On Friday, 5 September, four passionate canyoners embarked on an adventure to open a new canyon in Jabal Akhdar — Wadi al Bawarid, a tributary of Wadi Saada.
I had explored the upper section of this wadi approximately a year earlier with my wife, Marta, and a good friend of mine, Jeffrey. That trip sparked my curiosity, and I was eager to return with my team.
Rami collected me, along with his wife, Francoise, at 16:00 from my home in Mawaleh. Nadhira, another friend, met us at Birkat al Mawz, and together we set off towards Jabal Akhdar. Our destination was a convenient camping spot I’d pinpointed on Google Earth, close to where we would begin our descent early the next morning. Ahmed, another friend, was set to join us at dawn.
By the time we arrived at our camp, the weather was perfect — a comfortable 20 degrees Celsius. We pitched our tents next to a canyon ledge, overlooking a couple of hundred metres below, where the wadi was still flooded from a heavy rainfall just hours earlier. Ahmed was scheduled to arrive at 07:00, ready to join the team, while Francoise would later pick us up from Wadi Saada’s exit point by car.
The following morning, we woke early, enjoying coffee as we packed up our tents. Just as Ahmed arrived at 07:00, we loaded our backpacks with all the necessary gear — harnesses, climbing ropes, drills, anchors, and more. The descent to the wadi bed was surprisingly straightforward, and we reached the bottom in about thirty minutes.
When we arrived at the first drop just before 08:30, the water had already receded. I had measured this descent during my initial trip — the drop was approximately 50 metres. Rami, responsible for the equipment, brought the drill and anchors. Unfortunately, he had the wrong drill bit, which was frustrating — we couldn’t proceed as planned.
Determined not to be beaten, I inspected the area and discovered a way down to the bottom of the drop. None of my team was keen to join, so I climbed down a scree slope on the right bank of the wadi and reached the next ledge. During my exploration, I found a previously fixed anchor — still in perfect condition. While I was initially disappointed that we wouldn’t be the ‘first’ to open the route, I was thrilled that we could at least traverse it.
I have explore Oman meticulously and can definitely say it is a premier destination for canyoneering, thanks to its stunning and diverse landscape.
Its rugged mountains, deep wadis, and dramatic cliffs create the perfect natural playground for adventure seekers.
The country’s untouched terrain offers a unique blend of challenging climbs, breathtaking waterfalls, and pristine waters, making every expedition an unforgettable experience.
Oman’s remote and pristine environments not only provide thrilling routes but also ensure the preservation of unspoiled wilderness, appealing to eco-conscious travellers.
While some canyons, like Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Shab, are popular among tourists, many others remain unexplored or minimally documented, offering exciting opportunities for discovery.
Back to our exploration, my excitement burst out in cheers, calling everyone over. Hearing my shout, Ahmed began to search and soon found another anchor nearby. I decided to climb back up to ensure I wouldn’t miss the first abseil. The waterfall was still trickling down, weak but present.
Once everyone had descended the initial drop and we had pulled up our ropes, I fixed the rope for the next, longer abseil — an overhang that would require a free drop. As I touched the ground, I whistled to signal the next climber to descend. From my vantage point, I saw a powerful resurgence of water pouring from the cliff face.
Rami was the second to abseil, followed by Ahmed and Nadhira. The next stretch of the canyon was characterised by an impressive array of waterfalls, flowing vigorously as we progressed deeper into Wadi Saada.
The final section of Wadi al Bawarid proved more strenuous, with plenty of bouldering and scrambling. When we finally reached the wadi bed, we paused briefly for a well-earned rest before heading towards the village of Sallut, where Francoise was waiting to drive us back to Muscat.
We concluded our adventure with a late and hearty lunch at a local restaurant, grateful for the unforgettable experience. The entire descent took around seven hours, and we returned exhausted but elated, already looking forward to our next expedition.
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