Wadi Showka in RAK is known to be one of the most popular places for hikers in UAE. It is known for its beautiful landscape as well as natural pools that are frequented by residents as well as tourists alike.
There are different routes and trails along this area. So Depending upon your fitness level and interest you can choose different routes.
This is an absolute plastic free area. If you get caught throwing trash fine is upto 2000 Dhs. So its better to keep the trashes in the bag itself.
1. Showka – Pools
This is going to be a easy hike with trekking over a mostly flat terrain, and anyone with basic fitness level should be able to do it.
The first pool is small and you can either walk through it or by pass it and continue the hike to reach the second pool, which is relatively deeper. You will need to either swim through it or turn back a little bit and climb a small hill to by pass it. I have not been to this hike in the current year so can’t really say for sure about the situation of the pools this year.
4X4s or AWDs with good ground clearance are needed to reach the final location at RAK. if you don’t have one, you will either need to find ride with a driver who does, or stop a couple of kilometers before the final meeting point and hitch a ride in a 4WD/AWD.
Total distance of the hike: Approximately 9KM (around 2-1/2 hours of total walking time at slow/ normal pace)
Mandatory list of items:
- Water,
- Food,
- High energy snacks like chocolates,
- Cola,
- Sweater for winter season,
- extra socks as you are going to jump into water,
- proper hiking shoe,
- proper clothing,
- hat,
- sunscreen,
- light,
- knife,
- GPS / Offline map,
- extra battery
Location map
Pin 1: This is the most popular landmark in this location. You can set your navigation in google map using this pin and you can reach here without any problem from any part of UAE.
There are different routes in this area so dont get lost.
Pin 2: This is your next point. You can use your sedan car to drive upto here based on the road condition. There is a private operated camp near by. So its easy to locate and travel using your car.
Pin 3 : This is the point where you can find the first pool in the trails.
If you travel ahead you might find lot more pools. Depending on your energy level you can explore around and return the same route.
Description
Start early morning and try to get to the starting point before the sunrise. Remember this is a day trip.
Even though we start little late. I would like to recommend a trip to start it early as possible. So it is highly recommended to reach the starting point before the sunlight hits. So if you want to start little early you should have packed your bag the day / night before. Hopefully this will make your life easy so that you need to only brush up and start the engine of the car.
Make sure all the necessary stuffs are there in the back before starting up from the home. All the items which I mentioned here are mandatory stuff. Life without those thing would probably will be difficult during the Hike. Given the list as a checklist for the beginners and if you forget something you can always buy on the way from any gas station or supermarket.
Make sure you hit any gas station and fill the gas in your car if you’re going to the station, because the roads are not set very well and you can get easily lost. For beginners it is highly recommended to group up and travel in a group.
Hike is a physically challenging activity and make sure you are physically fit for travelling few kilometres without any problem.
Once you reach the destination as mark in the map, you may find a place to park your car. Remember always to travel in a group because in case of physical injury the other one will be able to support.
If you are beginner respect to set your GPS and track your movement all the way up and down during the Hike cause you may get lost anytime and all the different look almost similar or different and you will not be able to distinguish the exact way you want to go back. For experience it was you know the things, you know the rules, just keep going straight up the trail.
What’s your time as it will be very difficult and very dark on sunset. Asus your physical condition all the way up and down, and make sure to take risk only that is acceptable. Climbing up on top of the steep Hills and mountains for selfies are good but kind of risky. You will find lots of sports to take selfies. You may find smallpools of water bodies and some animals living nearby. Some pools are very deep so you may as before getting step into full.
You can Hike as much as you want and as far as you can go but keep in mind that you will have to return all the way back. Assess your physical condition and your teams physical condition before keeping going forward.
Keep some emergency lights with you, in case if you may fail to turn on time you’ll end up in Pitch Black dark night.
Hiking is risky, travelling in a group makes much less risky. Highly recommend it.
2. Showka – The Dam Loop.
The Shawka Dam Loop is a wonderful 10km loop located in the Shawka Dam area, Fujairah which is about two hours from Dubai. The route here is well used by bikers and walkers so expect good gravel roads or well-trodden tracks. You’ll get a glimpse of desert life and agricultural life.
Starting location :
Starting at Shawka dam, generally following the MTB track. Start from the car park near the dam, head SE to follow a shallow wadi. wonderful scenery and wildlife (good chance of seeing camels, goats, donkeys and a variety of birdlife). Many open stretches with no shade so usual sun protection required along with adequate water depending on time of year.
