Wadi Bani Habib refers less to the wadi of walnuts and pomegranates that are still grown here, and more to the ruined village that lies wrapped around the bottom of the valley. An easy walking path leads down 200 steps to the wadi bottom, across the irrigation channel that keeps the orchards fertile, and up to a cluster of slowly decaying mud buildings on the other side. The whole area is picturesque but best avoided at weekends when it gets crowded and parking is difficult.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
24.91 MILES
Rising without competition from the surrounding plain, Jabreen Castle is an impressive sight. Even if you have had a surfeit of fortifications, it's worth…
26.53 MILES
Built on the foundations of a pre-Islamic structure, the towers and entrance of this fort were constructed during the reign of Imam Said Bin Sultan in…
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27.15 MILES
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24.74 MILES
Two cannons mark the interior courtyard of this enormous fort – the entrance alone signals its former importance. Built on top of pre-Islamic foundations,…
16.01 MILES
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20.53 MILES
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20.69 MILES
This quirky museum is more open house than historical display. Three ladies accompany guests around their traditional house in the aged and crumbling…
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24.68 MILES
Tucked into the unlit and crumbling old quarter of Rustaq, behind the fort, this unique museum is the personal project of the owner, Zakia Al Lamki. Left…
Nearby Jebel Akhdar attractions
2.39 MILES
Not to be confused with the main town of Saiq, this small village has a rose-water distillery, making it an interesting place to visit during production…
3.58 MILES
Growing an abundance of pink Damask roses that bloom in spring (late March, early April), this village is linked to neighbouring villages by the…
4.15 MILES
This tiny hamlet clinging to the edge of the cliff, below Diana's Viewpoint, is typical of the villages on the Saiq plateau. Growing an assortment of…
4.2 MILES
The rim of the cliff here, with its celebrated panoramic view of the farmed terraces below, has a royal connection. Diana, Princess of Wales, enjoyed this…
7.58 MILES
At 7990m in length, Falaj Daris is one of the biggest irrigation channels in Oman and one of six such channels in Oman collectively honoured as a Unesco…
8.58 MILES
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8.62 MILES
Dating back 1500 years, Oman's falaj system represents early engineering at its most ingenious. Here in Tanuf the channels are particularly remarkable for…
9.4 MILES
Marking the end point of national Walking Route 25, this small pavilion has yet another spectacular vista across the Al Ghubra Basin a thousand metres…