Oman is home to plenty of unexplored and untouched natural marvels, which makes the country an adventure traveler haven. Staying all of my life in Oman, I still get surprised by the beauty this country has to offer – making me fall in love with Oman again, again and yet again.
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From the highest mountain peak to a long stretch of coastline which is home to very diverse marine life – one more nature’s blessing to Oman are the lush green wadis which are spread all across the country. In case, you have come across the word ‘wadi’ for the first time – fret not, today not only I am going to share the best 10 wadis in Oman to visit but I will also cover what exactly a wadi is why visiting a wadi in Oman should be one of your reasons to visit Oman!
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What is Wadi?
‘Wadi’ is an Arabic word, meaning a valley, which may or may not have water lagoons or pools in it – surrounded by date trees. As Oman is a partially mountainous country, there are plenty of wadis in Oman, the exact number of which is still unknown.
Why You Should Visit A Wadi In Oman?
When visiting the Arabian Gulf, the most common things to do excepted by a traveler normally includes visiting the desert, a crazy skyline filled with glittering buildings and seeing tons of expensive cars on the roads. But when in Oman – the natural wonders surpass all of the above-mentioned things. Among all the neighboring countries, Oman is particularly famous for its emerald color wadis surrounded by dry and rugged mountains and tall date trees – just like an oasis in the desert. Some of these wadis also form a small waterfall during the rainy season. Check this Oman 6-day Itinerary on how you spend your time in Oman.
Safety Tip: No matter how fun it sounds visiting the wadis in Oman, safety should always be considered before visiting one. It is highly recommended not to go to a wadi during rain or at least 2 to 3 days after heavy rains. The reason being the overflow of water from the mountains during and after the heavy rains tends to create flash floods in the wadis. Despite regular warnings from the Royal Oman Police, every heavy rain season sees a lot of cars being swept away in the wadis. It is always encouraged to get covered with reliable insurance before visiting Oman. My recommended Travel Insurance is Safety Wings, which offers the cheapest travel insurance cover with maximum benefits.
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Note: Crossing or attempting to cross an active wadi (flash flood) is prohibited in Oman, resulting in hefty fines or jail in some cases.
As the wadis are formed between the mountains, therefore, most of the wadis in Oman are remote and require a 4wd drive to reach. In this post, I am going to share with you the top 10 wadis in Oman with their location maps and how to reach there.
Wadi Shab
Location
Vehicle Required: 2wd or Saloon/Sedan Car
Wadi Shab is the most popular and visited wadis in Oman. Located on Route 17, which is a beautiful coastal road in the Sharqiyah region, Wadi Shab comprises small and big water pools which can be reached by a hike inside of the wadi. The hike is started by crossing the wadi on a boat, which is run by the locals of the area and cost just 0.100 baiza for a one-way ride. Wadi Shab is an all in one package, which offers hiking, swimming and cliff diving opportunities making it one of the top wadis in Oman.
Wadi Tiwi
Location
Vehicle Required: 4wd drive (involves off-roading)
Wadi Tiwi lies on the same Route 17 in the Sharqiyah Region barely 10Km away from Wadi Shab. However, to reach the water pools and the waterfall inside of the Wadi, the drive gets treacherous and takes a lot more time depending on the driver’s off-road driving skills. Wadi Tiwi is located in the small village of Mibam and unlike Wadi Shab – it is less crowded offering great opportunities for having a picnic, swimming through the wadi and also to explore the nearby old village of Mibam.
Wadi Bani Khalid
Location
Vehicle Required: 2wd drive followed by a short walk to the main wadi/4wd vehicle to drive inside the wadi
Wadi Bani Khalid is the first wadi in Oman which was opened for the public. Located in the Sharqiyah region, it is the largest wadi in the region. The wadi is spread over a huge area with big and small pools of water surrounded by rocks and date trees. Wadi Bani Khalid is an apt place to have a picnic as there are a lot of even surfaces and non-rocky places to sit and enjoy a picnic lunch. There is a cave called Muqil Cave located in the southern part of the Wadi, which is also called Wadi Hawer by the locals of the area.
Wadi Arbaeen
Location
Vehicle Required: 4wd with good ground clearance
For anyone who loves off-roading, a trip to Wadi Arbaeen or Arbayeen in Oman is definitely a must! Situated deep in the mountains of Sharqiyah, this wadi in Oman is a little tricky to reach due to the long stretch of over 15kms off-road drive right in between the barren giant mountains which surrounds it. However, the wadi is definitely worth the treacherous ride. There is a huge pool of water to take a dip in after the bumpy drive to reach the wadi. To explore further inside the wadi, the shrubs and uneven rocky surface can make it a whole lot challenging. I was lucky enough to spot a small waterfall during my visit to Wadi Arbaeen.
Pro-tip: All of the wadis in Oman mentioned until this point can be covered in one day with a day trip from Muscat combined with a short pit stop at the Bimmah Sinkhole. For more on day trips – check my complete post on the Best Day Trips From Muscat
Wadi Hocain
Location
Vehicle required: 2wd or Saloon/Sedan Car
One of the most easily accessible wadis from Muscat is the Wadi Hocain or Hoqane in Oman. Situated towards the town of Rustaq, Wadi Hocain is particularly famous for its waterfall, which flows all year around. This wadi in Oman is an apt place for a picnic, swimming and spending a relaxed afternoon. However, due to its short distance from Muscat, Wadi Hocain often gets very crowded during the weekends and national holidays, so plan your trip accordingly to avoid the local crowds.
Wadi Dayqah
Location
Vehicle Required: 2wd or Saloon/Sedan Car
Wadi Dayqah is one of the most popular wadis in Oman as it is connected with the Dayqah Dam in Quriyat, which is a famous tourist attraction near Muscat. The Dayqah Dam is built interconnected with the wadi which is 246 feet high– giving a breathtaking 360 degrees panoramic view of the wadi. Wadi Dayqah is also one of those few wadis in Oman which are developed for the tourists and visitors with shops and shaded benches at the wadi.
Wadi Al Khoud
Location
Vehicle Required: 2wd or Saloon/Sedan Car
Located a short twenty to thirty minutes’ drive away from the heart of Muscat is the Wadi Al Khoud in the Al-Khoud neighborhood of Muscat. This is one of those wadis in Oman which turns into a wadi during the rainy season and then dries up for the most part of the year. However, that doesn’t make a visit to Wadi Al Khoud any less exciting. The wadi is located in a secluded open area with the mountains in the backdrop and lush green date trees surrounding the small pools of water. It is a perfect place to take a break from the hustle-bustle of the city.
Wadi Bani Awf
Location
Vehicle Required: 4wd drive
Wadi Bani Awf is one of the wadis in Oman which is a must-visit for all the adventure junkies. Situated deep in the Al Hamra mountains of Rustaq in the Batinah region, Wadi Bani Awf not only offers plenty of adventurous activities but it also comes with the opportunity to visit the surrounding small villages while admiring the scenery of the cliffs, mountains and the canyons around the area. Wadi Bani Awf is particularly popular for the Snake Canyon trek, which is a narrow zigzag water passage between the mountains – a great adventure activity to try while visiting Wadi Bani Awf.
Wadi Abyad
Location
Vehicle Required: 2wd or Saloon/Sedan Car
Wadi Abyad is one of the nearest wadis in Oman from the capital city of Muscat that can be reached under an hour. Famous for the Nakhal natural water spring, Wadi Abyad in the South Al Batinah region is a perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon on a day break from the city. The wadi offers a short trekking path covered with date trees in the surrounding mountains and a few small water pools to cool off during a hot summer afternoon. Wadi Abyad is a popular picnic spot for the locals coming from Muscat. A visit to Wadi Abyad can be combined with a short tour of the Nakhal Fort which is a short half-hour drive away from the wadi.
Wadi Darbat
Location
Vehicle Required: 2wd or Saloon/Sedan Car
Wadi Darbat is one of the largest wadis in Oman which also homes to the largest waterfall in the country. Located in the Dhofar governorate in the city of Salalah, Wadi Darbat is a very popular attraction for the locals and tourists alike. There are several small to big waterfalls at Wadi Darbat. The small waterfalls are easily accessible from the parking area, however, to reach the main big waterfall, a short ascending hike has to be done. The best time to see the wadi in its full glory is to visit it during the Khareef season, which is the monsoon season in Salalah – when the entire city is covered with the thick clouds of fog and mist and everything in between turns green.
Also Read: Best Things To Do In Salalah During Khareef
Practical Information Before Visiting The Wadis In Oman
Though most of the wadis in Oman discussed in this post are easily accessible and are not very remote. However, it should be noted that the majority of the mentioned wadis do not have any restaurants or shops around them. To make sure you are packed with all the essentials for your wadi trip in Oman, here is a list of all the important items to pack before heading out
- Lots of snacks and drinks
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat, cap or a scarf
- Tent (if possible) to avoid the summer sun
- Waterproof camera
- Swimming clothes and shoes
- Hiking shoes (a little bit of hiking is involved everywhere)
- Dry clothes and towel (if you’re planning to swim)
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I hope this round-up of the 10 top wadis in Oman to visit will help you in planning out the best wadi you would like to explore in Oman according to your personal preferences and convenience.
Need more inspiration on Oman travel? Check out my other posts on Oman
- Top Things To Do In Muscat – A Local’s Advice
- All About Visiting Wahiba Sands Desert In Oman
- The Best Diving Sites In Oman
- Traveling As A Solo Female Traveler In Oman
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Thanks for the great post! We didn’t know what a wadi was but these look beautiful!
Hannah
I love all the wadis! And you have breathtaking views!
Mother Nature is incredible. I feel like Oman is so untouched by many travelers. These photos are incredible and now I want to go to all of them!
Those Wadis are beautiful! Great advice as well.
Oman is on my list! Can’t wait to visit all of these!