Shab
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| | Difficulty:3B II (v2a2 III) Raps:
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Limestone | |||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 25 Jan 2025
"Lots of people hiking up but water fall area under rocks is very beautiful. Very much time well spent. |
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22.8294, 59.2253
22.8393, 59.2463
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
This must be the 2nd most-visited wadi in Oman (the 1st being Wadi Bani Khalid). This is a thoroughly enjoyable daytrip from Muscat, typically combined with Bimmah Sinkhole. You will share the canyon with many people including multiple adventure tourism groups, but that doesn't diminish the experience.
Almost everyone takes a short boat trip across the pool from the parking area (adding to the experience), then it's about 2.5km walk to the second large pool which is the highlight - a 200m swim, some slabs, then another swim through a tunnel and into a subterranean chamber (cave, formed by a massive fallen block).
This is a great experience, definitely worthwhile and should be part of every trip to Oman. In terms of canyon sport, this might be considered a beautiful gorge but low quality canyon, having a minor slot of 300m with shallow walls. Wadi Shab is beautiful.
Approach[edit]
Drive the main highway 17 along the coast to village of Tiwi and park under the motorway alongside Wadi Shab - the exit and parking is signed.
The parking area will likely be full by mid-morning, then cars park along the road by the beach. There are public toilets at the parking area and prayer areas.
This side of the wadi has large cliffs dropping into the water, therefore, the trail is on the far side of the wadi across water. Almost everyone pays 1 rial for a short boat trip. But you can swim or walk across. Apparently the water is about waist deep, but if you cross 50m upstream the water is typically shin deep.
On the far side of the wadi, walk along and through the cafe. Beyond the cafe are fields of crops next to a pool. The wadi bed becomes dry and covered in gravel, it's about 1km from the boat to the first main pool.
Descent[edit]
At the first pool, you have the option of swimming, or, the majority of groups avoid the pool on the right (looking up-canyon), following a ledge which in places has guardrails, concrete steps and concrete walkways. The ledge once supported a large pipe for which concrete blocks remain.
After the first pool, the trail crosses the wadi bed through boulders to the left side (looking up-canyon). It's about 500m to where the wadi turns 90-degrees left, then another 200m to the second pool. You will likely find a large crowd of people on the ledges on either side of the pool.
At this point, you have 2 options:
- Swim up and back
- Walk around the pool to an old (maybe abandoned) village, then descend the canyon with a couple of short scrambles at the top
Note - the tunnel swim is too narrow for a large pack so leave that behind, or, be prepared to push/force the pack underwater through the narrow section.
Option 1, Swim up and back Most people leave all of their possessions at the bottom of the pool, swimming up the wadi without anything. If you have a camera, makes sure it's waterproof or in a dry bag.
The water is not cold even in winter, it's definitely not warm but not really cold. It's pleasant.
It's about a 200m swim in a narrow corridor under 10-20m cliffs, then you reach some slabs where you'll find the rock slippery, then more pools leading to the highlight.
A large block has fallen into the wadi bed and almost blocked it. On the left (looking up-canyon) is a narrow tunnel, just wide enough for your head to pass through. The tunnel is shaped like an hour-glass with the narrowest point at water level, but thankfully widens under the water to allow you arms and legs to swim and tread water. The tunnel is about 10m long, and only 1 person at-a-time can pass-through.
You will likely find a queue/line of people here on either side waiting patiently.
On the far side of the cavern you should find a fixed rope to pull yourself out of the water, either to jump back in, or, to climb out and explore the next section of canyon. Inside the cavern, you might find shallow water on the right (looking up-canyon) to have a rest.
Above the cavern is a small ampitheatre, you can climb out at teh left up a gap between the wall and boulder. Then above that is a flat wide wadi bed leading to an old village.
Option 2, Descend from above
There is a trail on the right hand side (looking up-canyon) that follows a rising ledge system with concrete steps in a few places. The ledge can get quite narrow (0.5m wide) in places and exposed. The trail ranges from 10 - 20m above the canyon floor, always offering a view down into the pools. It's about 300m until you're directly above the cave, then another 300m until you round a corner to find the gully that you'll descend to the wadi bed - perhapos the most exposed section of the track are the final 50m across to the top of the gully. An easy dusty trail leads into the wadi and just upstream is an old village.
Walk down the wadi passing between / over large boulders until blocked by a ring of boulders above a small amphitheatre - you should meet people again here. On the right (looking down-canyon), you can scramble between the cliff and a large boulder. This places you in some shallow pools immediately above the cave.
The way into the cave is in the middle of the wadi bed, through boulders. You should find a fixed rope here.
If you brought a pack, you do have some options:
- left (looking down-canyon) - follow a wide ledge to a short awkward down-climb to a sloping ledge on the down-canyon side of the cave. With a short rope or tape you could meat-anchor down. This is one way to bypass the tunnel swim with your pack.
- right (looking down-canyon) - the ledge narrows to about 10cm wide, the rock feels like plastic with zero friction. There are a couple of finger pockets to cross this 4m long ledge. You're now in the cave above the pool, walk right to exit the cave and appear into the light on the down-canyon side of the cave. You're 3-4m above the water, you can jump.
Back to the main canyon, down-climb through the boulders using the fixed rope into the cave/chamber. Swim across to the tunnel and through. Follow the pool down canyon.
Exit[edit]
Retrace your steps
Red tape[edit]
Please dress modestly and be respectful or Omani culture.
Beta sites[edit]
Canyon.Carto.net : Wadi Shab
Descente-Canyon.com : Shab- Climbing7 : Wadi Shab
Trip reports and media[edit]
Walk my world : Wadi Shab: what to expect & how to escape the crowds