Visit Oman – 2/2013

Visit Oman – 2/2013 – during long weekend of June 06, 2013.

Now that the summer has set in and not much can be done in the sand dunes, why not explore the Wadis and Mountains of Oman. This trip aims at that.

BTW, You may be wondering, as to why this trip is being called 2/2013. Well, though I wasn’t in the convoy, you all did the Star-Fish Dunes as “Visit Oman – 1/2013”. Hence this trip is being called 2/2013 😉 .

So having sorted out the nomenclature of the trip, what we intend to do is as under:

Aim: To explore the Wadi and Mountains on the east coast of Oman

Level of Difficulty: Easy, but the car should be in good shape and the “low-range” should be in perfect working order

Agenda:

Thursday, June 06, 2013 :

– 7am: Departure from Dubai,
– 12.30pm: Arrive in Muscat and depart for Wadi Shab,
– 2pm: Arrive at the road head to Wadi Shab (150 kms from Muscat), http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com/wadi-shab-oman/
– Trek to wadi Shab pools; swim at the natural lake and cave – Trek to the big pool is about 3kms and back.,
– 6pm: move to camp site at white-sand/pebble beach (or depending on the day-light at our disposal, we can drive up the Salamah Plateau and camp at a higher elevation).

Friday, June 07, 2013 :

– 8am: Drive up the Salamah Plateau – it involves steep climb up the plateau on a graded track, somewhat similar but much longer and steeper than the good-old Ziggy Bay climb,
– Visit the opening to the Majlis Al Jinn (2nd largest cave chamber in the world with an area of 4 million cubic meters inside it),
– Drive thru the mountain villages and pass by the pre-historic Bee-Hive Tombs on our way to the Wadi Tayeen,
– 12pm: drive thru the Wadi Tayeen; this wadi has water all thru the year,
– 4pm: Arrive at Ibra and proceed to Dubai or Muscat as applicable.

Notes:
– Drive to Muscat is about 420 kms. Do keep atleast 45minutes – 1 hr for visa formalities at Hatta Border.
– Its’ advisable for the participants to go the Omani consulate in Dubai and procure an advance visa. The Consulate grants visa on the same day. This takes away the uncertainty and discretion of the border staff.
– Though the summer has already set-in, the temperature sometimes on the Salamah plateau may be bit lower than the usual pleasant range. Therefore, it will be wise for you to pack one fleece jacket/blanket.
– Do not forget to pack your swim wear.
– Trek to Wadi Shab pools involves walking thru the rocks and boulders. Therefore you need to wear full or 3/4th length trousers and proper trekking/hiking shoes to protect your knees and ankles. Slippers and flip-flops are risky in such treks. I use my regular SWAT boots and they work well in that terrain.

We will have more details of the trip as we inch forward to the D Day. So, put in your name if you are game for this adventure.