2-Day Wadi Shab and Wahiba Sands Desert Tour from Muscat

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore Wahiba Sands Desert on an adventurous 4x4 sand-dune drive
• 02 Swim through Wadi Shab's crystal-clear pools to a cave waterfall
• 03 Relax by the crystal waters of White Sand Beach
• 04 Visit a local Bedouin House and savour the taste of Omani coffee
• 05 Swim or sunbathe at Wadi Bani Khalid, one of Oman's most beautiful wadis
• 06 See the famous Bimmah Sink Hole by the sea

Embark on a 2-day trip from Muscat to Wahiba Sands Desert and enjoy an adventurous 4x4 sand-dune drive to experience the real desert. Travel through Wadi Shab, Wadi Tiwi, and Wadi Bani Khalid, relax beside the crystal waters of White Sand Beach, and visit the famous Bimmah Sink Hole. Along the way, stop at a local Bedouin House and take in a mesmerising sunrise view before returning to Muscat.

Eventually, we reach the last pool, where an opening among the enormous rocks allows us to swim into an incredible crevice cave with a small waterfall.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Muscat, Bimmah Sinkhole

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Muscat to Wadi Shab and Wahiba Sands Desert

• Depart Muscat at approximately 8:30 am. Our first stop of the day is Bimmah Sink Hole, a big crater near the sea with a small lake at the bottom, believed to have been created by a meteor. We then continue to Fins Beach, which is strikingly white, curiously pebbly, incredibly blue, and jaw-droppingly amazing.
• Next, we continue the drive to Wadi Shab. This wadi is an enormous canyon gorge lined with palm trees and impressive signs of the power of the water coming down from the mountains.
• After around a 35-minute hike through the canyon, we arrive at one of several crystal-clear water pools. You can swim through the warm waters from pool to pool. Eventually, we reach the last pool, where an opening among the enormous rocks allows us to swim into an incredible crevice cave with a small waterfall. Inside, sunlight filters in from outside, turning the water a beautiful turquoise blue while water showers down one side of the cave from the wadi beyond.
• Our next stop is Wadi Tiwi for a photo stop. Named after the coastal village of Tiwi, it is a beautiful wadi with lush plantations, giving it a different, certainly greener, feel than many other wadis. We then continue the drive to Wahiba Sands Desert.

2

Day 02

Bedouin House and Wadi Bani Khalid to Muscat

• After breakfast, depart the hotel and drive to a Bedouin House, where the tents are divided by a decorative partition called gata. Half of the tent is for women, children, cooking utensils, and storage.
• Next, proceed to Wadi Bani Khalid, one of the biggest and most beautiful wadis in Oman. Here, you can swim, sunbathe, relax, and have a picnic amid the scenic views of the wadi canyon.
• Later in the afternoon, return to Muscat to conclude the tour.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Water during the tour
• Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel
• English-speaking Omani tour guide
• Comfortable 4WD vehicle
• Fuel
• Wadi Shab boat ticket
• Dinner and breakfast at the camp
• Stay at Arabian Oryx Camp
• Camp/Hotel: Standard Double Room for 2 PAX
• Camp/Hotel: Standard Double Room + Extra Bed for 3 PAX
• Camp/Hotel: 2 Standard Double Rooms for 4 PAX

What's Not Included

• Lunch

What to bring

• Good hiking/water shoes
• Quick-dry towel
• Waterproof bag

Know before you go

• Wadi Shab entrance is quite easy. Wadi Shab is about 1.5 hours from Muscat and 40 minutes from the town of Sur.
• To visit Wadi Bani Khalid: if you want to swim in Wadi Bani Khalid, you must wear a T-shirt and shorts below the knees and avoid bikinis.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Muscat, Oman

Tour start

Muscat, Oman

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.