Hiking · Al Batinah Governorate

Wadi Bani Kharus — Kour Al Ghaba waterfall

HardFree entry📍 Al Awabi, Al Batinah

🗺️ 18 km⏱️ 6–8 hrs📈 Hard🌅 Best: Nov – Mar🚗 Approx. 1.5–2 hrs from Muscat from Muscat

About this trail

One of Oman's most spectacular long-day hikes — 18 km round-trip through the lush mountain wadi of Bani Kharus from Al Alyah village to the legendary Kour Al Ghaba (Forest Path) waterfall, with 700m of elevation gain.

The route passes ancient falaj systems, the deep swimming pool of Jabat Bani Bahri fed by a small waterfall, traditional farm terraces, and finally a dramatic forested gorge to reach the main waterfall. Non-swimmers must carry a life jacket for the deep pool crossing.

Trail highlights

✓Kour Al Ghaba — waterfall in a forested limestone gorge

✓Jabat Bani Bahri — deep emerald pool with constant waterfall

✓Ancient falaj system through mountain villages

✓Lush landscape unlike anything else in Oman

📅 Best time to hike

Avoid

Okay

Great

This month

🎒 What to bring

0/7 packed

💧 1.5L water minimumMust

👟 Trail shoes or bootsMust

🧢 Hat and sunscreenMust

📱 Offline maps downloaded

🩹 Basic first aid kit

🍌 Light snacks

🔦 Torch if starting at dawn

🗺️ Trail path

Wikiloc ↗

GPS trail path via Wikiloc

📍 Location

Google Maps ↗

Al Awabi, Al Batinah · Approx. 1.5–2 hrs from Muscat

Get directions →

💡 Before you go

→Carry 4–5 litres of water per person — no water sources in summer

→Non-swimmers must bring a life jacket — Jabat pool is deep with no bypass

→Start by 6am — the full 18 km return takes 6–8 hours

→Canyoning shoes essential — multiple wet crossings and slippery rock throughout

HikingSwimming

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Ready to hit the trail?

Free — no booking needed. Bring water, wear trail shoes, start early.

Get directions to trailhead →