Are you looking for new outdoor activities to try out? If yes, then Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah is the place to head to! It is known not only for amazing mountain hiking trails in the wilderness, among pools, natural springs and greenery but also for off-road opportunities and routes perfect for mountain biking.
Grab your backpack and go hiking!
Wadi Shawka was the first place in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates that I headed to hike. I hiked a lot before in Europe – however as we all know it’s much different experience. There are different routes and trails around this area and you may choose to take the easier path and hike around the valley or head towards the peaks of the mountains. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in nature and recharge your batteries.
Depending on season you might be lucky to come across the natural pools where, you can go for a swim. It is also very common to come across animals in this region, especially camels that stroll around the local farms.
You will not need 4×4 car to reach to this place as the road is tarmac. At the end there is a parking so you can leave your car there.
Starting your hike from this point: 25°06’24.0″N 56°02’40.9″E will make you cross over the mountain giving you a spectacular view over the Shawka Dam. If you look closely on Google Maps in satellite view you can clearly see the marked hiking paths. It makes it so much easier to plan the trip. Ideally, you might want to make the loop around the area – so that you can come back different way and enjoy the landscape.
How about off-roading in Wadi Shawka?
All you need to have for that is obviously 4×4 car and a heart ready for some adventure! You can approach Wadi Shawka from this point: 25°05’47.0″N 56°02’12.5″E and keep driving until you reach the place where the valley is in its widest point. Continue to the right(to the left you would reach Shawka Dam) and you will drive deeper in the wilderness. Expect a lot of water pools after rain – which means more fun to drive through! This road was made to provide access for local people to their farms.
After a day full of adventure – go camping!
Wadi Shawka tends to be a popular place for camping in the United Arab Emirates, both among local people and expats. It doesn’t surprise at all because not only its beautiful surrounding is asking for staying here for night and breathing the fresh air far from the city lights but also its wide selection of things to do around. So after a full day filled out with hiking and off-roading – why not to take a breathe and take a rest under the sky full of stars? You will not have a problem with finding a suitable place. The area is huge and plenty to options to choose from!
Like cycling? You don’t need your own bicycle!
If you do not own a bicycle it’s not a problem! You can rent one here: 25°05’47.0″N 56°02’12.5″E or through their website. Either you choose to cycle behind the place that you rent the bike from or head to the off-roading track mentioned above in this article. Both tracks are very well prepared for this kind of activity. You will be able to go through the easy routes or if you like the adrenaline- the mountain biking ones.
At the end, if you would like to see more of how Wadi Shawka looks like in a drone footage, I encourage you to see the video from my hiking trip:
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover about United Arab Emirates, I can recommend this ultimate guide that is packed with many routes, giving very detailed information and answering all questions you could have.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UrKZdo
