Oman- 163,176 tourists visited Jebel Akhdar last year, says MoT
Date
6/15/2016 1:57:18 AM
(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-
Sitting pretty at an altitude of around 3,000m, Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) in the wilayat of Nizwa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the sultanate.
According to Hamoud bin Khalid al Qamshoei, director of tourism in Dakhliyah, Jebel Akhdar saw 163,176 tourists last year as compared to 151,985 in 2014. Of these, 76,903 were Omanis, 18,988 were from the GCC and Arab countries and 67,285 were from other countries, across the world Qamshoei said. The increasing popularity of the serene destination can be attributed to its moderate summers and cold winters. Just 170km away from Muscat, the road to Jebel Akhdar starts from Birkat al Mouz which passes through Wadi al Maidan. The climb up the mountain is possible only with a 4WD. With its magnificent agricultural terraces, unique vegetation, towering mountains, diverse terrain, and magnificent valleys, Jebel Akhdar is a tourist''s paradise. Several villages in the area such as Saiq, Wadi Bani Habib, A''Shraija, Al Ain, Al Uqr, Saloot, Al Musaira, Al Manakhir, Hail al Yemen and Al Jarir look straight out of a painting. Characterised by old stylish houses and neighbourhoods, lush farms and terraces, the abundance of fresh water and springs add to the beauty of the place. Jebel Akhdar is also famous for its seasonal fruits, such as pomegranates, walnuts, almonds, figs, peaches, apricots, pears, apples, grapes and aromatic plants. The most popular among the flower varieties is rose. The area is famous for producing high-quality rose water. For those interested in hiking to the picturesque mountains, the Ministry of Tourism has charted out trekking routes from Nizwa, Izki, Nakhl and Al Awabi. The area is also known for its caves such as Al Maawel, Amir, Dhaba, Raihaniyah, Abd and Al Kour that are famous tourist sites. Recently, villagers in the area have also started growing olive trees. These evergreen trees require less water and help villagers get good returns by selling finest oils at reasonable prices. In addition to several hotel apartments, popular hotels in the area are Al Jabal al Akhdar Hotel, Al Jabal al Akhdar Alila Hotel and the Sahab Hotel.