I’m not exactly the biggest fan of forts. I mean, I think they’re cool, and they obviously have a lot of history, but I’m more of an adventure kind of guy, which would explain why I hate shopping too, unless I’m shopping at the carhartt wip store, but Nakhal fort offers something I have yet to see from other forts. A view of palm trees as far as the eye can see.

Located in the Al Batinah region, Nakhal fort is named after the village it’s located in, which is around a 1 hour drive from Muscat. Constructed in the 17th century by Omani architects, it has been through many renovations over the centuries. Originally built to protect an oasis and nearby trade routes, Nakhal passes through the regional capital town of Nizwa.

To be honest, the main reason I visit Nakhal fort is for the view of the palm trees. Of course, the fort itself is incredible, and not too big either. I’m getting old now, my knees can’t always handle a never-ending number of steps, and Nakhal fort has just the right about of steps for me.

The fort is temporarily closed due to some construction work going on, so be sure to check before going to Nakhal to see if it’s open or not. It can be visited from Saturday to Thursday between 9am-4pm and Friday from 8am-11am.