Discover Wadi Shab Shared Tour From Muscat

This trip is not for the faint hearted, whilst the pools are spectacular the hike to the pools are treacherous. It is bouldering not hiking, there is no designated route and you find yourself scaling boulders at least a metre in height. You scramble between boulders most of the route on very uneven terrain, whilst trying to maintain your footing. At some points on route, you have to navigate narrow, uneven paths close to ravines with a 20 foot drop and no barriers. It is a free for all, with other users coming back and forth on this treacherous landscape. It is an accident waiting to happen. The route to the pools took us and hour of very hard work in hot conditions. This trip is advised for all ages and abilities. This should be reviewed by the organisers. We are both over 60 and really struggled with the terrain. This is not a walk, it is climbing. Be prepared! The rest of the trip was satisfactory,

It’s a very well planned and executed experience. Our tour guide was absolutely lovely as well. I left my hat in the car and he still returned it to the next morning before my next tour. He was very attentive to taking breaks and letting everybody take pictures and have an enjoyable experience.

While the Wadi Shab tour certainly has its scenic features and could pass for a very nice day trip, it would have been nice to know that the tour is in essence a trekking expedition. Walking shoes alone won’t do, and if you come ill-prepared, the ordeal itself is not only uncomfortable but potentially dangerous. Be prepared to slip on extremely slippery stones, walk through mud, and fall into minor creeks, which will get you soaked for the reminder of the trip. I even managed to lose valuable items in one of the rivers. The Omani guide, though, was a very sympathetic and pleasant man.

Fantastic scenery. Magical landscapes. However this experience is not for the faint hearted. Long trek to the pools in blistering heat. Having said that I'm so glad I went.

The visit of the Wadi and the Sinkhole were interesting but it’s a long drive. In addition we were supposed to go to a beach but didn’t. The tour was supposed to last 8 hrs and thus we should have been back by 5pm. We were back at 3pm already. Something wrong there !

Great gid Naseeb work. Thank you for evething. Interesting stories, perfect driving. Nice trip, tasty food.

Our experience was slightly different to that of some other reviewers here. There was indeed no guide on the trip, but the description does not mention one, and there is no need for one either. The trek to the Wadi is self explanatory, there is a single path and no way to get lost unless You try really hard. I found it much better that each party could choose their own tempo, as most of the trek is walking over rocks. Not suitable for people with limited mobility or poor physical fitness, for others this is an enjoyable trek and bath. In the minivan everyone received headphones to listen to audio commentary linked to places we were passing through (very good). We visited the sinkhole as well, lunch was ok. Our driver Khalil was on time, friendly, polite and helpful. Definitely a trip to recommend.

The wabi shab was exceptional u have to go until the waterfall in the cave. The guide was also very helpfull. Thanks again.

Wadi Shab was great and the swim to the waterfall was terrific. However would appreciate if the operator could advise beforehand that there will be a 45 minute hike to the pools and that aqua shoes should be worn as stepping on the pebbles was excruciating.

The trip itself is definitely something worth doing and was the highlight of our trip to Oman. However - avoid this tour company or just hire a driver. The description is very misleading, it’s not a guided tour, it’s just a hired driver instead. The description of ‘learn about the rich history of Oman on your journey to Wadi Shab’ would be more accurately described as ‘sit in silence while your driver who speaks very little English takes you there’. Once you arrive, you’re pointed to an actual tour guide, which you’re expected to pay for since your guide ‘isn’t paid enough to do a tour’ in his words. Be prepared for your driver to sit in the taxi while you work everything out for yourself. The visit to the village and ancient town didn’t happen at all, without explanation. It’s a bit of a scam to be honest and a real shame because the Omani locals are otherwise very helpful and friendly.

Wadi Shab is splendid but you have to do trekking on your own without tour guide, they are more like driver.

Great experience! Our tour guide Naseeb was a great tour guide. The local Omanis were helpful and kind.

Very bad tour no guide left to find my own way to sink hole in temperature above 37 degrees .. got lost several times.

A most abysmal experience. The instructions for pick up were unclear, was hassled by staff and the transport did not have functioning air conditioning. There was no information provided about the length of the tour, or how the wadi works and there was no lunch…it was just a glorified bus journey. This is the cheapest but worst tour in Oman by far.

Well, good to see countryside outside of Muscat.And the wadis were fun. But you REALLY SHOULD warn ppl about the rugged, somewhat dangerous path required to get to caves. NOT FAIR if ppl don't know this.

Simply, it was perfect tour, the canion tour was excelent, the lunch was amasing and the sinkhole was beatiful. Strongly recommend

I was lucky to be only guest and it was absolutely fantastic to spend the day visiting these place with assistance of Khalil who was not only a great company but also a very reliable driver and source of information

It was not made clear enough how tough the walk was to get to the pools at the Wadi. The route to get there was not clear, particularly as we were on our own. I had to leave my wife 2/3rds of the way as she was struggling. This meant I had to dash to the pools then return very quickly. There was no phone signal if you hit a problem. We were never told you had to swim to get to the cave and waterfall. The guide should have escorted us. The audio description said we were at the best beach in Oman but we were taken to an awful part - when we continued our journey we could see there was a long beach but we didn't stop there. We could have had more time at the sinkhole as that was not a disappointment.

I loved the experience , I wish we had more time at the sinkhole I don’t think 30min was enough , I also wish we could have gone down to the beach at Fins, we literally stopped for 5minutes.

After several attempts at contacting grayline to address my issues I have to resort to a public review. The wadi walk is not safe. It is unguided. The Rocks are like glass underfoot The reward not worth the risk. Our driver admitted it was unsafe. On the day we went in another tourist fell and broke his leg I was sexually assaulted by one of the boat drivers and grayline have ignored my complaints. Absolutely avoid at all costs.

Great service with the hotel pick up, the lunch and the time given to US. Also appreciate the audio guide. Driver didn t say much but was very kind all the time. Wadi shab hiking was good and pratical even without a guide since we were in Group. It would be nice to have more indications before leaving just to point out it s a slippery place. Must do anyway cause the view is amazing

A great trip where you really get to see so much in one day. Lunch was lovely and in a beautiful setting. Great value for money I really recommend this tour : )

The main part of the trip is a hike followed by a swim through a canyon. Shoes that can get wet are ideal, as there are lots of areas where you'll be in shallow water with rocky footing. I made it in bare feet, but there was some pain involved. If you go as far as you can go, there's a cool cave-like grotto with a little waterfall inside. Ali was a great guide. He was friendly and made it a lot of fun, getting us karak tea along the way, letting us pick the driving music, and taking photos/videos for us.

Wadi Shab is a gorgeous hike and lives up to the pictures. A couple parts take some agility, but it’s a “doable” hike through the valley and past a couple small-plot farms. The driver was good, but if you are expecting a guide, lower your expectations. Basically, you get on a bus, plug in your audio guide headphones, and start cruising. The driver does not really explain the itinerary for the day or what you are about to see. He just points you in the direction of the trail and off you go. Same with lunch and the sinkhole. It’s a nice way to see a different side of Oman though.

This is a simple and easy way to go to Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole without getting lost for a solo traveler like me. The guide was friendly and the views were amazing!

OK, as holes in the ground go this is an impressive one. There are brave people swimming in the sink hole. It is by the sea. On the other hand, it is a long drive from Muscat and unless you are combining it with going to the Wadi and then to Sur probably not worth it. Unless the endless scrub and bare mountains en route are the sort of thing that grabs you.

My opinion?Must to see,something rare,middle of almost desert,nice park,blue bird,warm salt watter,possible to swim

Great place amazing times and a guide who was out of this world. Such a picturesque and beautiful place will come again

The activity was excellent, from the time I booked to the picking point everything went on so well. The driver was very friendly, explained everything we needed to know about the place, the lunch was delicious. Place was beautiful. No complaints at all. I will recommend this to all my friends and family to visit this place. Keep up the good job.

The place was wonderful and awesome in respect to natural beauty and adventure. Natural water lake at wadi sahib was awesome and peaceful place but going through to place was adventurous so quite difficult for small kids. The place was very clean and hospitality was very great. i recommend this, one of the best place to visit in OMAN.

After seeing more expensive excursions to Wadi Al Shab it made sense to go with Gray Line as they were the cheapest. The drive from Muscat is around 1.5 hours one way ,3 hours in total. We were given 2.5 hours to explore Wadi Al Shab, 1 hour for lunch and 20 minutes for a swim at Bimma (Bimmah ) Sinkhole. Go on this excursion on a day you do not have evening plans to truly enjoy it. Wadi Al Shab is an oasis in the desert which has a pool leading to a waterfall in a cave, it is incredible to witness. Things to bring: - Camera with a waterproof cover for the swim and beautiful views. - Good walking shoes as rock surfaces can be slippery during the hike - Water (beach) shoes for swimming as the pebbles in the water are sharp and the rocks are slippery. I forgot mine and used my flip flops -Floater(s) if you are not a confident swimmer. No one will laugh at you, you’ve paid so do what makes you comfortable - Towel, goggles and swimwear The lunch is decent after the hike and swim note soft drinks will cost extra. Be sure to listen to the recorded commentary as it is a wealth of information. Bimma Sinkhole is worth doing if just for the pictures. I would recommend this excursion as it is a good day out. You need to be in reasonable health to partake in it, fellow hikers will help you along the way. Medium fitness required.

The tour was amazing! A great alternative to private tours, and way cheaper. In fact we had our own private tour since we were only 3 person inside the mini bus (me, my boyfriend, and another person which took the tour). The places we visited were amazing, and the guide, Mr. ABDULLAH, so kind and helpful (we saw camels in the middle of the dessert and he stooped and took picture of us with the camels, and at the end he doped us where we indicated, giving us additional information about Muscat). Inside the car we had an audio guide so interesting providing us with information about omani lifestyle, politics, and tourist attractions. The lunch was a good buffet in a resort restaurant on the seaside. BUT, there is a big BUT. This was a GREYLINE tour, so I highly recommend to book it direclty from their website. Probably they offer better discounts, and accurate information. The description is misleading. You are not gonna see half of the things mentioned there. The only place we stopped was the Wadi Shab and the sinkhole. Not the Wadi Tiwi, the village Finns, nor Dahab, and no stop in the "picturesque port town of Quriyat". No 4x4 car (we didn't mind the old authentic bus, but at least should be mentioned).

It was perfect for a solo traveller. We left at sharp 9 and reached the destination by 11. The audio guide provided was very informative and we did not need to talk to the driver or anyone for guidance. At 11 the guide gave clear instructions on timing, how to get to the cave and waterfall. There are directions on rocks everywhere and one can go alone too. Once back at 2pm we were taken to wadi shab resort where there was an unlimited buffet of good quality, salads, grilled fish, hummus, rice, vegetables, water as well as soup, tea coffee and deserts. Compared to other tours and previous experience, the food was very good quality and the view of the beach was mind blowing. Post this we were taken to fins beach and the sinkhole. Overall well organised and executed. Safe and secure. Driver was professional and spoke good English.

I was left to be the last one being dropped of (solo female traveller) and guide kept asking me out for drinks. I was scared because it was late in the evening, I didn't have Internet - he knew that and I was left by myself with him. Dropped an email to viator on this matter - no reply!

So my friends and I had booked this day tour while visiting Muscat. Firstly, when we were picked up at 8 a.m, our driver had very little English and dropped us off at the side of a road and told to 'wait.' We wait 90 minutes before a bigger coach picked us up. The Wadi hike was very good and our tour guide was extremely friendly. After the hike we went to get our lunch as part of the trip. However, the lunch never appeared as we were told that the tour company hadn't booked us in. We easily wasted 1 hour here. Then went onto the sinkhole before it got dark. By the time we got to the beach is was completely dark so another waste of time. On the way back to Muscat, the bus was struggling to get uphill and after dropping us off at our hotel, we found out from another passenger that the bus had broken down. Finally got back to our hotel 12 hours after being picked up. I'd highly recommend just renting your own car as the drive isn't that bad and it's free to visit these sites (have to pay for the boat in the Wadi.)

Timephase is good and tour driver was very kind and friendly. I could enjoy wadi tour. See you again!

I will not recommend this company or trip to anyone, first of all I didn’t receive a confirmation on the pick up location or timing until I contacted the operator, which wasn’t easy since the provided number was out of service , so I had to check the website for a working number , the hotel pick up happened at 8:40 with a different driver from the one was communicated in the email , there was no welcome drinks or even a snack on the mini bus , we arrived at wadi shab with no clear instructions ,I was expected a tour guide to accompany in the hike all the way to the pool which wasn’t very easy or safe , after wadi shab we went up wadi shab hotel for lunch which was really bad tasteless food , the manager refused to serve us soft drinks which as per my group ticket soft drinks were included in the package , I had to call the company to solve this and a reach to a dead end then the driver stepped and we got our drinks which I think he paid for it from his own pocket, after the hotel the driver skipped the second location and drove to bimmah sinkhole . It was waste for my money I wish I rented a car and drove myself yo wadi shab because I felt I paid money for the ride only .

The tour was really good and I was really glad I did it. However our tour guide acted very inappropriately with me when I found myself on my own with him near the start of the trip. This overshadowed the tour and made me feel very uncomfortable. I was so glad there were 2 other people on my trip otherwise I am not sure what I would have done. This really put a dampener on an otherwise very good trip. I have complained to the tour company to ensure no other woman finds themselves in this situation

The tour operator doesn’t mention that you need to be in very good athletic shape in order to be able to do the hike to get to Wadi shab as pictured here. The hike is actually quite dangerous and unguided - I have seen many people hurting themselves badly while going through this. The final destination is not even that worth it. I would avoid this tour given the risk and how expensive it is. The driver was actually quite nice but overall tour is definitely not worth it.

Natural beauty, interesting to visit, the drive from Muscat was a little long but very quiet. Recommend a visit if time permits

Wadi Shab was really cool! I recommend it, great trek and soothing warm waters. You won’t regret this trip.

Soaking in Oman in aday is impossible. But among the few things you mustnt miss is the wadi shab and the Sink hole. We went solo without any guide hired a rent a car ( which was the only bad thing of the tour except for the july weather) . Remember before renting a car - to check the AC if working fine for passenger seating behind .. else it ruins your tour in hot weather.

Wadi Shab is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Bring water for the hike despite it only being 30 mins. After all, it is a desert.

Great and comfortable Ride. Food at the resort was good. FYI- the trek to Wadi shab is not guided. So you are on your own. Also if you want to see the waterfalls, you need to know swimming or carry floaties. If not you can still trek and go into the 3rd pool.

recommend this trip for every one.Well organized, nice lunch, beautuful landscapes ! I didn't expect soo much before this trip. Also price is wery nice comparing to the others.

Good experience with solid logistics and transportation Only negative was water not provided by tour... which was advertised service on web site registration Otherwise well done and provided nice day

I'd looked at a number of tours, but most of them were at least twice the price of this one, so I was a bit wary that it would be cheap and very uncheerful. But I was very pleasantly surprised. We had a great day out, and it was extremely good value. Our driver was very friendly, though spoke little English, and he made a few unscheduled stops to allow us to admire a beach or a viewpoint, which we appreciated. The walk up to Wadi Shab, though enjoyable, is far from being a nice, even path. There's a fair bit of clambering over boulders, so it would probably not be suitable for anyone with mobility issues. But the pool at the end of the walk is just fantastic, and swimming in the cool, clear water after a potentially sweaty climb is sublime. The sink hole is worth seeing, though they've rather `urbanized' it, with a sort of mini-park round it. If you take the steps down to the water try putting your feet in the water, as small fish come and nibble them - a free pedicure! You also get to see a lot of the mountainous scenery on the drive there and back, which was a real bonus. Overall, a very good deal.

The only tour operator that organizes group tours. Really great I could find this, as travelling as single person in Oman is extremely expensive. Very well organized: pick up from hotel, visits, lunch in a resort with terrace overlooking the sea. Excellent day! Very much recommended

I really enjoyed my trip to Wadi Shab but on the trip advisor not nearly enough information is given. We were with a group of 10 and when going around to the hotels we waiting 50 minutes on the bus for them to come. The family told us they were informed of the wrong time which I believe as I had to call them in order to receive the correct time. It also does not mention the difficulty of the trek. If you are not physically fit I would not recommend doing this as the hike is long to get there. Plus they do not actually send a person to guide you to the place. Also it mentions that water is included so we did not back bottles of water which means we spend a 3 hour bus journey that had no AC with no water!!! I really enjoyed my trip but I would not do it with this company again. I am not sure where the money that we paid actually goes towards!!