Ana has lived in Muscat for several years and took us into the desert for 24 hours. First stop Wadi Bani Khalid. Drive over the mountains that frame Muscat one side (the sea is on the other) and into a valley of desert, mountains, villages and trails.
What does wadi mean? Wadi is an Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. Sometimes it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain [1]
Over the mountains and into a long stretching valley of occasional villages, scrub and mountains. The wadi is literally in the middle of nowhere.
When we arrive, nearly 4 hours later this is what we find. An oasis, with crystal clear water, fish that nibble your toes (free pedicure) and sweet spring water.
Wadi Bani Khalid is a beautiful place that surprises you in how large it is. For families, there is a restaurant and large pool that is child friendly, for the more adventurous, you can hike up into wadi and choose a pool to your liking. You will need to be sure of foot though – the trail can be narrow and uneven in places.
Reference
[1] Wadi definition: Wikipedia Accessed 4 April 2018
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