Wadi Muaydin

In the far south-east of Jebel Akhdar, the finest and highest region of the Western Hajar Mountains, lies The Sayq Plateau, peculiar high areas of rough hills at the eastern end of the range.

The endlessly deep gorge, Wadi Muaydin, makes for fascinating exploration, as it slices its way southward from the edge of the Sayq Plateau. It is a beautiful place, and is easy walking with some minor scrambling, rather than canyoning.

Its vast orange-to-mauve cliffs contrast with the distant sky and the often huge pale limestone boulders from the highlands which have been carried down and now line its bed. There is permanent water under its bed, so the bottom is lined with healthy trees which compliment the rock-faces delightfully; and there are cool and fresh pools to dip in in its middle reaches. You will share them with frogs and little fish. (Walkopedia bathed here, and had to reclothe rapidly as a 100-strong police trainee expedition tramped noisily past.)

The trail follows the bed for most of the way, but climbs up the sides in some impassable places, be it because of huge boulders or drop-offs. This is easy walking with some minor scrambling, rather than canyoning. You may have to wade after storms – and, take a check of the weather, as storms upstream can cause rapid flooding in the canyon.

 Most enter the gorge at its upper end and walk down to the roadhead where it widens out, perhaps a couple of delightful hours’ walking downstream (add time for bathing!). If you don’t have transport to/from the upper rim to/from the start of the walk, add 3 hrs or so to climb from bottom to top.

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Hajar Mountains walk page.