On the way to Ain Al Ghamour hot springs (I previously wrote about it here: The Spirit of Ain Al Ghamour Hot Springs), I spotted a dirt road between the mountains in the area of Wahlah village. I drove past through it but somehow, I could not tame my curiosity, and because I had a little extra time I drove back and decided to check it out. To my surprise, not only did this road take me on a journey to a different world – full of trees and diverse vegetation but also, almost, led me to my final destination – but off-road.
APPRECIATING SMALL THINGS IN LIFE
Coming from a European country it was hard for me to get used to the natural barren landscape of the United Arab Emirates.
Often my family or friends from Poland would be surprised when they see me being so delighted and overly excited when I come across a single tree in the desert or a tiny flower in the mountains. They do not understand that we appreciate the little things here because they are so rare and finding them brings so much joy. You really do not need much to be happy, as true happiness comes from within – by appreciating tiny things on this journey of life.
What an excitement it was for me to find in the mountains of Wahlah so many trees around and even grass! This year it did not rain much which is why the grass still remains yellow but imagine this green paradise after the rain!
FOR 4X4 AND NON-4X4
The off-road trail in the mountains of Wahlah that I am about to take you through in this article starts here: 24.913580, 56.289577. Part of it, in the beginning, you can even make it by a sedan car and actually, you will be able to find a suitable place for camping among trees and grass the grass. Mind the fact that you might come across snakes – they love these kinds of thick and bushy places with a lot of vegetation present. More about dangerous snakes in the UAE and what to do in case of a bite I wrote here: 10 Potentially Dangerous Wild Animals in the UAE: Mountains & Desert
There are plenty of hiking opportunities in the Walha mountains as well – the hills are not so high in this region, therefore, expect rather a relaxing trek through wadis.
HIDDEN SPOTS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WAHLAH
4×4 car will have many more possibilities to divert from the main trail, and therefore find more secluded camping or picnic spots. However, if you want to continue driving through the mountains of Wahlah, the road will lead you to the point on the hill (24.931542, 56.290002) overlooking the small farm area (24.932351, 56.288107). From this point, only 4×4 car can pass through.
To continue this scenic route, you will drive behind the farms to reach the main road (24.937768, 56.288030) and turn to the right. At some point you will again approach another hill, the road down is a little tricky, so pay attention to it driving. The rest of the route is following the valley on the right, after descending from that hill. There are so many hidden spots in these mountains and plenty of off-road trails, take your time and explore or continue driving through – that might require a little bit of rock crawling at times.
After a few kilometers, you will start seeing signs of civilization again – old farming fields (24.936029, 56.314476) that would make a perfect camping location. Eventually, you should reach the main road.at this point: 24.926974, 56.326114. Note that there might be no Internet coverage in the mountains, so make sure to plan your trip to Wahlah well beforehand.
WAHLAH CASTLE
If you enjoy the culture and history of the United Arab Emirates, I would recommend visiting Wahlah castle (24.908145, 56.304013) nearby that was built over the remains of a large fortified defense building, dating back to the Iron Age.
REMEMBER!
- Do not leave any garbage behind, including food. Even organic waste can take months to biodegrade and meanwhile it will attract animals. It may not only make them stop eating their natural food and rely on what humans leave behind but also it may make them sick.
- Have always a bag ready to collect trash left behind by other inconsiderate people – in the end, you are saving nature.
- Hike or camp over gravel and rocks. In some areas, the vegetation can take years to grow back.
- Leave natural and historical items where you find them.
- Minimize cooking over a campfire, use the stove instead – it is less impact on the wilderness.
UAE OFF-ROADER GUIDE
If you are looking for more off-road trails to discover around the 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 about off-roading in the UAE.
You can get it from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UrKZdo
FIELD GUIDE TO EMIRATES
To learn more about UAE’s natural & archaeological treasures, check: https://www.fieldguidetoemirates.com
I hope you found this article about the mountains of Wahlah helpful and it gave you an idea of where to head to next weekend. If you are looking for more places to visit nearby, I recommend you to check: Hidden Beach in Khorfakkan – A Tiny Paradise and Top 5 Off-Road Mountain Trails in the UAE. Enjoy!
