Travel Oman: Wadi Darbat

Just a 30 minute drive from Salalah, Wadi Darbat is one of the most picturesque spots of Oman.
This wadi carves its way through hills and highlands until it reaches Khawr Ruri, where it empties into the Arabian Sea. The wadi is distinguished by its thick botanical cover, in addition to a natural spring and a number of caves. The wadi’s water is the source of the water filling Teeq Cave’s cells.
Travellers are often stunned by the spectacle — the effervescent contrast to the vast regions of desert in the north. During the height of the Khareef season, the wadi’s water descending from the mountains forms magnificent waterfalls cascading from a height of up to 30 metres (100 feet).
Camels, cattle, and other livestock graze the abundant grass on the banks, while birds nest in the wetland areas. Families from all around the region come to revel in the magic of the annual summer rains here.
During the Khareef season, Wadi Darbat showcases the richness and colour of both the Dhofar landscape and the Omani culture.
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Perfect picnic spot

Darbat Lake at the heart of Wadi Darbat is a favourite picnic spot, with visitors taking short boat rides or barbecuing nears its shores. A 30-metre waterfall feeds the lake during monsoon season (Khareef).
“Wadi Darbat” is located only a few kilometers behind Taqa, a beach town in the Dofar Region,” added Oman’s Ministry of Tourism. “It is located on the left side of the road to Tawi Attir. From Taqa, there are road signs to Wadi Darbat. Follow the tarmac road to the end of the valley, but be warned that you cannot drive freely through all of it.”
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“The place offers everything needed for a memorable family day,” added the ministry. “You can enjoy a boat ride, feed fish in the lake, or can easily set up a BBQ grill, as there is no better place to enjoy a barbecue in the region, than Wadi Darbat. There is also a safe zone which is exclusively for kids, as well as several restaurants and huts that sell food and other snacks.”
A statement from Salalah Airport added: “Darbat Lake at the heart of Wadi Darbat is a favourite picnic spot, with visitors taking short boat rides or barbecuing nears its shores.”