WADI SHAB

It's one of the best-known wadis in the sultanate for its stunning emerald freshwater pools. As always, we advise you to take precautions before venturing out. Don't set off without a sun hat, sun cream and, of course, water, as the heat can be overwhelming; check the weather forecast to make sure there are no storms forecast for that day, as there is a real risk of flooding and drowning in the wadis. Take water shoes for swimming, which you can swap for hiking boots when the time comes.

To reach the most remote basins, you must first cross the river arm by boat. Omanis offer this short crossing. Opposite, a dirt path drowned in palm trees leads along the river to the heart of the wadi. Before long, the water disappears and you find yourself walking on pebbles, between steep-sided mountains. Large boulders and touches of greenery make for a majestic wilderness, especially when the water returns in the form of punctual pools of incredible green! The most beautiful of these are at the far end, about 40 minutes' walk away, on a path that can be lost and found again at a moment's notice, or simply by following the others, bearing in mind that it's impossible to get lost, since you're following the dry riverbed. After about 20 minutes, keep to the right and climb a few metres up the overhanging cliff face, protected from the void by a barrier. The path descends naturally. Further on, you'll find several pools lined with small beaches of pebbles or coarse sand: an idyllic setting to spend a few hours away from the world. The highlight of the walk is just beyond. It's no longer a secret: all travellers are talking about "the famous cave of Wadi Shab". Swim to it, following the successive basins to the bottom, where the mountain forms a sort of cul-de-sac. Slightly to the left, a corridor of just a few metres opens up, allowing only the head to pass through, while the rest of the body remains submerged. We enter with some trepidation, our eyes riveted on the light at the bottom. Suddenly, there's your reward: an open-air cavern into which a lovely waterfall falls: a pool just a few metres in diameter, but abysmally deep, set in its own rocky setting!