On June 29, our adventurous trio consisting of Rami, Hamood, and myself embarked on a long-planned exploration across a wadi that had been recommended to us by our friend Abdullah quite some time ago.
My curiosity about this place had been sparked over fifteen years ago when I first caught sight of the ends of this intriguing canyon from the valley below the Al Tri cave, which is perched high in the mountains towering over the village of Fins.
Our adventure began early in the morning as we had arranged to rendezvous at Al Ameerat precisely at 6:30 am, with plans to travel together in Hamood’s trusty vehicle.
The weather gods were kind, providing us with clear skies and a promise of no rain for our escapade. True to our schedule, we gathered at a charming little coffee shop in Amerat, a venue where I routinely indulge in a breakfast tradition of sizzling parata bread complemented harmoniously with cheese and eggs.
With our appetites satisfied, Rami and I secured our cars and climbed into Hamood’s car to set off on our journey.
Preparation is key for such adventures so the previous night I took it upon myself to meticulously study Google Earth images. This helped us determine the most strategic starting point that would lead us smoothly into the heart of the wadi bed. Our drive took approximately two hours and fifteen minutes until we reached the spot pinpointed by our satellite navigation.
Upon arrival, we donned our backpacks packed with essential gear, including ropes, a reliable drill, sturdy anchors, canyoning equipment, nourishing snacks, and refreshing drinks — all in readiness for the day that lay ahead.
Our expedition commenced with a challenging descent down an ancient, steep trail leading us directly to the entrance of the canyon. As we proceeded, the path gradually transitioned into a more manageable slope along the right bank of the canyon, nestled a few hundred meters below. The panoramic views unfolding before us were nothing short of breathtaking and offered a refreshing perspective as this was our maiden trek on this particular side of the wadi.
Our previous excursions had taken us along the opposite stretch, providing access to Al Tri cave — a locale that holds a special place in my heart as one of the country’s hidden gems.
During our trek, an intriguing cave caught our attention — a discovery previously hinted at by Abdullah.
Almost an hour into our hike, we stumbled upon its entrance that lay slightly above our walking trail. We decided to leave our bags at the entrance which was characterized by a low ceiling.
Just a few metres inside, the cave opened up, offering ample headroom and more freedom of movement.
Our entry startled its tiny winged inhabitants into a flurry of motion, disrupting their peaceful dwelling. Inside this natural wonder, we were treated to an awe-inspiring display of dry calcite formations — stalactites and stalagmites.
Continuing deeper about 100 metres into this subterranean marvel, we encountered a raised mound that required us to crouch beneath its constricting ceiling.
Reaching the end of this narrow tunnel led to a pleasant surprise — a chamber still alive with speleothems of dripping water.
This sacred space inspired us to capture numerous photographs before retracing our steps back to continue towards our ultimate goal — the wadi's mysterious onset.
The cave's high humidity left us drenched as we made our way out. The venture through the tunnel had covered roughly 130 metres in depth.
Returning to our path proved challenging as the trail seemed to fade into ambiguity for a short span, consuming about 30 valuable minutes while we worked to rediscover our course.
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