40.4
PDI
8.7 mi
DISTANCE
4,699 ft
GAINED
10 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland
INTRO
Jabal al Akhdhar - Arabic for "Green Mountain" - is the signature climb of Oman's Al Hajar range and one of the toughest paved ascents in the Middle East. From Birkat Al Mouz, the road climbs roughly 8.7 miles (14 km) up a limestone massif to over 6,600 feet, averaging just over 10% the entire way with almost no flat sections to recover on. It currently ranks #98 in PJAMM's worldwide climb difficulty database.
The mountain earns its "green" name from pockets of terraced agriculture clinging to an otherwise stark, sun-bleached landscape, and since 2011 the upper massif has been a protected nature reserve. The road is smooth and well-engineered with sweeping hairpins, but it's also the main access route to the tourist plateau of Saiq, so 4WD tourist traffic and trucks share the road with any cyclist willing to make the climb.
Jabal al Akhdhar has been the marquee summit finish of the Tour of Oman nearly every year since the race launched in 2010, deciding the GC for winners including Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali, and Fabian Cancellara. Our Switzerland-based contributor Ard Oostra rode the full route by bike, with a 4WD support vehicle, and documented it firsthand in the Climb Summary below - a rare account of a climb that's almost always driven, not ridden.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb averages 10% over 8.66 miles (13.9 km), gaining 4,699 feet from 2,070 feet at the base in Birkat Al Mouz to a peak of 6,637 feet near the Saiq Plateau viewpoint - a sustained, HC-category effort with almost no recovery.
There's a short, steep ramp right out of the village before the gradient settles into the high single digits and low double digits for most of the route, spiking again through the hairpins the Tour of Oman uses on its approach to the finish. The effort feels more like one long, steady grind than a series of distinct pitches - there's no flat or descending section once the climb begins in earnest.
Roadway: The pavement is in excellent condition for the entire climb - smooth asphalt with a narrow paved shoulder, marked by a yellow line, that a cyclist can use for most of the route. It's one of the newer, better-engineered roads in Oman, built primarily to carry 4WD tourist traffic up to the Saiq Plateau.
Traffic: About 5 km up from Birkat Al Mouz there is a permanent police checkpoint that officially restricts the road to 4WD vehicles - non-4WD cars are turned back, and cyclists are not formally authorized to pass either. Enforcement of cyclists has been inconsistent in practice: some riders have passed through without being stopped, while others have needed to negotiate or arrange permission in advance. Treat getting past the checkpoint as uncertain, not guaranteed, and be prepared to explain yourself or turn back. Above the checkpoint, traffic is a mix of 4WD tour vehicles and trucks, plus a full professional peloton and race caravan during the annual Tour of Oman each February.
Parking: There's no dedicated trailhead or parking area at the base - riders typically stage from the village of Birkat Al Mouz itself. Near the top, a paved parking area exists at the main viewpoint by the finish, used mostly by 4WD tour vehicles.
There is no water, food, or bike shop support anywhere on the route - the last services are in Birkat Al Mouz at the base, so carry everything you'll need for a multi-hour effort in exposed, remote terrain.
Extra water and electrolytes matter more here than on almost any other climb in this guide: daytime temperatures on the lower slopes regularly exceed 100°F (38°C) for much of the year, while the upper plateau near the finish can be genuinely cold and even see rain, hail, or fog with little warning. A hot start can turn into a cold, wet, slick-road finish within a couple of hours, so pack layers and a rain shell along with normal hot-weather gear.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
The nearest major airport is Muscat International, about 90 miles (150 km) away. The nearest town with hotels, food, and fuel is Nizwa, roughly 30 miles (48 km) from the base of the climb, with a handful of smaller guesthouses up on the Saiq Plateau itself if you'd rather overnight near the top.
The best riding season is the cooler months, roughly November through March, which also lines up with when the Tour of Oman visits the climb each February - worth avoiding if you want to skip race-week closures and crowds, or worth timing a trip around if you'd like to watch it live.
Summer (June-September) heat on the lower slopes is genuinely dangerous for cycling and best avoided.
Given the large altitude swing on this climb, it's worth checking conditions at both ends before you go - our Weather tool can show what the summit is doing even while the base looks clear.
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