Wadi Tiwi has been described as considered one of Oman’s most difficult however beautiful canyons to discover. It’s widespread however you must go understanding what to anticipate, particularly if you happen to’re fascinated with visiting with kids. On this put up I’m sharing our expertise of reaching Wadi Tiwi’s turquoise swimming pools and waterfall with our two children, aged beneath 10, and our canine.
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Our go to to Wadi Tiwi in Oman
I’m going to begin by sharing an embarrassing confession about our go to to Wadi Tiwi.
We had determined to attempt Tiwi’s swimming pools and waterfall fairly than its extra well-known neighbour Wadi Shab as a result of we thought it is perhaps a bit simpler. There’s a made up street all the way in which into the wadi, which made it sound simple to entry.
Had we carried out extra analysis we would have tried Wadi Shab, with its boat crossing and canyon trek, first.
Wadi Tiwi turned out to be fairly an journey. And we’d completely suggest it. It’s such a thrill to swim within the clear, crisp water within the shade of the canyon partitions. Even when there have been just a few bushy moments getting there.
We’ll check out Wadi Shab one other time so we will correctly assess which wadi is the perfect for households.
About Wadi Tiwi
Wadi Tiwi is a 36km canyon that stretches out to the Gulf of Oman. It’s peppered with inexperienced plantations that break up the rocky panorama and towering cliffs.
Dotted alongside the cement street by the wadi are slender villages, both nestled beside the water or clinging to the cliff facet.
There are some extraordinarily picturesque spots all alongside the wadi and fairly just a few locations to drag over and admire the view. However the principle sights for guests – its swimming pools and waterfall – are accessible from Mabim Village.
How you can get to Wadi Tiwi
Wadi Tiwi is effectively signposted off Oman’s Route 17, 180km/two hours south of Muscat and 54km/an hour north of Sur.
We drove from Muscat, travelling by the southern finish of the Al Hajar Mountains towards the ocean the place the street joins the coast at Quriyat. Right here we took a detour off Route 17 to the seaside by Flamingo Lake for our packed breakfast.
We didn’t see as many flamingos as we’d hoped – there have been just a few – however there was a superb sized flock of herons and different wading birds.
Quriyat itself is an effective place to replenish on meals and drinks with loads of road-side retailers, a mall and souk.
Again on the street to Tiwi the views of the ocean between the cliffs turned extra frequent. We handed the seashores at Dibab and the Bimmah Sinkhole – one other good place for a pit cease. There are many widespread seashores for wild tenting simply off Route 17 together with Fin Seaside and White Sand Seaside.
Simply earlier than you attain the flip off for Wadi Tiwi you’ll cross over the Wadi Shab viaduct.
The turning for Wadi Tiwi is simply after the subsequent viaduct. The street loops again down beneath this. The views of the seaside at Tiwi are lovely. We had been very tempted to cease and have promised our women we’ll return one other time.
Services at Wadi Tiwi
We’d suggest stopping on the automotive park beneath the viaduct earlier than you drive into the wadi itself.
That is the place you’ll discover the final public bogs, that are a useful place to alter into swim fits to put on beneath your climbing gear.
There’s squat and Western model bogs right here, and there have been face tissues by the sink (though I all the time deliver a stash of my very own).
Right here’s the pink pin exhibits the situation of the bogs on the entrance to the wadi:
The drive into Wadi Tiwi
From right here there’s one street out and in of the wadi and that begins beneath the viaduct. It’s an extra 10km to the wadi parking place at Mabim Village.
The street is cement and turns into single monitor the additional you go. There are passing locations however anticipate steep elements and sheer drops. Having a 4×4 helps for the later sections.
It took us about 20 minutes to drive each to and from Mabim Village. We didn’t cross many individuals on the street. It could have taken longer if we had been going in opposition to the site visitors due to the numerous single monitor sections. However that’s the good thing about arriving earlier within the day.
I’d not wish to attempt navigating the later sections of this street at evening! You’re in the course of nowhere so there are not any road lights.
Parking for Wadi Tiwi
The Wadi Tiwi parking place at Mabim Village is effectively marked on Google maps and there’s a cell sign on the street so you possibly can preserve monitor of the place you might be.
The pink pin is what to purpose for:
There may be one other parking spot 7km from the viaduct. You possibly can hike from right here to Mabim. This isn’t for the faint hearted because the route could be very uncovered.
We determined to not go for this as we had the youngsters and canine (all the time a superb excuse) and headed straight for Mabim Village 10km into the wadi.
Mabim Village and native guides
As soon as we had pushed into the village we had been quickly being waved at by a man insisting we go up a facet street to park. Waze was telling us we had not but reached the parking space so we determined to proceed.
The parking place was just some extra meters across the nook. We took the final spot – most likely why the man had been discouraging us from going additional. There are solely about 10 parking areas.
I had turn into a bit weary about arriving in Mabim as on the drive to Wadi Tiwi I’d come throughout a pair’s weblog put up a few potential rip-off right here – not nice studying once we had been already dedicated to our vacation spot.
You possibly can learn the lengthy model right here. However in abstract…
The couple had arrived late within the day after a horrendous drive into the wadi in opposition to all of the departing guests.
Once they reached Mabim – already flustered – an area information provided to take them all the way down to the wadi swimming pools and waterfall by the plantation. Quickly after they began the descent with him they felt uneasy and suspected one thing dangerous would possibly occur.
They determined to show again and later wrote about it on their weblog, giving a really detrimental impression of Wadi Tiwi. This didn’t mirror our expertise so I wished to share this.
What we skilled
After we parked we had been additionally approached by villagers who provided to take us to the wadi swimming pools.
The route isn’t signal posted by the plantation.
There are many villagers on the parking place prepared to fulfill vacationers – and others who simply wish to have a superb have a look at you.
They do supply to carry your issues on the climb down – you want each fingers free.
However I’m assured there isn’t a rip-off right here.
The villagers act as guides for vacationers to make some more money. Those we met had been pleasant and trustworthy, and their information of the terrain is great.
How they navigate it in naked toes or flip flops I’ll by no means know! We additionally wouldn’t have had as full an expertise with out our guides.
Right here’s our expertise of visiting Wadi Tiwi from the parking space at Mabim with plenty of non-sugar coated data for different households desirous about seeing this extraordinary place for themselves.
The climb all the way down to Wadi Tiwi swimming pools
We’d not have discovered or braved the path to the swimming pools under Mabim with out our guides, Ali and Alem.
They approached us once we arrived and requested if we wished to go all the way down to the wadi. We mentioned ‘sure’, clearly, and away we went.
Our mistake right here was that we didn’t ask how a lot they charged.
We’d not been in Oman lengthy and hadn’t but used a information we’d informally met at a vacation spot. For those who discover yourselves in the same scenario you would possibly wish to ask the worth upfront, simply so there’s no awkwardness while you half methods.
From the parking house we adopted them by what regarded like a backyard entrance beside a home after which down by irrigation channels the place they identified banana, lemon and mango timber.
After a couple of minutes the stroll turned a climb with chains hooked up to rock faces with uneven and slippy surfaces.
That is after I turned somewhat frightened about whether or not we’d make it down with the youngsters and canine. It was a problem.
Had the youngsters not been in a position to stroll on their very own we’d not have gone any additional.
We had been all relieved and elated once we lastly noticed the underside of the canyon rising from between the timber.
As we approached the water on the backside Tin Field Canine slipped off a rock and plunged a number of meters down into the wadi pool under. My coronary heart was in my mouth however I used to be attempting to not present the women I used to be panicking.
Canine was high-quality. Mr Tin Field shortly stripped off and scrambled all the way down to information her to a degree at which she could possibly be hauled out of the water.
After we reached the underside by the right route, which concerned one more chain alongside a sloping rock, we had been rewarded with views down the canyon and of the primary in a collection of turquoise swimming pools resulting in the waterfall beneath Mabim village.
Our guides sat out of sight whereas the women and I modified – we actually ought to have carried out this again on the bogs beneath the viaduct. They then taken care of our ruck sack whereas we explored up stream.
We let Tin Field Canine off her lead however shortly needed to put her again on.
She’s by no means been a fan of being in water with us. She’s an important swimmer however I don’t suppose she believes people are. She both tries to rescue us or runs off, not in a position to bear to look at us.
This time the latter occurred whereas we had been climbing as much as the second pool.
That is when Alem got here to the rescue, holding Canine’s lead and bringing her with us. He’d taken a little bit of a shine to our four-legged member of the family.
Whereas we waded clumsily by the wadi Alem appeared to drift alongside a tiny ledge beside us till it ran out.
That is the place he sat with Canine whereas Mr Tin Field and I took turns to swim to the opening of the third pool.
The second pool had turned very deep after about 10 meters. The women stopped right here as a result of we’d not purchased any floatation gadgets for them.
Our 10-year-old was a superb swimmer, however was nervous about what is perhaps lurking under, and our seven-year-old was not but assured sufficient to make the swim to pool three.
It was a disgrace we couldn’t attain the waterfall by the wadi. We met different individuals coming again who had. If the women had been a bit older and we’d not had the canine with us we might have tried it.
Nonetheless, we nonetheless felt like we did the swimming pools justice. And there was one other strategy to see the waterfall.
The Mabim waterfall
We climbed again out of the wadi the way in which we got here; chains and all.
Earlier than the highest our guides took us left by the plantation and alongside extra irrigation channels till we reached a set of steps all the way down to the waterfall.
We may have paused on the waterfall for an additional swim as our guides had been comfortable to attend for us once more. However we had been all fairly drained by this level, so we requested Ali to take a fast image after which began the climb all the way in which again up the steps to the village.
For those who come to Mabim Village and simply wish to see and swim on the waterfall you may get to it by strolling straight by the parking space.
Proceed strolling for 200m and take a left down the white steps. These are cement and pretty even, so it’s a neater route than the climb to the swimming pools. However there are many them!
It could even be attainable to do a round route from right here, climbing down the wadi and again out the way in which we had are available. There have been a quantity official guided excursions kitted out with climbing helmets and buoyancy aids doing precisely that.
I wouldn’t try it with smaller kids until equally kitted out. This is the reason the village guides take you to the underside pool first – they don’t need you to get caught with out understanding the way in which out.
In complete we spent two hours with our guides and paid them 5 OMR (simply over £10). We do not know what the going charge is however they didn’t look upset. On reflection Mr Tin Field thought he ought to have given them extra.
We had a tiring however unimaginable day and might extremely suggest visiting Wadi Tiwi. I hope this put up provides you an thought of what to anticipate so you possibly can tailor your journey to your group.
For those who’d wish to observe our different adventures in Oman I’m sharing them in actual time on Instagram utilizing #TinBoxOman. You may as well observe @tinboxtraveller to see all of our travels and suggestions.
Suggestions for visiting Wadi Tiwi and Mabim Village
Right here’s some extra last suggestions that can assist you plan:
- Be sure you cease on the public bogs beneath the viaduct to alter into your swimming wear earlier than driving into the wadi.
- You’re visiting a extra rural a part of Oman so gown respectfully by masking shoulders and knees whereas within the village.
- Rash vests and shorts are a good suggestion for swimming in.
- Put on sturdy sandals that may get moist. You’ll need them within the water in addition to for the stroll/climb. We’ve KEEN sandals.
- The street could be very steep and slender in locations so a 4×4 automobile is finest for visiting Wadi Tiwi and plenty of different wadis.
- Until you’re a assured driver take into account reserving a guided tour with a driver. Mr Tin Field was loving it however some individuals would possibly discover the swap backs, blind hill crests and steep drops disconcerting.
- We arrived at 11am on a Saturday and there was just one parking house left. To ensure yourselves a parking spot arrive early.
- For those who don’t wish to pay an area information to see the wadi swimming pools merely politely decline and stroll out the opposite facet of the parking place. You’ll see the steps for the waterfall in your left after a few minutes strolling.
- As with a lot of Oman the situation is distant and troublesome to entry. It is best to take into account airing on the facet of warning or mitigating danger with issues like buoyancy aids. Don’t simply press on as ‘others have made it’ and switch again in case you are not sure your group is succesful.
Issues to deliver with you
Listed below are the important objects to take to Wadi Tiwi, together with some we want we’d packed:
- Loads of water – it was sizzling work even in January. We bought very thirsty climbing the waterfall steps.
- A dry bag to your valuables and telephone. One with a strap* is a good suggestion.
- A microfibre towel*.
- Water sneakers* to alter into if you happen to put on climbing sneakers.
- Buoyancy aids for youths not assured in deep water. We’ve used just a few over there years for paddle boarding with our youngsters.
- Lunch as we didn’t spot anyplace to purchase meals.
- A primary help package.
Attempt to pack gentle for the climb all the way down to the swimming pools as it’s onerous to do with heavy baggage (and canines).
Lodging close to Wadi Tiwi
Wadi Tiwi is just not a great spot to attempt wild tenting as there are many villages and you might be on a street. Nonetheless, you possibly can wild camp on the seashores close by.
For those who choose to not attempt wild tenting in Oman, listed here are some lodging choices:
Extra studying about Oman
We moved to Oman in 2022 and are loving attending to know our new, residence. Right here’s some extra posts I’ve written about Oman and expat life:
Disclosure: this put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. For those who click on on considered one of these and make a purchase order I could earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.
