Are you looking for the Ultimate Adventure in Oman? Try Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

The ultimate adventure: canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman! I had done it once before (in Vietnam) and really loved it then. When I got the chance to go on another canyoning trip, I grabbed it with both hands. Because yes, of course I am looking for the ultimate adventure and where better to do it than in the versatile Oman! I visited Oman for the fourth time in Nov ‘23 and the group I was with now was young & fit enough to take on this amazing adventure challenge.

Snake Canyon got its name from the snaking course of the canyon through the area. The local name for Snake Canyon is Seer Al Zamah (صير الزامة)

Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

On the penultimate day of our 10-day trip, we drove from Nizwa to the Snake Canyon. On the way, we already got the most beautiful views because the Western Hajar Mountains you drive through are immense. We can’t even imagine such mountains in the Netherlands. On the way, we stopped at a place where I was before and also took a nice photo. It is a small but steep descent to a plateau from which you can see for kilometres on a clear day.

Rest of the photos in Snake Canyon were taken by travelling companion Yvonne and Angelien. Yvonne has a camera that is waterproof and dared to do so. These are photos without any blur in front of them from the waterproof bag 🙂 Super nice! Thanks for that!

Start Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

When we arrived at the agreed place below, it took a while before we met our guides. They arrived from the other side. After a brief explanation about the afternoon and after we were hoisted into our harnesses for the adventurous descents, we were ready and could go. A final photo was taken and Abdullah wished us luck!

Soon we were walking into the gorge and our feet were in the water. I had my barefoot runner schoes on and I am very happy with that purchase. They have a good sole and are light and flexible. The sole still gives you good grip on the stones in a gorge and wadi. I have already benefited from them in Jordan and Oman.

Are you looking for the Ultimate Adventure in Oman?
Try Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

Pretty soon after the start of the walk came the first big challenge. We had to jump off a rock into the water. A few days before, we also jumped off 5 to 6 metres in Wadi Tiwi but I felt that this jump was much higher. In hindsight, that doesn’t seem to be the case but because Wadi Tiwi is wide and open and this bit was in a narrower gorge, it seemed that way.

Eventually Angelien jumped off it and of course I couldn’t let myself and so I jumped too. Fortunately for the rest of the group, a descent by abseiling was also possible next to it. Which ended up being more convenient and fine I don’t know.

After this, we all walked further into the gorge through the cold water in good spirits. The first obstacle had been taken and conquered! After some climbing and scrambling, we arrived at the longest descent. This one would take us 20 metres down, by abseiling. How cool! Of course, that’s why we had been given that harness and now we were going to use it. I love it!

After this descent, we pass great spots where we get to climb, descend and swim in narrower passages and afterwards get great views again.

Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

Warning:

There was one place where you had to actually go underwater with your head to get through the passage. Of course, this can be very scary if you have ever experienced a situation where you have been underwater for too long or cannot stand small spaces.

Our guide did this really well and went under it first and gave us a hand and pulled us under as quickly as possible. So actually there was no way to get to the top while still under the rock. It was only a very small length, about 20 to 30 cm…. I really want to mention this because it can obviously be very scary for some people and going back is not an option at that moment.

Furthermore, you may just constantly enjoy the amazing views in the gorge, Snake Canyon. The height of the walls but also the narrow spots with huge rocks. And of course watch where you put your feet because at no point do you have sand under your feet. So good grip with your water shoes is really important.

Duration Canyoning  in Snake Canyon – Oman trip

We spent about 4 hours in total. From the starting point at the car to lunch at the farm at the end of Snake Canyon.

What is the best time to go canyoning in Oman?

We started at 11.30am. We walked at the hottest part of the day and I can really recommend that because…. we were cold. The water in the canyon is just cold, and with the temperatures we were used to the rest of the week, it just felt icy cold so to speak. At some point, you get cold because yes, the sun doesn’t come out in many places that low in the canyon.

When we finally reached the wider part, where we walked out of the canyon, we looked for the sunny spots as quickly as possible to warm up again.

Tips for safe canyoning in Snake Canyon

• Good water shoes or just your sandals or sneakers… only they are very heavy when you swim. You only walk on stones and rocks etc so good grip does matter. Flip-flops are really out of the question.

• Swimwear with shorts and shirts over them. Make sure these are not too loose. It’s not useful with swimming but when abseiling, you obviously don’t want to get caught in the rope etc.

• Waterproof bag for your things you may want to take with you. E.g. something to drink but also your camera and some snacks if you are afraid you might get hungry. You are active and consume a lot of energy. I carried our bag for a bit and then it was taken over by one of the guides who was with us.

• Supplies for abseiling will be provided by the organisation, ie the fall protection, ropes, helmet/vest etc.

Weather warning

• Know that if it has rained or there is a chance of rain you cannot or should not do this hike. You have a high chance of floods then and they go fast and hard. Don’t take a risk and just plan a nice other hike. There are plenty of options in the area and there is bound to be an alternative possible.

There are two hikes in Snake Canyon – Right Fork

There is something for everyone in Oman, for every level of fitness and every age. Because halfway through this adventurous hike, you come to a sort of three-legged junction. We kept right there and thus did the Right Fork hike. As you saw, this is an adventurous hike with some challenges. You can also do a shorter and slightly less adventurous hike in Snake Canyon.

Left Fork hike in Snake Canyon

The Left Fork hike starts near Bait Bimah and after a while rejoins the same route ( the three-way) so you do end up at the same end point. At that point, we had already had the most adventure of the canyoneering in Snake Canyon. This hike is also not listed as easy because you do have to climb and scramble only there are no high jumps or abseil sections in it. This hike takes about 3 hours. This shorter hike is also called Wadi Bima, translated to Wadi the Lesser Snake I was told.

Rawahna Adventures

We had perfect guidance from our two guides. One of them was still in training and got explanations in the meantime. We were well guided and Hamed was also very interactive by providing information and explanations where needed. Rawahna Adventures is active on instagram and they have a website. Check it out to see what hikes and adventures they offer for your trip through Oman.

GPS Canyoning in Snake Canyon

We started along the road at this point – GPS Snake Canyon start, near Balad Sayt village, and we lunched at this farm – GPS end Snake Canyon.

Where to stay during Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

Stay in the surrounding of the Snake Canyon?

I had my stay in Nizwa at a super nice hotel but of course there are also some options in the small villages.

Nizwa Old Town Hotel

Super nice and new hotel. Right in the centre, a few hundred metres as the crow flies from the souks and goat market. So perfect place to visit the Friday market in Nizwa but also to explore the wider area.

Next time I am in Oman, I would also love to spend a night in the Snake Canyon area. Now each time, I’ve gone into the surrounding area from Nizwa, where we then spend several nights in the same hotel. In the Snake Canyon area, I have seen the following nice options:

Balad Sayt Heritage Inn – A nice roadside hotel if you go to Snake Canyon. The price includes breakfast and dinner.

Bait Bima Travel Logde – This logde sits close to the entrance to the Left Fork walk. The logde has a good rating and the garden that comes with it looks beautiful.

One of the Best Adventures in Oman
Canyoning in Snake Canyon – Oman

Will you share this adventurous inspiration?

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And read about other beautiful hikes in the wadis of Jordan and Oman

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I hope you enjoy this world as much as I do