Tuesday 16 / April / 2024
With an abundance of fruit trees and orchards of almonds, pears, pomegranates, peaches, and grapes, splashing a kaleidoscope of colours across the landscape, harvest season has arrived on the Green Mountain in Oman. From August until October, guests staying at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort can embrace the beauty of the landscape with nature walks, mountain biking and an array of exceptional experiences, whilst spa treatments and seasonally inspired cuisine harness the bounty of the surroundings, providing yet another reason to ‘fall’ for Oman this autumn.
Perched 2,000 metres above sea level, the resort benefits from its very own microclimate, with temperatures around 15 degrees lower than the rest of the region. With a fresh alpine breeze blowing over the mountain, combined with an ancient al falaj irrigation system, the verdant landscape comes alive with thick groves of walnut trees, leafy branches bearing rosy-red pomegranates and bushes bursting with sweet and succulent black grapes. With more than 7,000 trees and 250 shrubs planted in the gardens of the resort, it transforms during harvest season.
Guests can watch as farmers gather the harvest, often using traditional methods such as donkey and cart, before paying a visit to the fascinating nearby villages such as Al Ayn, Al Aqur and Ash Shirayjah, where the age-old way of life continues as they reap the benefits of the season.
A visit to the ancient city of Nizwa at the bottom of the mountain, stopping off at streetside stands to purchase flavourful and delicious walnuts along the way, allows guests to delve into the local way of life by wandering around the souks, stopping to chat with vendors and purchase their freshly harvested supply.
Crisp, light, subtly sweet, and rich in antioxidants, more than 23,000 pomegranate trees grow on the mountaintop and are the oldest and most valuable source of income for farmers in the region. The iconic pomegranate fruit has been incorporated into any array of experiences, from spa treatment to cocktails and cuisine.
Those seeking rejuvenation can head to the Anantara Spa and choose the ‘Revitalising Pomegranate Journey’ which utilises the nourishing and regenerating properties of pomegranate blended with salt to perform a body ritual scrub combined with an Arabian massage and a milk and oriental spice foot cleansing ritual.
Meanwhile, pomegranate as well as wild berries, figs, and almonds feature in array of dishes at the resort’s collection of six restaurants, under the helm of new Executive Chef Gaspare Greco. For breakfast, guests can tuck into a platter of freshly picked fruit with yoghurt whilst enjoying the morning sunshine at Al Maisan, with fine dining restaurant Al Qalaa serving inventive Omani cuisine, with produce harvested from nearby orchards and fields, including the resort’s very own herb garden, to create inspired and authentic dishes.
Guests can even take part in the signature cookery classes, ‘Spice Spoons’ which allows them to discover the array of produce available on the mountain by visiting the resort’s Chef’s Garden to handpick a wonderful array of vegetables, fruit, herbs and spices before being guided on the secrets of Thai and Omani cuisine with an interactive cookery class.
Whether it’s wandering through charming orchards, dining on fresh flavours or discovering age-old traditional, guests can escape city life and embrace nature as Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort flourishes this harvest season.
For more information or to make a reservation, visit jabal-akhdar.anantara.com
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