The journey to Wakan Village is approximately 150 km away from the busy capital of Muscat and will cost you around 2 hours of driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle through twisting roads and valleys before finally reaching your destination. It’s a memorable experience in itself, but can be a challenge for an inexperienced driver who isn’t a fan of heights. If you fall into any of the mentioned categories, you might want to hire a driver.

Upon reaching the village, you will quickly understand why its residents are recognized for their agricultural practices as you feast your eyes on some of the most spectacular manicured gardens etched into the face of the mountains, complemented by a few houses that are occupied by its caretakers.

Wakan Village will generally host moderate temperatures and cool winds during the summer, which is the ideal time to visit if you are looking forward to seeing beautiful apricot flowers blooming under the watchful eye of an army of butterflies. Apricot season, usually taking place between March and April, is a treat if you’re looking to get your hands on some of Wakan Village’s homegrown produce. It is at this time of the year that locals reap the benefits of their hard work, and children run around the village with basketfuls of brightly colored fruit, their excitement filling the air with a moment of bliss.

Welcoming tourists into the village is a visitors and information center where you can get a good idea of what to look out for during your time at the village. You will then begin your trek at Wadi Mistal, making your way up a trail stretching for 1,100 meters or 700 hundred steps before concluding at the watchtower all the way to the top. It’s a 30-minute hike that will give you a scenic view of the terraced garden of Wakan, one of its main attractions.

Still, Wakan village offers a number of hiking routes, each offering its own challenges and breathtaking views of the village, the canyon nearby, as well as the herculean range of mountains that protect this treasure. A notable route to check out for experienced trekkers is the challenging route leading up to Jabal Akdhar. This route is will put a couple of hours of labor on your feet before you can reach the famous Green Mountain, so make sure you are well-prepared for the journey ahead.

Keep in mind that Wakan Village isn’t a free or unregulated tourist attraction. The income made through tourism helps to improve the community and preserve the village for what it is. It is also a residential village, so make sure not to wander away from designated pathways and intrude on the privacy of the locals. As tempting as it might be, hold back from picking the flowers and fruit, they are a huge part of the ecosystem and a treasure to Wakan Village.