Travel Guide Wadi Bani Kharus

The entrance to Wadi Bani Kharus is in the village of Al Awabi, to the left of the fort. The recently asphalted road leading away from the village center is clearly visible. Like most wadis in this part of the sultanate, Wadi Bani Kharus opens onto steep walls and a narrow canyon, now accessible by car. More than the neighboring wadis, it is known for its geological wonders, notably the multitude of marine fossils that can easily be observed on site. The canyon walls themselves are an open-air geology book, with rocks over 600 million years old - some of the oldest in Oman - visible to the naked eye. Just 2 kilometers from the entrance, you can also see petroglyphs depicting animals and warriors on horseback. These engraved drawings are thought to be over 1,500 years old.Beyond these treasures, which are a geologist's delight, the wadi is charming and a pleasure to walk the 25 kilometers or so from the entrance to the village of Al Alya, a small paradise in the heart of this mineral environment, with its palm grove, falaj and clear-water pools. Along the way, several hamlets form photogenic tableaux of terraced cultivation, lush plantations demarcated by low dry-stone walls, ancient houses overlooking the greenery... Some of these villages can only be reached with the effort of a walk, like this short 3-hour round-trip trek between Al Alya and the Ad Dar palm grove.