Nor far from Wadi Shab, Wadi Tiwi Oman offers another variant of those deep gorges cut in the mountains and running to the sea.
Accessible by car, it offers pools of emerald waters, old villages and lush plantations.
Below is my guide with tips and photos.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Oman:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Oman: DiscoverCars
My favorite adventure from Muscat: Dolphin and Snorkeling
My favorite excursion from Muscat: Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole
My favorite places to stay:
- Muscat, the capital – see the best rated hotels or my favorite hotel: The Chedi
- Sur, for the turtles – see the best rated hotels
- Khasab, Musandam peninsula – see the best rated hotels
- Wahiba Sands, in the desert – see the best rated hotels or my favorite camp: Desert Nights Resort
Why visit Wadi Tiwi in Oman ?
Wadi Shab is the most famous of all the wadis in Oman.
But it is just one experience.
If you want to discover another side of the wadis, where villagers have build their home, hear to the nearby Wadi Tiwi.
The fertile Wadi Tiwi spreads over 36 km. Villages have settled with lush plantations and a road has been built all the way to Mibam. Like Wadi Shab the cliffs are straight and impressive, but this was remains wider for a longer distance.
Here you can:
- Access it by car
- Admire emerald pools
- Discover villages
- See locals in their plantations
- Maybe hike to a hidden village and waterfall
Drive in Wadi Tiwi – Video
Below is a short video to give you an idea of what to expect.
More photos after the planning tips.
Planning tips & Map – Wadi Tiwi Oman
Location of Wadi Tiwi – Map
- Starts in Tiwi village
- 2 km from Wadi Shab
- Muscat to Wadi Tiwi = 2h drive
- Sur to Wadi Tiwi = 45min drive
- Below is a map to help you locate Wadi Tiwi
All my favorite locations are included (with GPS coordinates, map of region and planning info) in my travel guide eBook that helps you easily plan your Oman road trip:
Plan your dream trip in Oman thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 190+ pre-selected locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- 100+ original photos to help you choose
How to get to Wadi Tiwi
- Just North of the town of Tiwi,
- 2WD is possible at the beginning of the road, but then if you want to go all the way to Mibam, 4WD is recommended since the roads are steep
- Well indicated
- Inside the wadi, it is a 30min drive to Mibam and the narrow part of the valley
Need to rent a car in Oman?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Choose a car with enough power for the mountain roads
- Consider their full coverage option – for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Visiting Wadi Tiwi Oman
- You can drive all the way in the wadi –
- However the road is sometimes narrow and bumpy and locals prefer that you do not (according to my guide). You can instead walk on the road giving you plenty of time to admire the views
- If you want to swim, cover yourself. Contrary to Wadi Shab, locals live nearby the pools and you should behave with respect
Accommodations near Wadi Tiwi
- You can visit on a day trip from Muscat – Check out the best rated accommodations in Muscat
- Or on a half day trip from Sur – Check out the best rated accommodations in Sur
- The closest accommodations would be in Tiwi, Fins or Qalhat, not a lot of choice – see options
Where to stay in Oman?
My favorites on a road trip:
- 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 – to explore the Southern lands – see best rated accommodations
- Khasab – to explore the Musandam Peninsula – see best rated accommodations
Driving in Wadi Tiwi – Photos
The road first runs along plantation and pools full of boulders. After the village of Hara Bidah, the road narrows and the walls of the houses get really close to the car!
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The road then continues as a rougher track which at some point climbs steeply. It takes you all the way to the Mibam village.
The river bed and natural pools of Wadi Tiwi
The drive by the river bed was very nice. A you can see the cliffs are steep and the wadi is a lot greener than Wadi Shab. This is why locals have established villages and are cultivating dates and bananas.
The river bed captures huge boulders rolling from the mountains.
The colors of the waters kept changing with shades of green and blue.
The large boulders create natural pools with incredible colors!
Village at the entrance
The first village in the oasis is as many villages in Oman, white or ochre houses with flat roofs.
Mibam: Village deep in the gorge + waterfall
We did not drive all the way to Mibam. We stopped when we got nice views and turn around. As you can see the plantations continue in the valley.
If you have a 4WD you can drive all the way to Mibam. 30min from the entrance of the gorge.
From Mibam, you can find a stunning hiking opportunities.
If you walk through the farms you will find emerald pools and a waterfall at the bottom of the narrow gorge. Around 20min walk from the village.
Just know that some paths are steep and this is not very developed and not well indicated.
Want to see more of Oman?
- Best things to do in Oman – read article
- Best of photos from Oman – Landscapes – read article
- Best forts in Oman – read article
- Where to stay in Oman – read article
- Planning a road trip in Oman – read article
- Renting a car and Driving in Oman – read article
- Best Things to do in Muscat – read article
- The Bimmah Sinkhole – 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:
Plan your dream trip in Oman thanks to my guide
- 8 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 190+ pre-selected locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- 100+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of Oman’s beauty?
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Muy interesantes y detallados relatos y fotos de cada wadi. ¿Cuál de los dos está menos visitado por el turismo? Si tuvieras que decidir por uno de los dos wadis ¿Cuál elegirías?
Respecto de la vestimenta para caminar por el wadi en el río. Cuál es la vestimenta para los hombres? y por último: Hay que nadar sí o sí en Wadi Shab o se puede caminar por la montaña? ¿En qué momento del recorrido hay que hacerlo? ¿Al comienzo? Bueno, muchas gracias, muchas preguntas. Jaja. Saludos.
Hi Nicolas
Wadi Tiwi is less touristic but it is inhabited with villages.
Wadi Shab has more tourists but it is so much wilder! If you go early you won’t be bothered by them.
In Wadi Shab, since it is wild and away from local villages you can swim as you wish. However, in Widi Tiwi you should wear a t-shirt.
I wish you a wonderful trip!
Claire