Wadi Darbat (The Darbat Valley) is the most beautiful and scenic spot for the nature lovers in Dhofar Region in Sultanate of Oman. This amazing valley offers everything that is needed for a memorable family day. This post will cover all what you can do in Darbat in details.
A visit to Salalah is not complete without a visit to Wadi Darbat and that’s why this is without any doubts the most visited place when you are in Salalah. Another must see place in Salalah is Mughsayl Beach and the natural geysers there.
Sometimes this place is also spelled as Derbet or Dharbat.
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Where is Wadi Darbat?
Technically, Wadi Darbat is in the Wilayah of Taqah in Dhofar Governorate (know more about Dhofar in this post), but as Salalah is the largest city in Dhofar and most popular city near this valley, this place is refereed as Wadi Darbat Salalah by some tourists.
Just for those, who don’t know, Taqah is on the Eastern side of Salalah along the coastal highway.
Some people call it Wadi Darbat Oman, as this wadi is located in Oman. Whatever you call this beautiful place, it is
Wadi Darbat Tour with Experienced Local Guide
Beautiful Salalah Tours is one of the leading travel company in Salalah and when you are planning a visit to Salalah, it’s best to have a guided tour to this stunning place with the experienced Omani guide.
The Darbat Valley Tour is known as East Salalah Tour and it covers magical journey to the Eastern side of Dhofar. The tour is a mix of nature, history and experience of the local life.
Inquire about the tour through contact us form or by email or calling / whatsapp +968 9120 6678 or +968 9012 3004. A guided tour is a perfect way to visit this place.
Following are booking options for the tour:
Book Guided Tour for this valley on TripAdvisor
Book Darbat Valley Tour via whatsapp
Things to Do at Wadi Darbat
Darbat valley offers many things to do, some of the activities are mentioned below. Further Reading: More Things to Do in Wadi Darbat
1. Hike / Trek at the Trails in Wadi Darbat
The valley is in its pristine condition. The trees and the lake makes the valley (wadi) looks amazing. Occasionally you can see camels, cows and other animals passing by, grazing on the natural grass and plantation.
You can trek across the wadi and the plains, while enjoying the nature at its best.
2. Visit Wadi Darbat Waterfalls
There are two amazing waterfalls at Wadi Darbat, which are seasonal. During Khareef of 2018 and 2019, the beautiful waterfall captivated the attention of the visitors, which was following from the wadi to the basin.
The second waterfall is the cascade waterfall at Wadi Darbat, which continued from May 2018 non-stop till the next khareef season. This waterfall was created after Mekunu cyclone.
Before visiting Wadi Darbat, check if the waterfalls are there.
3. Wadi Darbat Boating in the Canal
The spring is at the end of the road leading to the Valley. This is the biggest lake in Salalah and is wet all year round. But in Khareef, the lake is surrounded by green mountains and cloudy weather, which makes boat ride on this lake irresistible.
Various types of boats are available to choose from and explore the clean lake of the Wadi.
One is power boat which has a capacity of more than 2 people and its driven by the motor. One guy will be there to maneuver it. This will cost around OMR 5 for a round of the lake.
Paddle boats are available for ride of 2 persons. This will cost OMR 3 for a ride of 30 minutes. Wear Joggers for paddle boat, as it will be very comfortable and make paddling easy.
You must wear safety vest during the ride. This vest will be provided by the boating company.
There is a separate Barricaded area exclusively for kids for their safety.
4. Eating at Wadi Darbat
There are several restaurants and huts that sell food, fruits, sweet corns, pop corns and other refreshments. You can also bring eatable items from home or any other commercial market on the way.
5. Make a Barbecue
There is no other better place to have barbecue in the region other than Wadi Darbat. The place is leveled and you can easily place the BBQ grill. The view is great and you will enjoy barbecue making a lot.
6. Wadi Darbat Picnic Area
Before the lake there is a wide area for the picnickers to sit and enjoy the beauty of the nature. The kids can play or fly kites while adults prepare delicious barbecue. Take a mat or chairs with you for comfortable sitting.
How the Wadi Looks without Khareef?
Wadi Darbat Salalah is a year round destination and a must visit when you are in Salalah. The wadi looks amazing even without Khareef. Some part of the lake remains throughout the year, and is replenished every Khareef during rain time. Just for clarity, all above photographs are captured in Khareef season.
Wadi Darbat in November, December and Janurary
The following photographs captured in November (non-khareef time) shows the beauty of the wadi.
Wadi Darbat in February, March, April
Wadi is as beautiful as follows in the month of February. Lake is still present. The greenery is somehow present in some areas.
Location of Wadi Darbat Waterfall and Boating Area
The wadi is located in Taqa Wilayat of Dhofar Region and is on the Al-Qara Mountains (Jabal Qara). It is located on the left side on the road to Tawi Attir.