The Road To Wadi Arbaeen Has it All!
Located in the Al Sharqiyah region in northeastern Oman, Wadi Arbaeen is one of the most amazing Oman wadis. Drive slow and safely as some heights and curves are sharp.
The road to the wadi, also known as Wadi Al Arabiyeen or Wadi Al Arabieen, is totally unpaved. Starting from Dibab, the drive is 14.6km (9.07 miles) long. The road encompasses miles of stunning views through twisty hair pin corners, high elevations and steep grades. Make sure your tyres are in good shape with thick sidewalls considering that wadis are filled with sharp rocks and gravel.
The drive is definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed! There are many excellent photo opportunities. The bed of Wadi El-Arbaeen has a rich flora. The wadi is ridiculously beautiful, with pool after pool of picturesque green water among huge boulders, some of the pools being deep. Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory, fully charged batteries and an empty memory card! This is an incredibly enjoyable wadi, with lots of rock-crawling and water crossing with the car. Often overlooked thanks to the lack of signage, Wadi Al Arbaeen is well worth the effort of off-roads and map reading.
This trail passes through remote areas, so you need to be prepared. The mobile coverage is lost in some parts. Also make sure to fill up on gas well before you head here. Wadi Al Arbaeen is not very accessible due to the lack of signage, and the stretch of off-road that you need to get through. Road to this oasis spot in the middle of the barren and dry mountains is unpaved, very narrow and slippery in few areas due to the gravel. On the way you can find unique hills with varied grey and orange color rocks.
If you dare to take the risk and travel along this dusty and bumpy route, then make sure to be driven by someone who has experience of the road. Most SUVs should be fine getting there, but some might be too low and get hit by rocks on some stretches of the road. This road essentially follows the course of Wadi Al Arbaeen river. This route is not suitable for normal cars. Four Wheel Drive car is a must, you have to go off-road to get there.
Pic: László Valusek