The Sharqiya Sands, or Wahiba Sands as it is more commonly known locally, is a sprawling desert region located south of the Western Hajar mountains and only a two-hour drive from Muscat. Spanning approximately 180 kilometres north to south and about 80 kilometres east to west, the desert covers an area of over 12,000 square kilometres and aside from a few permanent desert camps near the outskirts of the desert and couple of basic Bedouin settlements, is fairly desolate. But this hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most popular tourist spots in Oman for anyone looking for a quintessential Arabian desert experience.
There is also no shortage of activities and companies organising desert safaris practically throughout the year. Some of the most popular of these include dune bashing, desert safaris and crossings, camel safaris, desert Trekking, sand boarding, and even visits to traditional Bedouin camps, where you can enjoy a cup of traditional Omani Qahwa (Omani Coffee). Here is a short list of activities to make the most of your time in the desert.
One of the most popular entry points into the desert, and also the starting point for most adventures, is Badiyah, located about a two-hour drive from the capital city of Muscat. Because of its relatively close proximity to the city, day trips to the desert are quite common, with most people coming to enjoy a spot of dune bashing. There are companies that organise such trips on a regular basis. You are of course welcome to bring your own SUV for a spot of dune bashing fun in the desert. There is even a conveniently located fuel station right at the entrance, which is a perfect location to deflate your tires (as well as to reinflate your tires on the way out) and top up your fuel before heading into the desert.
While such day trips can be extremely fun and all, you can’t really experience the true beauty of this desert until you have spent a night there. There is a very good reason why the Sands is considered to be amongst the most beautiful camping areas in the entire country. Spending a night in the desert allows you to step away from the everyday stress and madness of the city, work, and day-to-day life in general, and really soak in the serene darkness, tranquillity, and peace that the desert offers. In fact, some would go so far as to say that the stunning view of the stars alone, away from all the light pollution of the city, is worth it.
Of course, if camping in the wild isn’t your thing, that isn’t an issue either. There are a number of established desert camps in the area to choose from. They are all located on the outskirts of the desert, relatively close to Badiyah, and depending on the camp you choose, offer everything from basic Bedouin-style tents to full-fledged luxury living, complete with a private pool. Regardless, each of them offers a range of services to give you that “authentic desert experience.” These include everything from desert safaris and sunset dune drive sessions to camel rides, sand boarding, quad biking and more. Some even host live music and bon fires.
As fun as these activities may be, nothing compares to a full-fledged desert crossing. There are several companies that undertake these crossings on a regular basis and they are immensely popular. It is not all to uncommon to see convoys of close to or even over 100 vehicles making the crossing together. These desert crossing adventures can take up to three days and two nights to complete depending on the route you take and are incredibly fun. These pre-arranged guided trips are extremely safe and well-organized, complete with catering and support vehicles and staff. There is of course nothing stopping you from undertaking the crossing by yourself. Just make sure your vehicles are well geared for the task and never undertake the trip alone. It is quite easy to get lost and out there in the desert, things can go wrong surprisingly quickly if the correct precautions are not taken. It is therefore essential that at least some of the people in your convoy are well experienced in desert driving and navigation. But with the right precautions in place, this will be by far one of the most challenging and memorable trips you have ever taken.
Ultimately however, regardless of which desert adventure you choose to undertake, be it a day trip or a full-fledged crossing, one thing is for certain – your trip to Wahiba Sands won’t be one you soon forget.