Last week, my family and I decided to spend a day out with my cousin Omar, who was visiting us from Riyadh for five days. We chose to explore Wadi Dayqah, a location that holds a special place in my heart. It was the first wadi I visited back in 1995 with my German friend, Wolfgang Hoffmann, and has since become a cherished spot where I spent many weekends with my young children. It’s also a place I would often take my parents to whenever they visited us from Lebanon.
On the day of our trip, the weather was unusually cool and pleasant for August, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, a welcome change from the usual 40 degrees at this time of year.
We packed our picnic gear, food, and drinks and met up with my son and his family in Al Amerat to drive together toward Quriyat. Along the way to Wadi Dayqah Dam, approximately 9 kilometres before Al Mazareh, we passed through a tributary of the main canyon. Once we reached the wadi bed, we drove upstream another 4 kilometres to a superb pool located at the foot of an extraordinary geological feature where I had completed a 108-meter abseil a few months ago with my climbing partners, Ahmed and Rami. I named that descent "Jeddo’s Drop" (Grandfather’s Drop in Arabic) in honour of my role as a grandfather to three grandchildren.
At this spot, there was once a single Ziziphus spina-Christi, also known as a sidr tree, where we could stay in the shade. Unfortunately, it had been uprooted by a massive flood, likely just a few months ago, as it was still standing during our last visit in April.
On the left bank of the canyon lies an ancient falaj, a traditional water supply channel, which likely served the village of Hayl al Ghaaf, located about 5 kilometres downstream from the junction of the tributary and the main canyon. My friends from the village could not recall when the falaj was last functional. When Cyclone Gonu struck Oman in June 2006, my friend Ahmed from Hayl al Ghaaf told me that the village was completely flooded, with only the minaret of the village mosque remaining visible during the deluge. In some parts of Wadi Dayqah, the water level reached as high as 32 meters.
Wadi Dayqah is an exceptional climbing site where my mentors in climbing and canyoning, Patrick and Nathalie Cabiro, have opened many routes. I am proud to have one of these climbing paths named after me, "Dr. Khaled."
The geology of Wadi Dayqah is truly fascinating. The stratified, colourful layers of limestone rise dramatically toward the sky in a wavy pattern, creating a stunning visual display.
We enjoyed a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters of our “private” natural pool before indulging in some snacks. I wanted to explore further upstream to show my cousin other beautiful ponds, but unfortunately, the track was completely erased just a few hundred meters ahead, making it impossible to continue by car. Although it was possible to continue on foot, the sun was too strong at that time of day, so we decided to return and enjoy our “private” pool for a couple more hours before packing up and heading back to Muscat. It was around 4 in the afternoon when we left.
Omar’s impression of his visit to “Amazing Oman” was summed up as: “Simply amazing. A great outdoor experience and a must for every nature lover's bucket list. The scenery is breathtaking and unique. The visual contrast between the colourful, arid mountains, lush greenery, and crystal-clear water pools creates a surreal feeling as if witnessing the work of a talented painter's imagination. Add to that the sense of safety and assurance provided by Dr. Khaled’s experience and confidence, and you find yourself completely immersed in the experience.”
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