In one of the most talked-about new hotel openings of the year, the new Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort & Spa opened in the Hajar Mountains of Oman in September. As the Indigo brand evolves into an upscale and boutique lifestyle group of properties, travelers are able to discover a range of new hotels around the world from the Galapagos to the Middle East. This resort is a prime example of what IHG wants for the Indigo brand. Here’s what you can expect as a guest here and five of the best reasons it should be on your bucket list.
The location
Perched on a cliff of Jabal Akhdar (green mountain) and 6,000 ft above sea level, guests here stare out into a rugged mountain scape that looks like something out of a Hollywood movie. As the light changes throughout the day, so do the colors of the mountain scenery. All of the public areas and accommodations here enjoy prime views, which is the main reason people come here.
About two hours’ drive from Muscat, this resort is an oasis in the desert. Remember you are at attitude and drink lots of water while enjoying the various activities from hikes to neighboring villages or visits to local museums or souks. Outdoor pursuits range from a beautiful infinity-edge pool to jogging or hiking nearby trails.
Don’t miss the UNESCO-protected irrigation system designed more than 1,000 years ago to provide water for the lush farmland. This region is known as the “fruit bowl of Oman” and is where things like pomegranate, garlic, olives and peaches grow among other things.
The staff
Hotels in the Middle East are widely known for their hospitality, but Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar takes things to another level. The hotel’s management team says that the key to their success is giving its employees the freedom to express themselves with guests. And that, they do. You cannot walk far without being greeted with a smile and often by name.
The team knows your culinary preferences and is eager to suggest new flavors and tastes from the region. From the housekeepers and spa providers to the bell staff and restaurant team, the experience is simply unrivaled. Staff hail mostly from Oman, India and other countries in the region. Without a doubt, the people who work here are the hotel’s crowning feature. During my visit, the staff wrote a poem and greeting card as a farewell gift.
The culinary options
Za’atar is the all-day dining venue that has both indoor and outdoor terrace seating. It overlooks the mountains and valley below. The menu is international with Indian, Omani, Zanzibari, Italian, American and Thai flavors among others. The food and beverage team leans heavily into sourcing ingredients from the region, which is part of Indigo’s brandwide approach to link guests with the neighborhood and culture. The pomegranate juice is fresh-pressed using local fruit, the Omani omelets use goat cheese from the mountain and the walnuts in the banana bread are grown here.
Meals start with a changing selection of bread, which is part of the fresh-baked breads and pastries made each day. Nothing comes pre-baked. The mountain’s olives were recently awarded a global award in Italy for their tasty olive oil.
Also grown nearby are roses, which are pressed into rosewater and also used in some of the toiletry products in the spa. This resort is the only one in the country to feature a barista coffee bar preparing locally roasted beans for drinks like V60 drip coffee, cold brews and Spanish lattes with condensed milk.
On the hotel’s panoramic rooftop is Vue, which opens around sunset for its cocktail and light bites menu. It also has a full dinner menu that is out of this world (try the halloumi skewers or halloumi fries with the za’ataar flatbread. The international range of flavors here is different than downstairs, but rivals it in terms of scope and choice. A vintage Land Rover sits on the terrace and is now a food truck producing housemade ice creams and churros.
Two igloo booths feature air conditioning or heating, depending on the season, and are perched on the edge of the terrace. Live music often revs up the atmosphere on many nights. At sunset, the swing chairs are highly popular, and the craft cocktail and mocktail menu is a perfect fit. There is also a powerful telescope here for stargazing, which is a great evening activity given the limited light pollution here. You can see Saturn’s rings, the Moon’s craters and Jupiter’s gaseous range of colors.
The spa
This is the largest hotel spa in Oman, and it represents a new direction for Indigo, which is looking to grow its resort and spa collection of properties. Spanning two floors, guests start their journey with a check-in and the option for a nutritional consultation. Then, they continue to the men’s and women’s relaxation areas complete with hot and cold plunges, steam rooms and saunas.
The treatment rooms use a variety of local and international products with each service incorporating a bit of Tibetan sound therapy. Longer sessions for Tibetan sound bowls, yoga and other stretching classes are also available. There are complimentary and more thorough paid options for guests.
While the outdoor pool offers stunning scenery, it is the indoor pool (wrapped in mashrabiya patterns) that truly wows. Its cantilevered stairway leads down from the relaxation areas to a poolside terrace with cushioned lounge chairs and cabanas. Hydrotherapy whirlpools have massaging jets, and stations around the spa offer crystal-infused wellness waters.
The spa has quickly become a huge draw for the resort. It will serve as a blueprint for other Indigos to follow. Instead of relying on an outside brand to manage it, the hotel has created its own range of treatments. It tapped spa experts to guide its selection of amenities and services. It is worth a visit. Of course, treatments (like other charges at the hotel) are eligible to earn IHG One Rewards points.
The rooms
Each floor of the hotel bears a different theme representing products from the area like roses or pomegranate. Guest rooms show off the same attention to detail. The decor includes petrified wood side tables (famous in these mountains) and bright carpeting. The fabric prints allude to the mountain’s lines and colors. Beds have large pillows and plush duvets.
The resort has its own water filtration facility. A partnership with Culligan allows it to filter out pollutants. it then can restore necessary minerals for flavor. The complimentary glass bottles of still water are replaced daily. The hotel also produces its own sparkling water daily.
Bathrooms are bright with wide vanities and oud-scented toiletries produced especially for the hotel. Drenching rain showers are in all, and in many suites, soaking tubs.
A variety of room categories are on offer, and all come with panoramic balconies. Standard rooms are sizable with corner seating areas, espresso machines and large closets. Suites feature larger sitting areas, some with outdoor fire pits. There are two floors of chalet accommodations that truly impress with outdoor patios or pools.
For a mountain resort, who would expect these chalets? One level of chalets has heated, infinity-edge pools overlooking the mountains. Sliding doors close off sitting areas from the bedroom. They also feature lovely gas fireplaces. You truly feel a sense of place in these chalet suites, which take up the two floors below reception.
