Wadi Shab is an easy day trip from Muscat. The rocky gorge is filled with gorgeous turquoise pools, and the more adventurous can swim to a delightful cave with a waterfall and tunnels. The short(ish) distance from Muscat means there are often a lot of people, but don’t let this put you off exploring such a delightful oasis!
Wadi Shab location
Wadi Shab (also called Wadi Ash Shab and Wadi al Shab) is located on the coast of Oman, between Muscat and Sur. The distance from Muscat to Wadi Shab is 156 km, and from Sur is around 50 km. There is no public transport so you will need to either join a Wadi Shab tour or drive.
Take Route 17 to the village of Tiwi. It’s a great road, and should only take around 1.5 hours to drive from Muscat. The wadi entrance is to the north of Tiwi, where you can park. From the car park you’ll need to either swim across the river mouth to the path on the other side or else hire a boat (OM1) to take you across.