Wadi Shab Expedition from Muscat with Local Lunch, Guiding in Six Languages, Up to 12

This Wadi Shab expedition runs for about seven and a half hours and takes up to 12 travelers per booking. Bottled water and lunch at a local restaurant are included. Guiding is available in Arabic, German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Service animals are allowed, infants must sit on an adult's lap, and the day suits all fitness levels. The wadi is one of the best-known in Oman. Over centuries the water has carved its way through the rock, leaving deep gorges and freshwater pools. The hike begins at the parking lot and runs for 45 minutes along the wadi to the deep aquamarine pools at the back of the valley. Near the end of the hike the trail goes through the water, so appropriate footwear is recommended. Travelers can swim in the pools, and the cliffs, greenery and caves add to the walk. The Bimmah Sinkhole is in Dabab village, 113 km from Muscat. Local inhabitants tell a legend that a meteorite fell here, which is the meaning of its Arabic name, Hawiyat Najam, 'The Falling Star'. Geologists give another explanation: water interacting with dissolving, carbonate-bearing limestone caused the upper crust layer to collapse. The trip is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for anyone with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.