Wadi Shab Parking مواقف سيارات وادي شاب — Attraction in Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate

Did the hike on 3 June 2025 - 2 adults and 2 kids aged 10 and 14. I had an ankle sprain and was wearing a moon boot. The temperature was hot!! I’d say about 40 C and started at 08:30. I started my Apple Watch on hike at the start of journey so that I have a fairly accurate record of it. Until the first swimming pool was 2.65km, and took us 1 hr 20 min. The start was easy, not too much elevation with loose pebbles. Then there are some steps and climbing over and between boulders. Once you reach the pools, it’s super worth it. The water is neither cold or nor warm, it’s a perfect refreshing temperature to cool you down. I then set my watch to open water swim and that recorded 490m swim. Once you reach the cave you see the most beautiful clear blue azure water. Could be we were just lucky and got the sun hitting it at the right time, but it was amazing. The return trip seemed to be a lot easier, maybe because we were wet and cool from the swim, even though it was later. We reached our car at 12:40. We also had a guide Khalfaan (Kelvin) from wadi Shab adventures, who was amazing. I don’t think I would have finished the hike...

This hike is a true bucket list adventure. I will give a quick breakdown on what to expect: Wadi Shab is about 01:38min drive from Muscat once you park your vehicle,there is a local boat that takes you across the river/wadi. The boat trip costs OMR 1 per person for both ways. (Cash only) -life vests can also be hired the hike is an easy walk and takes around 38min from the boat crossing,to the main pool swimming area. I recommend loads of water,hats and sunblock. The valley is really hot and there is not much airflow. it's safe to place your bags on the rocks next to the river and then swim up to the cave. I would say that the cave is around 150m further up stream and a gentle 10min swim. the small waterfall section is extremely slippery,so be careful when crossing. I would recommend water shoes for the swim,as the rocks/ pebbles hurt your feet. once you reach the cave,there is a very narrow tunnel area,around 8m long to squeeze through. You will then reach a lovely waterfall/cave. there is a small restaurant in the parking lot that sells burgers,water and ice cold colas this is truly an...

If you're planning to visit Wadi Shab, here’s something you should definitely know—finding parking can be quite challenging, especially during peak hours. The parking area near Wadi Shab can get very crowded, especially on weekends and public holidays. There’s limited parking space, and once it’s full, you may have to wait or park further away, which adds extra time to your hike.

To avoid the parking headache, plan your visit during the early morning or late afternoon hours. Arriving before 8:00 AM or after 4:00 PM will give you a better chance of finding a parking spot right near the entrance, and you'll also avoid the rush of crowds. Once you reach the entrance and the parking area is full, there’s limited alternative parking. Some visitors end up parking in unofficial spots further down the road, which can add a lot of time to your hike, Factor in the time it takes to get from the parking lot to the pools (about 45 minutes to an hour), as well as time spent enjoying the pool. Plan accordingly if you need to leave...