Stairway to Eden in Jabal Akhdar

Often it starts with a Instagram photo - you see something interesting, trying to figure out where it is, find more info etc. This is how this hike started - I saw a video of a crazy stairway, someone running down on the narrow steps, abyss on the side. I could not figure out where it was taken but a friend shared a photo with an equally crazy looking stairway. It turned out I have already marked the hike, but the blog I found did not have pictures of the stairs. So when I was planning the visit of my friends, I had one day sorted - I anyway wanted to show them Jabal Akhdar, and now we got to visit something even new for me! Win-win!

The Jabal Stairway hike is stunning and well marked - one of the Alila developed hikes. All the way the views are absolutely amazing but the end what  crowns the this trail. It is not always only about the journey, sometimes it is about the destination after all! 

The hike ends in a village, Masirat al Jawamid built into the side of the cliff wall - when the village pops up in the distance after a turn, it is a true Indiana Jones moment. To reach the village you need to descend into the wadi - first it looks almost impossible climbing down on the rock wall, but at a closer look you see there are steps leading down. Surprisingly fast you reach the village - beautiful old houses, in a relatively good shape, some with nice doors, even a functioning mosque. There are people there - farmers who take care of the terraces. 

To reach the terraces you need to cross the village, follow the path carved into the cliff and soon you will see them - deep down in the wadi. They are lush green, palm trees everywhere. Clearly there is water and you can even hear it. But the terraces are really far down in the wadi - this wadi seems to have many levels after all.

And this is where the magic happens. To reach the terraces you have to take the stairs - a crazy staircase built into the side of the cliff wall, winding down to the wadi bed. It is astonishing - how could they built it without machines? Well, they did, and they still use it today.

Full disclosure: we were running late and did not have time to go down to the terraces. Those stairs must be exquisite from down there as well. It is a place for a 2 days hike - camp in the village or the gardens. Also there must be pools down there to discover.

Location for parking: 23.133917, 57.559472 - you can drive down to the village and park there, or next to the Alila sign.
Difficulty: it is a marked hike, only at the beginning where we had to search for the path, rest was very clear. The elevation difference what makes it difficult - you descend 700m hiking out and you have to climb back going home. Not fun towards the end. There is no shade and even in February it was hot - bring plenty of water.
Total time and distance: we hiked a bit over 10km in 5 hours. The sign says 8km - guess that is up to the village only. If you want to go down to the terraces you should count with  min 2 hours.
Car: you need 4wd to drive up to Jabal Akhdar, but there is no off-roading to reach the trailhead.

Kids: not for toddlers

Summer: certainly for cooler days. We did it as daytrip, started to walk around 11 am - probably an early start is better due to the heat.

Wikiloc: this is a good one to follow. He did the hike out in less than half the time it seems :)

The start is unassuming and pretty

But it quickly gets steep - this was the part where we had a bit of trouble finding the path

After the first descend the path levels, and the views are just stunning

Can you see where are we heading?

You have to cross the wadi and continue on the other side

You can see a glimpse of the gardens

Terrace after terrace in the deeper wadi bed

And the final trick of the trail, the absolutely out of this worldly staircase.