The stunning drive into Wadi Al Arbeieen really sets the scene for what’s to come, and it only gets better when you reach the wadi. You can make your trip as adventurous as you like: from swimming in a beautiful emerald pool less than a five minute walk from the parking area, to longer hikes out to more secluded pools.
Even the easiest to reach will see you surrounded by towering mountains and giant boulders which make you feel small in the best possible way.
We didn’t have time to discover all that the wadi has to offer, but we did visit several great swimming holes which were not too tricky to get to, but are not signposted. In this guide we’re sharing exactly how to find them.
What to expect at Wadi Al Arbeieen
There are lots of incredible pools at Wadi Al Arbeieen and the one you’ve probably seen the most pictures of is right beside the parking area.
However, when we arrived locals told us that this area is now closed and you aren’t supposed to go there (there was a bit of a language barrier, but I think it was due to a recent accident).
Judging by recent reviews online people definitely do still go and swim there, but personally we went further into the wadi instead.
There is one other pool very close to the parking area, which is great for a swim and then many more pools further into the wadi.
Depending on which route you take you can reach several different waterfalls. We stuck to the left side of the wadi which led to several secluded pools and one small waterfall.
We were told if we’d gone up the righthand side of the wadi we would have reached a much bigger waterfall (but it was also a longer walk).
The Wadi Al Arbeieen Walk
The stats
Distance: 340m each way to first pool, 1.6km each way to waterfall pool
Elevation gain: 20m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Summary: The walk to the first pool is quick and easy with only a minor amount of rocky terrain to negotiate when getting into the pool. The walk further into the wadi is almost entirely flat, but does involve some boulder scrambling.
By Omani standards, it’s quite easy and there is no exposure (steep drops), but it’s ideal to have proper shoes rather than sandals (unless they are hiking sandals).
To reach the waterfall pool you need to cross the water a couple of times, but it’s shallow and easy unless the river is really high (in which case you wouldn’t even venture into the wadi).
Starting the trail: to the first pool
From the parking area (full details below), you head along the gravel path that heads down to the creek in the opposite direction to the way you drove in. You’ll see a road leading left into the village and you want to ignore this and keep right.
The pool is only 340m from where you parked and you’ll quickly see a path leading right, towards the water.
You’ll be following the stream and quickly see a clearing with palm trees on the left and something covered by a bright orange tarp (it looked like a campsite when we were there, but wasn’t!).
In the creek to your right, you’ll hear the cascade and it’s just ahead of you - at these coordinates: 23.0327107, 58.9887929 (you can also see it here on Google maps). All you need to do is walk across the rocky patch and you’ll see the pool below.
It’s a good path all the way to the top of the pool. Accessing the pool requires climbing down a few rocks, but it’s pretty easy.
The water is shallow at first and then deeper once you get closer to the waterfall. There are a few large rocks inside the water so you can’t have a long swim, but it’s a beautiful place for a dip and the water is cool and refreshing (in winter it might even feel cold).
The water is crystal clear and shines emerald in the sunshine, when you turn around you can see the jagged peaks of several golden mountains.
It’s absolutely beautiful and the despite the fact it was only a five minute walk from the parking area, there was no one else there.
If you’re looking for an easy spot to reach, this is your best bet (unless you want to swim in the very first pool, which we were told was closed).
Continuing the trail: along the falaj
We made the mistake of initially trying to walk directly past the first pool and found ourselves in a boulder field! Though you could get to more pools this way, there is a much easier route.
Retrace your steps slightly, back to the abandoned ‘camping area’ and look for the rocky path heading uphill on the right.
This path is a little rough, but only takes a couple of minutes to get up and you’ll find yourself in a date plantation. From here follow the falaj deeper into the wadi.
You will follow the falaj for approximately 550m. Sometimes there are obvious beaten down trails beside the falaj, so pick the route that looks easiest to you so long as you keep following the falaj.
You will soon leave the date plantation and get some fantastic views out to the mountains and stream below. I remember saying to Joe that even if we didn’t find any pools at all the walk would be worth it for these beautiful views.
Occasionally the falaj narrows to a point it’s easier to step down onto the boulders and then back up again. It’s never what I’d call exposed, but you are raised a little way off the ground.
The boulder scrambles
After you’ve been following the falaj for 550m you need to head down onto the boulders and into the wadi.
There are two large white rocks beside the falaj and you climb over these to start hiking through the wadi (you can see the rocks in the photo below).
The route is now marked with intermittent cairns (and sometimes a splash of paint) and you are just 350m away from the waterfall pool.
The boulders can be slippery, especially if wet, but only one or two were larger and required a bit more effort. For context, I am really bad at scrambling, most people will find this section easy enough.
Just 150m after leaving the falaj you will come to the first proper pool. The pool is relatively shallow, but that makes the clarity of the water incredible.
It’s a great spot for lazing around in the water surrounded by spectacular mountains in every direction. Right beside the pool was a bush covered in beautiful pink flowers, which made it even more special.
The trail continues to the left of this pool by heading directly beside the bush (it’s slightly obscured, but easy to follow if you know to look out for it).
It’s only another 50m before you reach another pool with a tiny cascade.
This one is also really shallow so whilst very pretty, it’s not nearly as good for swimming as the waterfall pool. If you aren’t taking a dip in this one you’ll need to cross it anyway, as the trail continues on the other side of the water.
For us, the crossing was shallow (not much above ankle height). Water shoes would come in handy here, though I just crossed in my boots.
Reaching the waterfall pool
The waterfall pool is only another 150m on from the tiny cascade pool. It is rocky most of the way and a few of the rocks are slippery, but no more so than most other wadi walks in Oman.
Most of this section is spent walking along a rocky path and over a few bigger boulders, but nothing overly tricky.
You’ll soon come to a small pool which you need to cross to reach the waterfall pool. At this point you can see the bigger pool ahead of you, so if you’re planning to swim you may as well go in here rather than soak your clothes as this pool is a bit deeper. It is a little slippery underfoot, so it’s easier to swim or keep low when crossing.
You’ll then be standing on a small stony ‘beach’ beside giant boulders with a huge pool and small waterfall ahead of you.
This pool is an amazing place to swim as there are very few rocks to bump into and the water is clear and cool. It’s shallow as you head in, but not slippery underfoot and you can quickly swim off into deep water.
It was shallow again close to the falls so you can sit beside the waterfall itself, which was a gorgeous place to relax. There was very little current coming from the waterfall, so it was a really easy and serene place to swim.
The views are majestic and as with all the other pools along the way, we had them to ourselves.
You can continue the trail further on from here, but due to a number of false starts in finding the falaj in the first place we ran out of time.
Having said that it was an incredible place to swim and did feel like a destination in its own right. What lies beyond will have to be saved for a future adventure if we’re lucky enough to return to Oman!
When you’re ready to leave you simply retrace your steps and it feels quicker on the way back as you know roughly where you’re going.
Wadi Al Arbeieen safety info
As with any canyon, you should never enter after heavy rain, or if rain is forecast. This is particularly important at Wadi Al Arbeieen as it is prone to flash flooding. During our time in Oman it flooded twice and one of those times people had to sleep high up in the wadi until the waters receded. Don’t let it put you off visiting because thousands of people visit safely each year, but do check the weather forecast and ask a local if in doubt.
Other than that you just have to be mindful when heading into the wadi that it doesn’t see as many visitors as places like Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Shab, so do take care on the boulder scrambles.
If you’d prefer to go with a guide we met a very friendly local, Salem, who you can contact via Whatsapp for info on prices and routes: +968 9894 1677
The road into Wadi Al Arbeieen
We heard a lot of conflicting things about the road in Wadi Al Arbeieen. The first thing to know is that weather events can change the condition of the road, which is another reason you wouldn’t want to go straight after heavy rain.
During our visit it was an excellent gravel road, steep and narrow in places, but very well graded. There are two potential routes into the wadi you can take, one via Dibab and a new junction off Highway 17 (it’s 35km closer to Muscat), we took the newer road from the new junction, so that’s the one we’re referring to - it’s here on Google maps.
It took us around 20 minutes to drive the gravel portion of the road at a slow place. It does pass a hotel and village, so you can expect two way traffic.
In terms of the type of car you need we’d recommend one with a bit of clearance and some traction for the steeper bits of the road. You can, and people do, take 2WD’s down there, but you need confidence and excellent conditions for that. You don’t need a 4WD in dry conditions, but an SUV would be preferable to a small car and I personally wouldn’t take a small car down.
Other than that if you’re a passenger you’ll want your camera at the ready because the road is stunning.
Directions to get to Wadi Al Arbeein
Once you’ve left the highway, it’s best to ignore Google maps as the road layout is newer, you can follow the signposts instead. From the highway, you’ll take a right (all other options are blocked) and then a left following for “Wadi Al Arbeieen” at the T junction.
Follow this road (ignoring the dead end sign) and the tarmac will give way to gravel. At first we felt really confused as there were dozens of cars parked here, but trust us, the dirt road from here is the correct way.
The road will undulate and has some steepish sections before reaching a junction with a reassuring sign saying Wadi Al Arbeieen is to the left. At this point you can use Google maps again and follow the road to the village.
This will keep going until you reach a shallow and short ford, which you will go over and then see a widened part of road where you can park (coordinates: 23.033652, 58.991539).
Where to park for Wadi Al Arbeieen
There is no car park for Wadi Al Arbeieen, simply some space to pull fully off the road. You can park either side of the ford, but preferably cross the ford so you don’t have to walk through it to start the hike. You can find the place to park at these coordinates: 23.033652, 58.991539.
There isn’t a whole lot of space for parking, so you might want to avoid the middle of the day on weekends when it will be busier.
What to wear at Wadi Al Arbeieen
As with anywhere in Oman it’s recommended to cover up a bit if in the presence of locals. I personally went with the rule if we were alone or only in the presence of westerners then a swimsuit was fine.
Getting to Wadi Al Arbeieen
Unless you’re taking a taxi or tour you’ll need to drive to Wadi Al Arbeieen. If taking the route we did it’s around 1 hour 35 minutes from Muscat and 40 minutes from Tiwi.
Where to stay near Wadi Al Arbeieen
Wadi Al Arbeieen Resort
We were planning to stay at Wadi Al Arbeieen Resort, but due to the aforementioned flooding events, ended up running out of time and having to drive on to Tiwi. However, it looked like a pretty incredible place to stay as it’s less than a 10 minute drive from the main part of Wadi Al Arbeieen and located in its own section of canyon. The rooms look simple, but the setting looks fantastic.
You can check the reviews and prices on:
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
