While exploring the North Coast of Oman, don't miss the Bimmah Sinkhole.
Its depths, colors and surrounding create a unique experience.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with tips, map, legend and photos.
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Why visit the the Bimmah Sinkhole, Oman?
Hawaiyat Najm (known to foreigners as the Sinkhole, the Bimmah Sink Hole or the Dabab Sinkhole...) is a large hole in the Earth crust filled with some fresh water.
It is and impressive location with:
- a giant hole,
- turquoise waters,
- the sea on one side,
- the mountains on the other side.
Plus it is very easy to access and you can walk down to water level!
The Daily Mail even called it the world's most beautiful sinkhole... Easy to understand why. The contrasts are mesmerizing!
Bimmah Sinkhole, Oman
The Bimmah sinkhole legend
The local legend says that it was created by a meteorite.
This is why its name "Hawaiyat Najm" translates to "The Falling Star".
What geology says...
Geologists have confirmed that the Earth's upper crust layer collapsed due to erosion (the interaction of limestone with water).
Bimmah sinkhole facts - depth and more
- The hole is not the only one in Oman,
- Not totally round, Width = 50 to 70m
- Depth = 20 meeter deep cavernous hole, filled with multi-toned turquoise water.
More photos after the planning tips.
Planning tips + Map - Bimmah Sinkhole Muscat
Bimmah Sinkhole location - Map
- South of Muscat, along the coast
- Along the Highway from Muscat to Sur (Road 17)
- Between the Dabab and Bimmah villages
- Only 600m away from the sea
- Muscat to Bimmah sinkhole = 113km - 1 hour drive
- Sur to Bimmah sinkhole = 77km - 1 hour drive
- Good place to stop on your way to beautiful Wadi Shab - Bimmah Sinkhole to Wadi Shab = 30km - 20min drive to carpark
- See below the map to help you locate the sinkhole:
Map of Bimmah Sinkhole location in Oman
This location is included (with GPS coordinates, map of region and planning info) in my travel guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Oman road trip:
Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!
- 8 exclusive easy-to-plan maps
- 90+ amazing locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 100+ large photos to decide
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
How to get to Sinkhole location
If you don't want to drive, you can take a tour from Muscat that will take you both to the Bimmah sinkhole and Wadi Shab - Check out program
However, if you are road tripping around Oman, this is very easy to access:
Need to rent a car in Oman?
My tips:
- Compare car rental prices on Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
- Choose the car and company you prefer
- Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
- More tips on my article about driving in Oman
First sign:
Second sign:
Visit Tips
- If you do not plan to swim, half an hour is sufficient to admire the place and walk to the water level
- Facilities for picnics, including palm trees to provide shade (but no food stand)
- Toilets near the entrance
- Entrance is free
- The walk to reach the hole is flat. But if you want to go down, count 80 high steps
Where to stay in Oman?
My tips:
- Muscat - capital city - see best rated accommodations
- Nizwa - to explore the forts and hinterlands - see best rated accommodations
- Sur - for the turtles, beaches, wadis... - see best rated accommodations
- Wahiba Sands - for the experience of sleeping in the desert - see best rated accommodations
- Salalah - the explore the Southern lands - see best rated accommodations
- Khasab - to explore the Musandam Peninsula - see best rated accommodations
The Hawiyat Najm Park
The Omanis have set up a park around the Bimmah Sinkhole with palm trees and picnic tables. As you can see, the path to the hole is accessible to everyone.
To go down to the water level, a ciment staircase was added. It is ugly, but it gets you there. Beware that the roughly 80 steps are relatively high and you might need to stop and breathe midway when you get back up.
There is one sign with the short explanation I gave you earlier in this article, about the legend vs the geology.
Views from the rim
I first walked around the rim of the sink hole.
I enjoyed how the water changed colors depending on the angle of me and the sun.
Plus you can really see the layers of rock.
Looking from the staircase side, you can see the Sea behind.
And below is a zoom on the clear water. Tempting isn't it?
Looking from the opposite side you can see the mountains. And see how it created a cavern behind.
Down in the sinkhole
I then walked down to the water level. There are many small fishes, the ones who like to nibble your skin like in the spas.
I think the hole is actually more impressive from the top because you see the whole flat area and wonder, why here?
The other annoying thing is that people tend to shout and you will have very little chance to enjoy the place to yourself.
Swimming in the Bimmah Sinkhole
Some people swim in the Bimmah Sinkhole hole.
I did not as I was going to do an amazing swim in Wadi Shab after that.
The water is cool and seems clean.
Bimmah sinkhole jump
There are some areas where you can climb a little and jump back in the hole.
But do not jump from the rim, there is not enough depth!
Want to see more of Oman?
- Best Things to do in Oman - read article
- Best of photos from Oman - Landscapes - read article
- Where to stay in Oman - read article
- Best days trips from Muscat - read article
- Planning a road trip in Oman - read article
- Best Things to do in Muscat - read article
- The impressive Wadi Shab - read article
- The desert of Wahiba Sands - read article
- The Ras Al Jinz turtle reserves - read article
- The pools & cave of Wadi Bani Khalid - read article
Planning a trip to Oman?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!
- 8 exclusive easy-to-plan maps
- 90+ amazing locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 100+ large photos to decide
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of Oman's beauty?
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Really interesting place for Swimming in the Bimmah Sinkhole, i wish to travel Oman.
Wow Claire, thank you for posting such a comprehensive article. I have been intrigued with the Bimmah Sink Hole for a few weeks and am planning my next trip around it. Your article made driving there seem much less stressful. Tour guides want $400, which is absurd. You posting the pictures and road signs help me to see that a 4×4 vehicle is nice, but not needed. Thanks again!
Thanks for letting me know this was useful.
Have a wonderful trip!
Fantastic view and shallow water makes it best place to swim. Never saw this type of hole before its amazing.