exactly why…
Where is Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar hotel?
The Anantara Jebel Akhdar is, as the name suggests, located on top of the Jabal Akhdar mountain. Jabal Akhdar is in the Nizwa region of Oman, around a 2.5hour drive from the capital Muscat. To drive on Jabal Akhdar you need to have a 4×4 car, you will need to pass a checkpoint. However, don’t worry if you don’t have a 4×4, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar hotel can arrange transportation for you.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar is the highest luxury hotel in the Middle East sitting at 2,980m above sea level. It is also one of the highest luxury hotels in the world. As we said, a true bucketlist hotel.
What is the nearest airport to Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar hotel?
The nearest airport to to this top hotel in Oman is Muscat International Airport. However, from Muscat airport you will need to drive an additional 2.5 hours to reach Anantara Jebel Akhdar. We would recommend including a stay at this Oman luxury hotel as part of a road trip in Oman.
For more ideas on a road trip in Oman check out our Best Itinerary for Oman 7 days, Dubai to Oman road trip or best wadis in Oman to visit for lots of ideas.
How to get to Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar from Muscat?
The easiest way to get to this luxury mountain hotel in Oman is driving. We would recommend hiring a car from Muscat airport and driving to Jebel Akhdar. Bare in mind, that you will need a 4×4 to pass the checkpoint and drive up to the top of Jabal Akhdar mountain. However, if you are not able to get a 4×4 then Anantara Aljabal Alakhdar will be able to arrange transportation for you.
Can I drive from Dubai to Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar?
Yes! If you live in the UAE the easiest way to get this famous Oman luxury resort is to drive. If you choose to fly to Muscat you will still need to hire a car and drive 2.5hours to reach the top of the green mountain Oman, Jabal Akhdar.
Driving from Dubai takes around 5 hours with a border crossing. The best border crossing is through Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This border is quieter than the popular Hatta border so it doesn’t take very long to drive through at all. Simply follow Highway 21 across the Al Ain border at Jebel Hafeet until you reach Nizwa. A very flat, long road surrounded by mountains, desert, goats and camels. Pack the snacks, charge the ipads for the kids, download some podcasts and enjoy the scenery.
What do I need to cross the border from UAE to Oman?
The rules often change so be sure to check out the latest updates on the official Omani Government website.
Required:
- Passport
- Visa – if you are a UAE or Qatari Resident you can cross easily by showing your passport at the border office when driving through. If you are not a resident of these countries you can apply for an e-visa before travelling, at least 4 days in advance.
- Driving Licence
- Oman Insurance – contact your Insurance Company and ask for Oman Insurance or an Orange Card that they should be able to email over to you.
- Registration Card – rumours over Eid-al-Fitr during April ’24 were that border police in Musandam were asking for a physical card and turning people away from the border. This is an electronic system and physical cards haven’t been issued in the UAE for many years. We haven’t personally experienced this and hopefully it has been rectified to just the electronic card but check with Omani officials first.
- Car – Currently (April ’24) you can only drive across the border if you own your car outright. If you have a bank loan on your car you will need to seek an NOC from the bank allowing you to drive it across the border. Currently rental cars are not allowed to drive across the border. This will hopefully change back soon and we will update as we hear.
When is the best time to visit Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel?
The best thing about Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar hotel is that it can be visited all year round. Unlike other areas in Oman, UAE and the rest of the Middle East as the Anantara Jebel Akhdar is on top of a mountain, 2980m above sea level it is significantly cooler than other neighbouring areas.
Jabal Akhdar is famous for its pomegranate trees, roses, olives and apricots which flourish on the mountain terraces. The meaning of Jabal Akhdar in Arabic is ‘green mountain’. So if you want to see this beautiful mountain in its full glory the best time to visit is from February until May. During this time the roses are in full bloom and the mountain will be at its greenest. We visited during Easter Holidays in April and were lucky enough to see roses starting to appear and bright green terraces ready to be harvested.
Is it too hot to visit Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel during summer months?
As mentioned, unlike the rest of the surrounding area this Oman luxury resort will experience comfortable temperatures during summer months. Temperatures are likely to reach around 30-35c which although hot, is significantly cooler than Muscat and the UAE. This makes an ideal time for an Oman mountain escape to sit by the wonderful infinity pool overlooking the canyon.
The Rooms at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar
There are a mix of villas and hotel rooms at this five star hotel in Oman. A variety of rooms to suit large families and a range of budgets. The Anantara Jebel Akhdar even boasts a 3-bedroom, two-storey villa with a private cliff-edge pool, if you have the budget for it. Truly spectacular. The more affordable hotel rooms have wonderful canyon view rooms with balconies which are perfect for watching the sunset drop over the mountain.
We loved the option of having our own private pool to while away the afternoons and let the kids let off some early morning energy before breakfast on the luxurious mountain resort. We stayed in a 2-bedroom deluxe garden pool villa.
Two Bedroom Deluxe Garden Pool Villa
We could not fault this spacious, luxurious villa. From the moment you walk into this Omani designed villa your breath is taken away. We adored the indoor outdoor living space where we could pull back the doors and go inside and outside however we fancied. The two bedrooms are huge, the master even has 2 dressing rooms which ensured that we were able to keep everything clean and tidy whilst we were there.
The living space is massive with a full sized dining table, sofas and a separate kitchen and toilet. Everything has been well thought out and designed and we loved the little touches like the coffee machine, the wine fridge, a range of glasses and crockery, ample choice of tea and coffee, TVs with mirroring so the kids could watch Netflix, huge bathrooms, robes and slippers and an abundance of bottled, filtered water (a silly sounded thing but in some places in the Middle East you can expect to pay A LOT for a bottle of water when you are unable to drink tap water).
For more pictures and videos of this incredible room at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar check out my Instagram Reel and highlights on my Instagram Page.
The Facilities at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar
The huge enticer, and rightly so, for this resort in Oman is the infinity pool overlooking the canyon. The sun shining, the air fresh and incredible views over the mountain and canyon – does it get much better?
As well as the incredible infinity pool at Anantara Jabal Akhdar there are a range of facilities. There are bikes and scooters to hire, a big gym, tennis, a library, Diana’s Point to relax and take in the view. As well as paid additional activities like Jabal Activity Wall where you can go ziplining and rock climbing out in the canyon. Additionally there is archery, yoga and cooking classes to attend. As well as, of course, the famous Anantara Spa. The spas at Anantara Hotels are like stepping into Thailand for a few hours. Make sure to at least check out the spa facilities if you don’t have time to fit in a treatment.
If you are looking to get out of the resort and explore a little bit of the local area then we highly recommend the Three Village Trail Hike. This hike is accessible to kids and is quite an easy hike. It is run by a guide who has lived in the area his whole life, he will take you along the Falaj System – water irrigation system that runs through the farm villages on the mountain. You will need to walk along narrow walls at times so ensure you have the proper footwear. We loved seeing the green mountain Oman in its full glory and the views were incredible. You can check out our Reel from this hike here on Instagram.
What is Diana’s Point at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel?
It is said that the late Princess Diana visited this exact spot when she was married to King Charles in 1986. She was said to have read a book whilst he painted the landscape. This was prior to the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar being built as this hotel opened in July 2016. However, the area has been preserved into an extraordinary walkway and seating area for guests to enjoy the same view as they did all those years ago. A special place.
Is there a Kids Club at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel?
Yes! In the Recreation Centre at the Anantara Jebel Akhdar hotel there is both a kids and teens club. The Kids Club is aimed at younger kids with soft play equipment and lots of games, activities and crafts. The teens club has a ping pong table, pool table and playstation etc. Our boys (8 and 9) spent a lot of time in the teens club escaping from the sun for a few games of table tennis and pool. There is always a member of staff around as well as the gym and tennis court in close vicinity. We also loved the little games around the group like hoopla and bean bag throwing.
Anantara Jabal Akhdar Restaurants
As you would expect from an Oman luxury hotel like the Anantara Jebel Akhdar, the restaurants and quality of the food is fantastic.
Al Maisan Restaurant
Breakfast is served daily in the international restaurant Al Maisan where guests are treated to a huge breakfast buffet. Everything you could possibly want for breakfast is included from fruit, cereals, cold meats, hot english breakfast, pancakes and waffles. To a bakery section and more local traditions and Arabic breakfast like falafal, manakeesh and medames. My favourite part was the egg station where I had the best eggs benedict I’ve ever eaten, so good I ordered it both mornings. Strong, hot coffee and excellent service topped it off to be one of the best breakfast experiences we’ve had.
There is a huge terrace where breakfast, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed over looking the resort and over to the canyon. We enjoyed a traditional Iftar here (iftar is the meal enjoyed after sunset during Ramadan for Muslims who are fasting but open and welcomed to be enjoyed by all). The Arabic buffet was delicious, we particularly enjoyed the BBQ meat, fish and biryani.
Note that in Ramadan the terrace is only open after sunset and no alcohol is served in Al Maisan during Ramadan.
Bella Vista Restaurant
Lunch can be eaten daily in the scrumptious Bella Vista restaurant. A wonderful Mediterranean restaurant with unbeatable views over the canyon. Bella Vista is situated right next to the stunning infinity pool and Diana’s View so you can enjoy the views whilst enjoying the food. We were on a full board package so we ate lunch here twice and also went back for dinner one evening to sample the night views and evening specials. During the evening the fire heaters and blankets are out and it is still possible to enjoy a cosy evening meal outside.
Some of our favourite food we enjoyed here was squid ink risotto, sea bass, scallops, short ribs, burrata and pizza. The kids loved the tomato pasta so much that they ate it every day. We loved the food at this restaurant, coupled with the service and welcome it brought us happily back each day.
Note: During Ramadan alcohol is served here after sunset. You can enjoy an al fresco lunch by the terrace here during Ramadan too.
Al Qalaa Restaurant
This restaurant looks fabulous and is located in the traditional fort in the resort. It has Middle Eastern dining and is open in the evenings. Unfortunately, it was closed during Ramadan so we can’t comment on it personally but the setting looked beautiful.
Al Baha and Al Burj Restaurants
The cafe and deli situated in the lobby of the hotel is called Al Baha and has some lovely outside seating, perfect to enjoy a morning coffee. Al Burj is the resort bar, offering shisha and drinks. Make sure to check out Happy Hour here daily from 5pm-6pm.
What is it like during Ramadan in Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Restaurants?
There are opportunities for you to continue to have whatever you like during Ramadan in Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar. There is no need to refrain from eating and drinking during fasting hours.
- Breakfast is served as usual in Al Maisan Restaurant – indoor seating only
- Lunch is served as usual in Bella Vista Restaurant – outdoor and indoor seating available. Alcohol only after sunset.
- Dinner is served as usual both at Al Maisan and Bella Vista Restaurant. Al Maisan has a traditional Iftar offering Middle Eastern cuisine and traditional Arabic Music from someone playing an Oud. If you have never experienced an iftar we would highly recommend.
Is a stay at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar worth it?
Yes, yes, 10000% yes! This is a true escape and experience. If you are exploring your way around Oman then, in our honest opinion, both Jabal Al Akhdar and Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel should not be missed.
It is a long, but scenic drive. There are plenty of places to stop and enjoy on the way. The views, pool, rooms, food and service make this luxurious hotel resort on the top of the green mountain Oman a true hideaway.
I understand that it is a luxurious, 5 star resort that might be unaffordable to some. However, they do offer great GCC Rates on their website and it is a once in a lifetime experience – that I want to repeat! You will not be disappointed in a stay here.
Oman is wonderful country that we love and will continue to explore. Subscribe to our blog to get our posts as we publish them to keep up to date with our adventures. You can also check out our Instagram @dubaiandbeyond_ for lots more pictures and videos on our Reels, Posts and Highlights.
For More Oman Information:
- The Best Itinerary for Oman for 7 Days
- A weekend in Muscat
- Review of InterContinental Muscat
- Review of Grand Millennium Hotel Muscat
- Why you MUST visit Dimaniyat islands Oman
- Dubai to Oman Road Trip
- 3 Best Wadis in Oman
- Bimmah Sinkhole with Kids
- Visiting Wadi Shab Oman with Kids
- A Family Trip to Wadi Bani Khalid
- Visiting Nizwa with Kids
- A Traditional Omani hotel in Jebel Akhdar
- Hiking and Camping Spot in Dibba
- A Weekend in Musandam
Disclaimer: This post what you need to know about staying at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel, has affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you.
We were kindly invited by Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Hotel to stay at their hotel and give a review. All opinions are our own.
