Our Oman rock climbing adventure at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar

We are adventurous travelers, hence our blog name ;), and are always up for trying something new and exciting. Oman is the perfect place to try all sorts of adrenaline-pumping activities while getting in touch with the astoundingly beautiful nature that surrounds you. Rock climbing on the Hajar Mountains is one of the most thrilling things to do in Oman. Believe me, our Oman rock climbing adventure scared the crap out of us, but it was one of the coolest freaking things we’ve ever done. Honestly, we (or maybe just me Alexis) nearly needed to change our pants afterwards. However, I’ve never felt more proud of myself (except after giving birth to two huge-headed children LOL). If you are a thrill-seeker looking for your next adrenaline rush or just want to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, come to Jebel Akhdar. Expore the Oman mountains on the Jabal Activity Wall at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort. Oh and bring an extra pair of underwear, just in case 😉 Check out our rock climbing videos, photos and stories to get an idea of what to expect climbing and abseiling down Jabal Akhdar, one of the best places to visit in Oman.

The scenery for our Oman rock climbing adventure

Before getting into the details of our first time rock climbing and abseiling, we want to paint a picture of this dreamy Oman landscape. Imagine yourself 2000 meters above sea level, looking out across the canyons and gorges of the Hajar Mountains. Princess Diana and Prince Charles graced this location decades ago when their private helicopter tour stopped for them to enjoy the sublime Oman canyon views. Look out at the beautiful Al Jabal Al Akhdar mountain, the villages on the mountainside, the terraces which produce pomegranates and roses among many other plants for which the Oman Green Mountain takes its name. Get the picture? If you’re having trouble, here’s some photos to help you out a little.

One of the highest Oman climbing locations

If the spectacular views aren’t enough to convince you to climb here, maybe the height will. At 2000 meters above sea level, Anantara’s Jabal Activity Wall is one of the highest climbing courses in Oman and even in all the mountains in the Middle East. I’m giving myself an extra pat on the back for accomplishing that. Just remember, don’t look down unless you want your stomach to do flips. This Oman sport is not for the fainthearted.

Oman Via Ferreta Warm-up

To get warmed up, our guide started us with a fairly easy via ferrata course on top of the mountain. In case you have no idea what we’re talking about, a via ferrata is a steel cable attached to the mountain at various points that you can walk along while being attached to it with a carabiner system. The path took us along the mountain top to the edge, where we dared to look over and got butterflies in our stomachs. We were attached to the via ferrata the entire time so were completely safe, although it was still spine-tingling.  The via ferrata course gave us the chance to get comforable with the gear and carabiner system before dangling off any mountain tops. Our guides were fantastic and one carried our camera so he could snap this epic photo from the other side of the cliff. Although we were completely safe, I still feel like a badass for sitting on the edge of that cliff.

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – Anantara Abseiling

Abseiling down Al Jabal Al Akhdar

After making our way through the easy via ferrata course, it was time to step it up a level. Next was abseiling down the mountainside. Yes, we really abseiled down Jabal Akhdar mountain, or at least part of it. I’m so proud of myself. My legs were trembling and I almost backed out. I can’t remember a time I’ve ever been more terrified, and I’ve been skydiving and zip lining in Costa Rica and in the alpine forests of Whistler at incredible heights.

I was jokingly singing the lyrics of that song that goes “Now lean back, lean back, lean back” before it was my turn. A little music always lightens the mood when you are afraid you’re going to die.  The couple that went first were seasoned rock climbers and made it look so easy. Then Bertaut went (who has never done this either), and I started getting more nervous. He’s a tough guy and probably doesn’t like to admit this, but he was scared. It took him awhile before he leaned back over the edge of the cliff and trusted that the cables and equipment would keep him from falling. Once he took the leap of faith and leaned back, he was fine the rest of the way down. Whew, he made it.

Now it was my turn and I was wondering if I would regret it if I bailed. My legs were shaking and my thoughts were going crazy with worst-case scenarios. But no! I didn’t come all the way to Oman and to this amazing resort to let a little anxiety stop me from my next great adventure. Plus, how would I be able to tell all of you about it if I didn’t experience it myself? It was time to face my fears and trust that I would be safe.

After much convincing from the very encouraging guides, I finally mustered the courage to lean back over the edge of the mountain and let go. He warned me not to look down, but of course I did. OMG that was a mistake! But I couldn’t back out now. Actually, after the initial terrifying moment of leaning back and letting go, the rest of the way down wasn’t too bad. I went nice and slow. My confidence increased as my altitude decreased. The guides, other climbers with us, and my dear hubby were cheering me on the whole day down. I made it to the bottom and didn’t even have to change my underwear! Hip hip hooray!

Climbing up Jabal Al Akhdar

Once I abseiled all the way to the bottom of the activity wall, I thought I was done with the hard part. Boy was I wrong! Rock climbing was even scarier than abseiling for me. It’s hard to explain, because rationally it shoudn’t be that scary. I was still attached to the via ferrata and would have been perfectly safe had I fallen. However, I kept thinking that if I fell, I was going to get seriously hurt. It’s like I had completely forgotten about the safety equipment and was hanging on for my dear life to the side of that mountain.

Plus, being short, I think that made the rock climbing more challenging. Bertaut looked like a mountain goat climbing up that rock wall. His long legs and arms made it easier to scale that wall like Spiderman.

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – Anantara Jabel Akhdar RockClimbing

Shortee over here had less options for hand placement since I couldn’t reach as far. Thankfully the guide told me where to put each hand and foot whenever I got paralyzed by fear. At one point I wanted out, but was halfway up the rock wall by then. The thought of letting go and abseiling down from there seemed worse than finishing what I had started. Plus, I’m not a quitter. So I sucked it up and made my way up the rest of that mountainside, slow and steady.

At the top it was time to abseil down again, but this time it felt like a piece of cake since it was my second time abseiling. 😉 Plus, after the harrowing climb up the rock wall, I was in a hurry to be back on solid ground and be done. I was simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated. First of all, it was physically demanding and working all sorts of muscles I hadn’t used in a long time. Second, it was emotionally taxing because I was terrified for a good chunk of the time. I was ready for a cocktail and a relaxing swim in our private plunge pool. Read our Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar review  for photos and details of the resort that will make you add it to your bucket list. Despite my fatigue and weary nerves, I was beaming with pride for doing something that scared the crap out of me (not literally, although it could have easily been LOL).

Ziplining on Jabal Akhdar

If we had opted for Anantara’s Ultimate Activity Wall, then our adventure would have continued with Oman’s first mountain zipline.  The 90 minute experience includes rock climbing along a via ferrata and ends with 2 zip lines suspended high above the canyon. We hope to try this the next time we are in Oman, because we will certainly be back for more amazing adventures in one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever explored.

Know before you go

What to wear rock climbing

Make sure to dress appropriately with long pants that have some stretch, long sleeves, and tennis shoes. I wore my yoga pants and Bertaut wore athletic pants, which sufficed, but check out these Women’s Rock Climbing Pants and Men’s Rock Climbing Pants, which would have been better. I also wore my Under Armour Shirt which has moisture-wicking fabric and kept me dry even when I was anxiously sweating.

What to bring to take rock climbing videos and photos

We brought our GoPro HERO6 which we mounted to my helmet so I could capture all my fears and moments of glory on camera. If you don’t have a GoPro, then we highly recommend getting one for adventurous activities like ziplining, snorkeling, and mountain biking. Check current prices Here. We also brought our 360 degree camera, the Ricoh Theta, which takes both photos and videos to give you a virtual tour so to speak of the scenery. Buy your own Here for cool photos to impress everyone you know! 😉

We didn’t feel comfortable carrying our expensive Canon Camera but thankfully the guide carried it in his backpack so we could capture photos once we had made it to the bottom of the activity wall. The views up there are impressive! Here’s another look and one of Bertaut’s proud moments.

Bertaut also brought along his phone, but be very careful if you do so. Bertaut had his phone in his pants pocket, and it fell out while he was climbing up the mountain. Thankfully our guide had quick reflexes and miraculously caught it. Otherwise, his expensive iPhone 7 Plus would have been destroyed along with all the videos we had filmed on our Oman tour. That would have been tragic! So if you bring anything, you should wear pants or a Jacket with zippered pockets so you don’t drop anything. That phone not only would have been destroyed, but it could have seriously hurt someone if it had fallen on them. Come prepared and have fun (literally).

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – Dancing on Jebel Ahkdar

Last words on abseiling and rock climbing in Oman

We made it through the Jabal Activity Wall without crapping our pants or losing our lunch. That deserves applause and at least a drink or two! If you’re a beginner like us, be prepared to be pushed way beyond your comfort zone and face your fears. If you’re an experienced rock climber like the couple that went ahead of us, then enjoy the views and accomplishment of climbing Jabal Akhdar, one of the highest mountains in Oman. Whatever your level of experience, you will be in good hands and very safe, so go for it! We felt like Olympic champions after our little adventure (ok maybe I’m exaggerating, but we did feel very accomplished).

Since rock climbing and abseiling on Jabal Akhdar has to be one of the most exhilarating things to do here, Oman adventure tours are not complete without a trip to the Jabal Activity Wall. For more thrilling outdoor activities in Oman, read about our experience glamping in the desert, where we flew above the dunes in a Micro Light plane. Check out more of our adventures in the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which are only about a 5 hour drive from Jabal Al Akhdar.

Sign up for our email newsletter for more travel tips and inspiration to explore the world. If you liked this post, please share and pin it for later.  Let us know if you have any questions about rock climbing at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar. It is amazing and we hope we’ve inspired you to add this kick-ass activity to your bucket list! Buy some books to help you plan your visit, including an Oman Travel Guide, Rock Climbing in Oman guide, Conversational Arabic Guide, and an Oman Culture Guide.

**Disclosure- We were guests of Anantara for this activity, but all opinions are our own. This post contains some Amazon affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through our link at no extra cost to you.