Salalah Exploration – August 18th – 25th

Day and date: Friday August 18th – Friday August 25th (or any part of the week as your schedule requires)
Drive Type: All Level Camping & Sightseeing/Exploration Adventure
Meeting Point: In front of Chuck E Cheese at Dubai Outlet Malls E66
Google maps users (just copy and paste in Google maps): N25.07230° E55.40195°
GPS users: 25°04’20.3″N 55°24’07.0″E
Meeting Time: 5:00 am on Friday August 18th (I know it is early but it will help us arrive at our camp at a decent hour)
Drive Start: 5:00 am on Friday August 18th
Drive End: Friday August 25th with option to exit earlier if your schedule requires
Duration: 7+/- days
Drive Route: Dubai, UAE to Salalah, Oman and back
Drive Terrain: Very long stints on tarmac, mountains, graded tracks, wadis, beaches, rocky tracks (no sand dunes)

Let’s escape the UAE heat and enjoy the cooler climate of Salalah during its Khareef season. This trip is open to all DO members and their families and will be exciting for both Salalah first-timers as well as repeaters! We will plan for 7 days of driving, exploring, sightseeing, and camping in and around Salalah and the wider Dhofar region.

Day 3 Onwards
We will explore various mountains, waterfalls, beaches, and various other sites throughout the Salalah/Dhofar region. We will mainly be on the roads less travelled and will camp in secluded sites away from the crowds. We will hit different sites from our trip last year so even if you were on the trip last year, there will be more to discover this year.

Key things to bring
1) A very reliable 4×4. This is a long, demanding trip and you need to have complete faith in your ride.
2) Petrol stations are generally available but are few and far between. We plan to stop at almost everyone as you never know how far for the next one. 1 jerry can is required nonetheless to be safe.
3) Working spare tire and lug wrench or other tools to be able to remove/change the tire
4) Spare fluids, belts, hoses, etc
5) Shops are very basic like your typical small grocery shops. ALL food and drink for the whole trip for each car and passengers should be carried. We will be able to re-load with ice at the grocery stores but we must bring cool boxes full of food and drink for the full trip
6) All camping gear, tents, cooking utensils, warm clothes, waterproof jackets, etc
7) Two tarps for each tent: 1 for under the tent and one for over the tent. Even if it doesn’t rain it will be foggy and misty
8) 1 bundle of firewood for each night from each car. We will want to have both night time fires and morning fires. It is very nice to wake up and have morning breakfast around a fire in this climate.
9) All other offroad/recovery gear you would normally carry.
10) A complete first aid kit and lots of insect repellant, insect bite cream, sun screen, etc.
11) Costs: You will need to budget approximately AED 1,000 for fuel depending on how thirsty your car gets; visa to leave UAE is AED 35/person and to enter Oman is AED 50/person; all of your food and supply requirements
12) DO club fee: AED 350 per adult (children are free). This fee goes directly to our club and helps offset its various operating costs

Matt

Checklist:
a) Keep your emergency contact info at vehicle dashboard.
b) Carry air compressor with you and ensure it’s in working condition.
c) Ensure your 4×4 vehicle is in perfect condition and with enough fuel.
d) Compatible Radio is a must.
e) Carry all necessary off-road gear / recovery equipment in good working condition.
f) Carry enough water / refreshments / re-hydration drinks for self & co-passenger(s).