€£$
по-русскиen Español (pronto)
enter
1511things to do
in the world
117things to do
in Emirates
81things to do
in Dubai

Try wadi bashingin Dubai, United Arab Emirates

#25of 81 things to doin Dubai

Oddviser

adventure's step-by-step
recipes & lifehacks
How to ride a board on volcano in Nicaragua?How to walk inside the active volcano in Greece?How to feed flying dogs in the jungles of Thailand?How to cycle along the Great Wall of China?How to swim in the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome?How to ride a kayak along the canals of Venice?How to walk on the roofs of skyscrapers in Dubai?
Join usit's more fun together :)
Four wheels plus tricky road equals mind-blowing adventure! For thrill-seekers only! Get ready to charge your batteries!
How to try wadi bashing in Dubai
Wadi, these are riverbeds of dried-up rivers that paved the way through the rocky valleys water-worn by spring floods. The most fascinating adventure you can try here is wadi bashing. It is a 4×4 vehicle driving along the dried-up riverbeds (but in fact they dried up not everywhere so be ready to speed up in shallow water streams that were formed by winter rains). Because of constant stone avalanches the adventure is quite dangerous, especially in rain periods (November, December and February)

You can try wadi bashing in two ways: take Mountain Safari excursion (it costs $100 per person, but you won't get behind the wheel) or do it on your own to get soaked to the bones with excitement of driving a 4×4 vehicle. Of course, Oddviser suggests taking adventures independently, but always warns to do everything extremely carefully and responsibly!

Hatta road (highway E44), Dubai
Photo: Hatta road (highway E44)

How to do?

1. First consider your driving experience. Is it sufficient enough for such kind of activity? Then rent a four-wheel drive off-the-road vehicle (it is compulsory to make sure if there is a shovel, tow rope, spare wheel, tire jack and wooden blocks; extra can of gasoline will come in handy as well). Don't forget to stock up with food, water and first aid kit.

Hatta, Dubai
Photo: Hatta

2. Then - 15 kilometers south to Hatta town Hatta Wadi is situated. You have to take Dubai - Hatta road (E44 highway), first half of your way runs through the Rub' al Khali, one of the biggest deserts in the world, another half runs through mountains. Some interspaces of the road are enclosed with barbed wire to prevent camel-car accidents, in other interspaces you'll see "Camel" signs. God help you if you hit a camel! Fine equals thousands of dollars.

Hatta Wadi, Dubai
Photo: Hatta Wadi

3. Having reached Hatta, turn southward, to earth-road; it leads you to Wadi and Hatta Pools - natural pools where you can swim and dive for a while. Right from here a 20-kilometer very tricky rocky route starts leading to the highway to get back to Dubai.

Wadi Hatta, Dubai

Wadi bashing, Dubai
Photo: Wadi bashing

Where to do?

#10Hatta Wadi in DubaiHatta Wadi

Nature never fails to amaze us with its miracles, and the wadi is one more amazing masterpiece nature endowed human beings with.

Location: Hajar Mountains

Tips and hints

Officialy the pools are situated on the Sultanate of Oman territory, but they are open for tourists (for excursions and independent travellers), but as we pass the territory of Oman, they check passports without any marking. So, you must have a passport with you! Warning! The insurance of Arab Emirates doesn't cover insurance events happened in Oman.

Wadi bashing, Dubai
Photo: Wadi bashing

The trip through ravines of Oman will bring you remarkable impressions. While going you can admire picturesque landscapes - bright sand barkhans with camel farms, palm groves, scenic wadi with oasis settlements in riverbeds and rocky Al Hajar Mountains. Remember all the danger - take adventures responsibly to get back and leave a comment on Oddviser.

Reviews

Guest22 March 2023

More things to do in Dubai

#69See the 8 kilometer shadow of Burj Khalifa in DubaiSee the 8 kilometer shadow of Burj KhalifaNelicesa

Climb the tallest building in the world and look at its huge shadow.

300Burj Khalifa
#78Climb the highest observation deck in the world in DubaiClimb the highest observation deck in the worldYum Bum

Climb the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa and look at the city from a height of 555 meters.

500Burj Khalifa
#71See a 10-meter Flower Pyramid in DubaiSee a 10-meter Flower Pyramidoddviser

Take a look to a real fairy tale, where everything is made of flowers. You will be amazed by the imagination of landscape designers.

20Dubai Miracle Garden
#24Buy Seven Sands of the Emirates in DubaiBuy Seven Sands of the Emiratesoddviser

Come up with an idea - and local masters realize it in the form of a drawing of sand, brought from all seven Arab emirates.

The Dubai Mall
#65Drive Audi R8 on a racing track in DubaiDrive Audi R8 on a racing trackoddviser

Accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.2 seconds with an ungoverned top speed of 330 kph – adrenaline rush guaranteed!

1450Dubai Autodrome
#79See Dubai from the perspective of A Falcon's Eye View in DubaiSee Dubai from the perspective of A Falcon's Eye View

Do not miss the opportunity to view Dubai "from the eyes of a falcon" in the smallest detail.

300Burj Khalifa
#15Fly on a Seaplane in DubaiFly on a Seaplaneoddviser

Take a small seaplane journey and get a bird's-eye view of Dubai. All it takes is your desire and a bit of courage to fly up on a seaplane.

1695
#27Visit the oldest spice market in DubaiVisit the oldest spice marketoddviser

It is one of the most popular markets in Dubai. The air here is saturated with the aromas of herbs and spices.

Spice Souk
#41Drink tea in Ice Lounge in DubaiDrink tea in Ice Loungeoddviser

Don't be surprised, when a waiter offers you a meal in an ice dish and suggests you to sit down on an ice sofa. This is what the Ice Lounge is special for.

60Chillout Ice Lounge
#80Visit the sheikh stables in DubaiVisit the sheikh stablesJ Carr

Look how the thoroughbred Arabian horses run circles around the stadium, while preparing for the next world-class competitions.

#32Visit Fish Souk in DubaiVisit Fish Soukoddviser

Fish Souk is a traditional Arabic market on open air, a place not only for shopping but also for entertaining walks and dinning with fresh fish just from the see!

FREEFish Souk
Know more things to do?Guest

Share your ideas of what to do in Dubai with other travellers — together we'll make our travellings more interesting!