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I N T R O

Wadi Bani Khalid. A beautiful natural wonder located in central Oman, far from any major towns is possibly one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. I talked a bit about this incredible place in my previous piece on Oman but I felt it needed its own article just so I could gush on about its beauty for a while longer.

Don't worry I'll shut up after this.

I won’t really.

What is a Wadi

A Wadi is a type of ravine found only in parts of the Middle East or Northern Africa, mostly around areas of desert. Wadi Bani Khalid is just one of the many ‘Wadis' of Oman. The Wadis are natural canyons full of spring water that in most cases spread out for miles in their surrounding area. Dotted all over Oman, the waters are the deepest shade of sapphire blue or emerald green and completely clear. Wadis not only important to humans but to preserving most species and reserves to conserve their natural habitats.

If you only do one thing when visiting Oman then make sure to check out one of the Wadis. The photos just don’t do it justice so go and see it for yourself. You can walk for miles just exploring the rock formations scattered around the waters edge, uncovering hidden pools along the way that no one else has found. The excitement of not knowing what’s behind each ledge, finding waterfalls, swimming through caves. It’s a reminder how much this beautiful planet has to offer and why we must protect it.

Still relatively untouched, Wadi Bani Khalid is one of the best-known wadis in the Sultanate of Oman. Its stream maintains a constant flow of water throughout the year so you can visit anytime. You’ll find many locals go swimming in them during the hot days or in the afternoons once it’s cooler. I recommend hiking through the valley to find the pretty hidden spots where you'll have the waters completely to yourself.

If you're into photography then make sure to bring a go-pro and an underwater dome for some fabulous shots.

Rules

Although there are no set rules at Wadi Bani Khalid, there are a couple of points to keep in mind. The first large pool if you want to swim in it you must wear a t-shirt over swimwear or something more modest - however all the canyons after that it’s absolutely fine to wear normal swimwear. The first body of water didn’t particularly grab me so I was happy to go onto the further ones and swim.

There is a tourism representative for the government who is at the Wadis most days to look after tourists and travellers who need more information on the canyons, he was really kind and highlighted all the issues above to us. There are also usually drinks vendors on site but very little in the way of facilities.

Entrance and getting there

There is no entry fee as this is a natural wonder and not ticketed but to get there you will need a car. If you don’t want to drive there are day trips that go from Muscat City centre. Tripadvisor has a good selection to choose from. The Wadi is located off Route 23. After turning off travel through the mountains then go to the small village of Bada - drive through until you reach a car park that looks more like a dead end. If you’re unsure it’s the car park then it probably is! The giveaway will be the other cars parked up. After that it’s a 5 minute walk along a path to the first body of water, go past that and up over the rocky hill - there will be some steps leading the way. Keep hiking following the water across some very uneven terrain. It’ll take roughly 10 minutes before you reach the canyons. Then from there you can explore

NOTE: Wear practical shoes to hike because the path is very uneven and can be difficult to walk in parts.

If you have the time, explore the other Wadis too. There are so many areas of outstanding natural beauty in Oman - I’m already planning to go back next year and I can’t wait.