WADI BANI HABIB

It's one of the prettiest spots on Jebel Akhdar, and not too busy at present. Stairs have been built to the left and right of the parking lot. It's best to take the ones on the right, as they lead to the bottom of the wadi, which is incredibly green and lush. Walk through the wadi for a hundred metres or so: on either side of the dry riverbed grow fruit and non-fruit trees, protected by low dry-stone walls. Climb a few large stone steps to the right to reach the lower part of the first village. Particularly scenic, this village literally clings to the sides of the mountain, a landscape well worth taking a photo of. The hamlet is no longer inhabited and its houses, though fairly well preserved, are not very stable. It's a pleasant place to wander around and enjoy the coolness of the old walls, although beware of the risk of landslides. The walk continues back down into the wadi for around 200 metres, until you come to a mosque that is preserved but off-limits to tourists. 50 metres after the mosque, climb the stone steps to the right to reach a second abandoned village, also perched high up, from which the view over the first hamlet is worth the detour. At the top, behind the few houses and alleyways, the view plunges into a second riverbed, running parallel to the first and planted with just as many crops. The walk is best enjoyed at the end of the day, when the evening light brightens the ochre of the old facades. Return to the parking lot by the same route.