Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort has a prime position atop one of Oman’s highest mountains. Fernanda Langhammer took a trip to this magical place for a memorable stay with her family.
If you ask anyone who lives in the Middle East, which is the country in the region that is a must-visit? The answer is unanimous: Oman. The sultanate has a large area with a lot to offer, from rich nature and pristine beaches to mountain destinations with incredible canyons and wadis.
I headed there to visit the acclaimed Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, located at 2,000m above the sea level, at the tip-top of Jebel Akhdar Mountain, which is part of the Al Hajar Mountain Range – with one of the most amazing views I have ever seen in my life. My trip occurred during high summer, but at Al Jabal, the temperature is always very pleasant (it can get quite chilly during winter) and the weather was absolutely perfect.
But before we got there, a two-hour journey from Muscat International Airport onboard Anantara’s comfortable four-by-four vehicle was required. The drive was pleasant and from the car’s window, I could see the landscape changing. The road gets quite steep, but I felt very safe as behind the wheel was a very experienced driver who had done this route many times.
We arrived quite late at the resort and after a smooth check-in done by smiley Rajib, we went straight to dinner at Al Maisan restaurant. It was Asian Buffet Night and the food selection was more than we could have asked for, even with our big appetites. Our party of four had a few items that were must-tries: the wakame salad, made with edible seaweed, and the glass noodle salad, which was delicious and refreshing with a nice crunch. We are big fans of Japanese food and the sashimi and sushi, especially the unagi nigiri, were beautifully prepared.
Home From Home
That was the sign on the bathroom mirror, and we felt exactly like that after we entered the massive two-bedroom villa with garden views. By the main door, a wooden plaque with my surname painted in pink signalled our refuge for two days. The first thing I saw when I stepped inside the villa was the incredible private pool across the living and dining area. It was beautifully illuminated, and the big dark ceramic tiles in green and blue tones transformed the place into a whimsical paradise. The first thing the kids did was to get changed and jump in the pool – yes, nighttime swim.
The villa is composed of a master suite on the right side with two closets, a washroom with a walk-in shower and a bathtub, two sinks and a make-up mirror. On the left side, a twin bedroom with its own bathroom with two sinks and a huge shower – it was perfect for our family with plenty of space. Not only were the rooms spacious, but the common area, where we spent most of the time, had plenty of seats and a dining table for six people. The décor is stunning, with stone ceramic floors in the living areas and wet spaces and dark wood in the bedrooms. Wooden panels and Arabic elements throughout the villa with indirect lighting give a luxurious yet cosy touch.
That night of sleep was splendid; the bed linen was very soft and they had a pillow menu with many options. I requested a memory foam pillow, which came to our villa in no time before my eyes shut.
The Next Day
Waking up in a place like Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar makes you feel instantly grateful and full of joy. On our way to breakfast at Al Maisan (with all sorts of breakfast staples such as fruits, yoghurts, cereal, bread and live egg preparations, but also Indian and Asian stations with delicacies from these regions), we could appreciate the hotel’s beautiful design, green garden terraces and we finally had a peek at the breathtaking view. We walked to Diana’s Point, which is believed to be the place that Princess Diana visited in the company of the then Prince Charles, in 1986. The Royal couple would have walked the flat slabs of rock to the edge of the canyon to appreciate the splendid view, and this is where the resort now stands. Next to it, an immense infinity-edge pool faces the rock formation, giving you a sense of plenitude and the feeling of being on top of the world.
The heart of the resort is the grand central courtyard, which evokes the Moorish architecture off Alhambra, Spain, with a fire pit in the centre for evenings of Bedouin storytelling. The plentiful fruit trees, flowers and a chef’s garden create the perfect environment for the numerous butterflies and birds. Walking through the many pathways was one of my favourite things to do during our stay.
Beyond The Stay
If you are one of those people who can’t stay still and you need to keep yourself busy, even when you could just spend the day cherishing spectacular views, there are several daily activities. You find bicycles that you can grab and ride or electric scooters for rent, archery, rock climbing and various different hikes.
We went on the Three Village Tour, which included a town with locals and two abandoned villages. One is Wadi Bani Habib, and our guide, Hussain, was the absolute best. He is from the region and knows the place very well, so he took us on unexplored paths by the irrigation system where we had perfect views of the construction and passed by many fruit trees, such as pomegranate and local specimens. It was an unforgettable experience.
Another must-do activity is to embark on a pampering session at Anantara Spa. I went for the Anantara Signature Massage, which combines Eastern and Western techniques to stimulate circulation and deeply relax the muscles. Reflexology is also used to clear blockages of energy and promote overall wellbeing. Benny, my therapist, asked which areas I would like her to focus on and I picked my upper back and legs. She also gave me the option of using coconut or lavender oil, and I picked the latter because of its relaxing properties. It was such an amazing massage, such that the rest of the family also went for it. We were all relaxed enjoying our private pool and lovely weather.
I decided to use the gym to return to my exercise routine; apart from all the usual gym equipment, there is a climbing wall where my son had loads of fun. I also found a games room and a kids’ club in the gym building complex.
Nourishing the Body
There are six restaurants and lounges at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, and besides Al Maisan, we also dined at Bella Vista and Al Qalaa. Bella Vista is an Italian eatery with relaxed décor, inside seats, and a terrace leading to Diana’s Point. The menu brings all the comforting Italian staples, vegan options and much more. We chose a selection of dishes; however, the star plate was the grilled octopus with Romanesco sauce and baby potatoes with a smoked paprika touch. The octopus was cooked to perfection and the smoky flavour just made us fight for the last piece. We also ordered the homemade potato gnocchi (I am a huge gnocchi enthusiast) in tomato sauce with parmesan shavings and it was as comforting as I expected. The Mediterranean seabass fillet, with tomato and caper sauce on top of baby potatoes was the other item, the seabass was fresh with crunchy skin and soft meat. The meal was very light and perfect for our lunch break.
Al Qalaa has a fine dining vibe. The signature restaurant is housed in a free-standing tower that takes inspiration from the iconic architecture of Khasab Castle in Musandam, northern Oman. The interior is grand; the geometric floor in black and gold was paired beautifully with the red chairs. Many Arabic elements decorate the space, indicating the cuisine we would find on the menu. Megin, the restaurant’s supervisor, helped us and we had a mix of signature dishes, such as The Black Hummus with local black garlic and baklava chips, and Shuwa Lamb Shank, marinated in Omani spices and slow cooked for 12 hours. The black garlic added a hint of sweetness to the hummus and was delicious. The lamb was so soft, falling from the bone and melting in the mouth with delectable flavours. We also had the seafood platter, eggplant puree and the halloumi and beetroot salad. From the sweet options, we went for Um Ali (a family favourite) and Kunafa. They were both spectacular, and the Um Ali was probably the best I have ever had. I was so glad when Chef Sayed came to greet us so we could personally thank him for the fantastic meal served.
So Long!
Our two days at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort passed in the blink on an eye, but we enjoyed every second of it. It was a fantastic experience, and I must say that the views of the canyon will stay with me forever. If you are looking for a perfect escape, there is no better place to go – fabulous weather, delicious food and a deep sense of serenity. We are already planning another visit soon.
For more information, please call Anantara Al Jabal
Al Akhdar Resort on +968 2521 8000,
email aljabalalakhdar@anantara.com or visit
www.anantara.com/en/jabal-akhdar
@anantarajabalakhdar