Cool Mountains
The Sayq Plateau in the Jebel Akhdar region is one of Oman's most impressive landscapes. High above the surrounding valleys lie terraced fields, steep rock faces and deep wadis. Between the mountain slopes are numerous abandoned villages, whose old mud houses and irrigation channels (falaj systems) still tell the story of the traditional life of the mountain people.
The climate is significantly milder than in the rest of Oman: at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, summers are pleasant and winters can be surprisingly cool, sometimes even with frost. Thanks to this altitude, fruits such as pomegranates, peaches and roses grow here, for which the region is famous.
Surrounded by high mountains and dramatic gorges, the Sayq Plateau offers a peaceful, almost timeless atmosphere – a contrast to the hot coastal areas of Oman.
So rugged and raw in appearance, it’s hard to believe that abandoned villages once occupied this area. But what a wonder that peaches, pomegranates and roses do grow there. One wouldn’t think that the grounds are fertile enough. The thin fog gives nice depth to this composition.