During the past 6 years of living in Oman, I’ve been to Wadi Shab a number of times. In fact, I’m sure it’s the wadi I’ve traveled to the most out of the hundreds of wadis in all of the sultanate. (I’ve posted about Wadi Shab Resort, the Red Bull Cliff Diving Event there (posts 1, 2, 3, & 4) The most popular posts on Wadi Shab from this blog would have to be the touristy ones I wrote titled “Wadi Shab – Not to “Shabby“!” (Nov 1, 2009) and “More of the Beauty of Wadi Shab” (Nov 2, 2009). Well, I think it’s time to share with my readers the most impressive part of Wadi Shab which is the “secret cave” beyond the more popular swimming areas that tourists tend to visit.Very few people that I have spoken with about Wadi Shab have actually visited this cave. Maybe it’s because there are no signs telling travellers where to go. You either know about the place or friendly people along the path “in the know” might be able to direct you to it.When my sister-in-law visited us here in the sultanate I knew she would be adventurous enough for the more than 45 minute hike to get there and a few minutes of swimming to get inside. If you are not a good swimmer, please don’t even think about trying to reach this cave!!!This is inside the cave. The place above the red rope is the best spot for diving into the water below if you are courageous enough!This cave reminds of something you might see in an Indiana-Jones type of movie!Wadi Shab itself is worth visiting. Don’t get me wrong. But those who have been to the “secret cave” realize that a trip to Wadi Shab just isn’t the same without going inside.This is the part where people might turn back not realizing the experience they have just missed. The cave opening in the picture above doesn’t look like much, but that small dark hole on the left side is the narrow tunnel leading to the cave. Some people leave their belongings in bags here before swimming to the cave. If you do make it here, I recommend bringing an underwater camera. I DO NOT recommend bringing an expensive camera and trying to swim with one hand as I did. Be sure to check the video below. 🙂Just look at the color of that water! Here is a video which I relucantly show you as you can hear me huffing and puffing as I swim while trying to capture the journey into the cave.
Wadi Bini Kharus is about 200 kms from Muscat. I wanted to share this video with any viewers thinking of making the trek up north to experience this impressive hiking trail. I must warn you that this is a bit of a challenging hike requiring climbing up and down some pretty rugged boulders.
This fantastic video was published on May 17, 2013 by SNK Productions Oman. “The village sits at 2,000 metres above sea level in Wadi Mastal in Wilayt Nakhal, located in Al Batinah South Governorate. 150 kilometres separate this village from Muscat. The road leading to the village passes through a number of valleys where the villages can only be reached by a four-wheel-drive vehicle.”
"The suppression of ideas and thought is a major sin, and we will never allow anyone to stifle freedom of thought." (His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said)
Andy in Oman 