Alila Jabar Akhdar Hotel

Oman

The name translates as ‘green mountain’ – although you wouldn’t presume as much given the rugged desert location. This 2,000m high clifftop resort is surrounded by craggy canyons, gorges and peaks – including Jebel Shams, the country’s tallest – in Oman’s Al Hajar mountain range.

The design takes its cue from ancient Omani forts. Rough-hewn stone is used across clusters of suites (86 total), while copper ornaments and handmade pottery from nearby Bahla adorn the generous bedrooms. Temperatures 15C cooler than Muscat (a two-and-a-half hour drive to sea level) make it a perfect summer trip and everything here is geared to adventure. Think hiking, nature trails through pomegranate-strewn wadis, caving, and mountain biking, with culture-rich explorations of ancient Nizwa and the region’s ghost villages. That is, when you’re not supine by the infinity pool, feasting at the excellent panoramic restaurant or indulging in a spa treatment using local damask rose, far from the bustle of modern life.

Doubles from £216. 00 968 2534 4200, alilahotels.com


Words by Blossom Green.

This review was taken from the July 2021 issue of Food and Travel.

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