Located between Muscat and Sur, Wadi Shab is a stunning valley with a river that runs through it. Within the valley, there is a hidden waterfall in a secret cave that you should not miss when you are there. In order to get there, it will require you to hike and swim. If you are wondering how you can get there, I've got your back. Here is everything you need to know to get to the secret cave and waterfall in Wadi Shab.
Wadi Shab Hiking Map
When to Go to Wadi Shab?
Oman is essentially a desert, so you don't want to be there in midsummer. The best time to be there is from November to January, when the weather is more bearable during the day, making it perfect for hiking in Wadi Shab.
The best time to go to Wadi Shab is early in the morning, when most parts of the trail are under shade. On weekdays, there should be no one around, allowing you to have the whole place to yourself, which is just magical. I was there at 7:30 AM and there was no one for hours. A lot more tourists will arrive after 9 AM, so if you want the whole place to yourself, get there early.
Be sure to check the weather from the day before as the water level you will face depends on whether it rained the day before or not.
I would recommend staying in Sur because it is closer to Wadi Shab, which allows you to arrive earlier than most people who make the trip from Muscat. If you plan on wild camping or sleeping in your own car, the Qalhat beach (link: https://goo.gl/maps/TrnX5qH6JTC2) is a great spot to do so, and it is also closer to Wadi Shab.
What to Pack for Wadi Shab?
- One bottle of water or more, as you will be hiking in a desert for at least an hour.
- A flip-flop: Once you reach the part where you have to swim, you won't be able to swim all the way through due to the rocky and shallow path. So, a flip-flop will help you walk on those rocks easier.
- A GoPro is recommended if you want to take a photo in the cave. The gorge gets deep towards the cave, and you will have to swim or dive through the crack in a rock into the cave. I recommend you get the GoPro HERO8 Black if you are looking to buy a new action camera.
- You can take your big camera if you wish, but you will have to leave it at the start of the gorge, together with your water bottle and all other belongings. The trail is really nice, and you will be able to get nice photos from a good camera. However, if you are not comfortable leaving your camera unattended, then don't bring it.
- A Swimsuit is a must as you will be swimming for at least 5 minutes to get inside the cave.
- A waterproof bag is essential if you have a lot of stuff to carry and don't want to leave your belongings by the gorge. I recommend getting the Earth Pak Waterproof Dry bag for this trip.
Is it Hard to Swim? (Important)?
You have to be a good swimmer and be able to stay afloat in deep water for at least 10 minutes. You will also have to swim against the current from the waterfall as you get into the cave, and you will have to go through a small crack on a rock that might require you to dive a bit (depending on the water level), so make sure you can do all of this and you are good to go.
How to Get to Wadi Shab?
Wadi Shab is in Oman, and there are several Middle Eastern airlines that connect Oman to literally everywhere in the world, so getting to Oman is the easy part. Etihad, Qatar, or Emirates are great options to fly to Oman. For a cheaper option, FlyDubai is a great budget alternative. You can browse through Expedia and Skyscanner to find the cheapest deal that works for your itinerary.
From Muscat, you will have to rent a car to get to Wadi Shab. There is no public transportation available, and since you want to be there in the early morning, a car is a must.
For more information about renting a car in Oman: The Ultimate Guide to Driving in Oman.
Wadi Shab Hiking/Swimming Itinerary
Entrance to Trail Head
From Sur, you can take an exit to Tiwi and then follow the Wadi Shab sign until you reach the parking lot. From there, you will find a few locals offering a boat ride to the trailhead for 1 OMR (2 ways). The trailhead is just on the opposite side, but the water is too deep to swim (and probably prohibited), so you will have to take the boat.
Trail Head to the Gorge (1 hour)
From the trailhead, the walk will take you through local farms on a flat path that might get muddy depending on the water level that day. It is an easy stroll through a few shallow pools of water as the trail starts to climb a bit, hugging the right side of the valley.
After 20 minutes on the trail, the path will pass through a section full of boulders, and the trail is less clear in this section, so be careful not to get lost. Look out for spray paint on rocks and follow its direction. Eventually, you will be on the other side of the valley, and the path will turn south towards the Gorge.
- Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Group Full Day Tour (9 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Private Full Day Tour (8 hours)
- Discover the South and Wadi Shab from Muscat (8 hours)
A few minutes of walking and you will arrive at the gorge where you can leave all your non-waterproof belongings and start swimming.
From the gorge, you can also continue hiking up the valley via a path on the right side of the gorge to get a view of the entire valley from the top. If you are not fond of swimming, then walk up along this trail instead.
Be very careful here, as this trail is not as well-maintained, and it can get really narrow in certain parts.
The Gorge to the Cave (15 minutes swimming/walking)
From the gorge, bring your GoPro and your flip-flops and start swimming towards the cave. The path will become shallow again as you swim towards the cave, and this is where the flip-flops come into play.
Walk through the rocky part of the gorge, and once you reach the last pool before the cave, leave your flip-flops there and start swimming.
The water here is really deep, and you won't be able to retrieve anything if you drop something, so be very careful (you have no idea how many GoPros they found in the gorge when a diver dove down to the bottom). Strap the GoPro to your wrist if you must!
From here, you will have to swim through a small crack into the cave where you will find the hidden waterfall inside. Depending on the water level, you might have to submerge your head for a few seconds to squeeze yourself into the crack. Honestly, when I first saw it, I didn't want to go in at all, but someone went for it and I just followed them.
Take that dive, and you will be rewarded with the sight of the hidden waterfall inside a beautiful small cavern, while the sun rays illuminate the surroundings. It sure was quite a sight to behold, and you will be glad that you decided to do it. I certainly did.
Once you have absorbed all the beauty that Wadi Shab has to offer, you can backtrack your way to the parking lot, which should take you no more than 1 hour.
And there you have it: How to go to the secret cave in Wadi Shab. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below.
More Oman Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Group Full Day Tour (9 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Private Full Day Tour (8 hours)
- Discover the South and Wadi Shab from Muscat (8 hours)
Where to Stay near Wadi Shab?
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Oman
I have plenty of articles to help you with your trip planning for Oman. Here is a selection of articles you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Oman? Check out: 7 Days Oman Itinerary.
- Planning your first trip to Oman and not sure where to begin? Here are the 10 Best Places to Visit in Oman.
- To see all articles about Oman, visit my Oman Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
11 Comments
If I don't know how to swim, can I go to Wadi Shab (if I don't go to the waterfall) ?
Hey Joyce,
Yes, there is a hiking trail you can go to see the valley from above or you can just relax by the rocks near the pool to cool yourself. You don't have to swim if you do not go to the waterfall.
I hope this helps!
I ventured this on my own in 2018 November, no go pro, just an a phone camera. Thank you for this awesome write up, brought fond memories as I read them. Yes the water was so deep and with no sides to cling to. Frankly i was scared as i wondered what might be beneath haha. Since i was already there, i must venture into the narrow tiny hole. The inside was amazing. I came across a youtube video in 2019/2020 on this place, there's actually chamber above the waterfall in the cave. I don't have the link now but do search for it, it's quite interesting.
Yes, you are right! I have seen people mentioned about another waterfall above. When I was in the cave, I remember seeing was a way to go up the waterfall. In fact, one of the guy climbed up and jumped in the water via that route. Something to look forward to the next time I visit the area. :)
Is it possible to use a life jacket and just paddle through the deep sections? (for non-swimmers)
Hey Usman,
Sure, if you bring a life jacket of your own. It's pretty much a nature spot so you can do anything. :)
Hi, how long would you say you need to spend there? Would you say it's a full day to Muscat & back or just a rmongi trip?
*morning
Hey Kim,
The place is more like a half day activity than a full day but if you combine the almost 2 hours' drive to get there, it will probably occupy your entire day unless you start super early in the morning. If you want to make it a half-day trip, I'd recommend starting as early as 6 AM from Muscat and you should be here by 8 AM. 1 hour to hike in, 1 - 2 hours at the gorge, 1 hour to get back, and 2 hours drive back to Muscat, you should arrive in Muscat around 2 PM, so half a day, more or less.
Personally, I think it's too rush to do half a day. I'd recommend you add a few more stops and make it a full day. Bimmah Sinkhole is a great additional stop as well as Sur if you want to make it all the way there. It will be a long day but well worth it in my opinion.
I hope this helps!
I don't know how to swim. But if I bring a life jacket, can I go towards to secret waterfall area?