Wadi Darbat from Salalah
Wadi Darbat is 40 km (45 min) east of Salalah: waterfalls in khareef, a lake and picnics in winter. Road, parking, entry fee and whether you need a 4x4.
Where it is and how long it takes
Wadi Darbat lies about 40 km east of Salalah, behind the town of Taqah. Take Route 49 east along the coast for about 30 minutes, pass Taqah, and turn north at the signed junction a few kilometres beyond the town; from there a paved road climbs about 7 km up the valley to the lake and the car parks. Door to door it is about 45 minutes from the city centre, about 50 minutes from Salalah Airport, and about 25 minutes from the Hawana Salalah resorts, which sit on the same coast road.
Khareef vs winter: what you will actually see
The valley is two different places depending on the month.
Khareef (late June to September). The wadi fills, water pours over the travertine wall at the mouth of the valley and the whole bowl is green under low cloud. The falls are usually running by late July. This is also when the road is busiest, when parking fills by mid-afternoon, and when the police close the approach during heavy rain because the wadi floods.
Winter (October to April). The cloud lifts and the falls dry up, usually by November. What remains is a long lake with camels drinking at its edge, trees that stay green from the groundwater, and a picnic ground that is pleasant from breakfast to sunset. The lake is highest in October and lowest in March.
The road, parking and the upper plateau track (4x4 only)
The road to the lake is tarmac and any car in our fleet can drive it. There are two main car parks: one at the lake, one near the falls viewpoint. In khareef, arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00 to find a space; in winter there is room all day.
Above the lake a track continues up the escarpment towards Tawi Atair and the Samhan plateau. It is rock steps and loose gravel with steep sections, wet in khareef and dusty in winter. This is 4x4 territory: you need low range, clearance and a driver who has used both. Off-road driving is permitted only in our 4WD cars, and for this track we recommend Adventurer cover at OMR 15 per day, which brings the excess to zero.
Entry, boats, food
Entry has changed in recent seasons. A per-vehicle charge has applied at the valley entrance during khareef; the current amount is a small entry fee is charged at the gate during khareef. In winter access has been free. Boats operate on the lake while the water is high, typically October to February: pedal boats and small motorboats hired by the half hour from the jetty near the main car park. In khareef there are tea and food stalls along the lake; in winter bring your own water and lunch, or eat in Taqah on the way back.
Which car: any car to the lake; 4x4 for the plateau
- To the lake and the falls viewpoint: any car. A Nissan Sunny, Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio is fine on the paved road, and a 7-seater is the family choice for the picnic kit.
- For the plateau track above the falls: a 4x4 with low range only. Land Cruiser, Prado, Fortuner, Pajero, Tank 500 or a Wrangler, with Adventurer cover. The Range Rover Velar, the Mitsubishi ASX and the Nissan Pathfinder are not off-road cars in our terms and stay on the tarmac.
- In khareef fog: the car matters less than your speed and your lights; see the khareef page for how to drive the valley roads in July and August.
Combine with Taqah, Mirbat, Jebel Samhan
Wadi Darbat is a half-day. The natural pairings on the same road east are Taqah Castle and the old town (on the way), Sumhuram and the Khor Rori inlet (ten minutes further east), and Mirbat with its fort and harbour (about 35 minutes beyond). With a 4x4 and an early start you can leave the valley by the plateau track, visit Tawi Atair sinkhole and the Jebel Samhan viewpoint, and return to Salalah on the paved mountain road by late afternoon; allow a full day and a full tank.
FAQ
About 40 km east of the city centre, or roughly 45 minutes by car. From Salalah Airport allow about 50 minutes, and from the Hawana Salalah resorts about 25 minutes. The route is Route 49 east along the coast past Taqah, then a signed turn north and a paved climb of about 7 km to the lake and the car parks.
Not for the lake, the falls viewpoint or the picnic ground, which are all on tarmac; any car in our fleet can drive there. You need a 4x4 with low range only for the track above the falls to Tawi Atair and the Samhan plateau. Off-road driving is permitted only in our 4WD cars, and we recommend Adventurer cover at OMR 15 per day for a zero excess on that route.
Yes, in the lake. The waterfalls have normally stopped by November, but the lake holds water from the khareef through the winter and is at a good level in December, with boats operating when the water is high enough. Camels and cattle drink at the edge and the trees stay green. By March the lake is at its lowest.
A per-vehicle charge has applied at the valley entrance during khareef in recent years; the current amount is a small entry fee is charged at the gate during khareef. Outside khareef access has been free. Boat hire on the lake is paid separately at the jetty. Carry small notes in Omani rial, as the entrance and the boats do not take cards.
Yes, in any car. They are in opposite directions, Wadi Darbat about 40 km east and Mughsail about 50 km west, so the day is roughly 180 km of tarmac with Salalah in the middle. Do the valley in the morning while it is cool and the beach and Marneef Cave in the late afternoon for the light. Allow about two hours of driving in total.