Wahiba Sands Travel Guide
Dune Fields and Bedouin
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The rolling dune fields of the Wahiba Sands epitomises Arabia for all visitors to the Sultanate. Home to much wildlife and the traditional, incredibly hospitable Bedouin people they can only be explored on exciting 4WD camping safaris. This is adventure travel at its very best.
The Wahiba Sands stretch some 180km from north to south and 80km from east to west. This is ‘ramlat’, the Arabic word used to describe a desert of dunes, many of which here exceed 100m in height. The Sands are best crossed longitudinally, from north to south or vice versa. They are bounded by the towns of Al Mintirib in the north, An Nuqduh in the south, Al Ashqara on the coast in the east and al Jadidah in the west. The dunes are home to some 3000 Bedu from various tribes which include the Janabah, Mawalik, Hikman, Amr and Wahiba.
The Sands stretch to the Arabian Sea shore and encompass mudflats and lagoons around Barr Al Hikman, home to a large migrant bird population in the winter. They are moving inland at the rate of some 10 metres each year.
Whilst they look bereft of wildlife they are in fact home to some 180 species of plants, 200 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians roam the sands: you’ll find everything from gazelle, Ruppel's fox to sand cat and white-tailed mongoose.
Attractions in Wahiba Sands
The Wadi Bani Khaled lies on the north east flank of the Wahiba Sands whilst visits to places such as Ras al Jinz, Sur and the amazing Wadi Shab can be built in too if heading south down the coastal route from Muscat. If heading west and south from Muscat the full range of sights of the Jebel Akhdar and Niwza can be included in your itinerary – place such as Tanuf, Jibreen, Al Hamra and Wadi Nakhr.
Activities in Wahiba Sands
Dune-bash your way by 4WD through the sands to a desert camp and perhaps ride camels, meet local Bedouin people still living a traditional life and see some of the sights in the towns that surround the Sands.
Relaxing
There are several desert camps scattered through the Sands but little can beat a wild bush camp under the stars.
Getting Around
There is no other way than to travel by 4WD vehicle. This requires specific experience and skill and it is not recommended that you self-drive in the Sands without being accompanied by an experienced guide.
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