Wadi Shab Day Trip by Car from Muscat: Coastal Drive, Fishing Villages and Sinkhole

This day in the Valley of Shab mixes hiking with swimming in the turquoise water of a canyon gorge, all the way to a secret waterfall. Palm plantations grow in the wadi, and rock walls close in on both sides. The trek is easy, along a rocky gorge with green pools of fresh underground water flowing beneath and between the rocks. The drive from the hotel or pick-up point takes two hours and follows the coast. Along the road there are white sand beaches and fishing villages, and a conservation area on the way to the valley gives travelers a chance of seeing wild gazelles running if they are lucky. The Bimmah Sinkhole is a large hole in the Earth's crust filled with fresh water, a giant hole with turquoise water at the bottom. The pool is fed by fresh underground water, and visitors can dip their legs in and take photos. A meteor is credited with making the hole. The last stop is a beach photo stop to see the white sand and breathe the sea breeze. The drive back to the pick-up point takes the coastal road, with views of the Sea of Oman, part of the Indian Ocean, and another chance to spot gazelles.