Wadi Shah: at a glimpse
- Trip type: circular trip.
- Distance: 13 km.
- Duration: 8 hours, including stops.
- Activities: steep climbing in certain areas, a bit of scrambling, sections of uphill and downhill on loose rocks, and gentle plateaus.
This is a most wonderful trip; the scenery is breathtaking. Behind every curve, something new is waiting to be discovered. There is a variety of terrain and sightseeing: boulders, deep canyons, impressive views, steep mountain slopes, fossils, great pools, an ancient village and a date palm plantation. The village is still inhabited intermittently.
Thanks to the valuable input of fellow hikers Rene Duettra and Jim Bychowski, a circular route was set up instead of a return one.
Breathtaking scenery, canyons with vertical walls, impressive gorges, fossils, ancient settlements, Shihuh architecture, great hiking and petroglyphs: all in Wadi Shah.
Open the Wadi Shah hike start in Google Maps
Waypoints
| No. | Waypoint | Coordinates | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start Hike | N 25 53.981, E 056 08.533 | 404 m |
| 2 | Triple Waterfall | N 25 54.018, E 056 10.011 | 597 m |
| 3 | Start Trail Up | N 25 54.002, E 056 10.061 | 605 m |
| 4 | Entrance Gate | N 25 54.219, E 056 10.225 | 759 m |
| 5 | Village 1 | N 25 54.470, E 056 10.190 | 869 m |
| 6 | Cemetery | N 25 54.657, E 056 10.074 | 979 m |
| 7 | Highest Point Hike | N 25 54.591, E 056 09.608 | 1073 m |
| 8 | Water Reservoir | N 25 54.772, E 056 09.455 | 1035 m |
| 9 | Village 2 | N 25 54.855, E 056 09.372 | 1010 m |
| 10 | To Ridge | N 25 54.893, E 056 09.254 | 975 m |
| 11 | Fields | N 25 54.802, E 056 08.948 | 874 m |
| 12 | Start Trail | N 25 54.824, E 056 08.947 | 873 m |
| 13 | Entrance into Wadi | N 25 54.488, E 056 08.960 | 586 m |
Following the wadi
You will just follow the winding wadi, which gradually ascends. At the very beginning it is almost flat, an easy-to-walk terrain with small gravel. The boulders will become larger until you reach the XXL ones, so a bit of scrambling skills are required.
Bear in mind that this route is still being used. This is obvious because of the cairns, the polished rocks, the path (not always very visible) and also the stairways, which have been built in the past and are maintained until date. These stairways make your life easier, so use them. It is obvious that they show you the most convenient way around huge boulders.
Gorge options
You will soon experience that the gorge becomes rougher and narrower. At a certain point, you have the option to either follow your way up through the gorge, or follow the path a bit higher up, which will lead you to the top of the canyon. Both options are great; there is no favourite.
The first option is maybe more adventurous because of larger boulders, more scrambling and, if there has been some rain, refreshing pools. The advantage of this option also is that you will not lose the right track: just follow the wadi, nothing easier than that. Whenever the wadi splits, stick to the left side.
Old village and date palm plantation
When you have reached the old date palm plantation, it means the village is right above it, on the plateau. Another short climb and there you are.
This village is quite extended and vast; it covers various hills and plateaus and has many terraced fields and stone houses. The location is simply stunning, with almost vertical mountain slopes on one side and the deep canyon on the other. Most of the houses are old and abandoned, but others have been renovated recently and are obviously inhabited intermittently.
Long and high dry walls have been constructed to form terraced fields. Small houses are made with huge, heavy blocks of stone and blend into the existing rocks of the landscape. This is an ideal spot to have a break and to spend at least an hour in order to inhale the mysterious beauty of this mountain village.
Ridge and second village
After a well-deserved break, follow your way up in the direction of waypoint 6. The terrain ascends gently and you will soon reach another plateau where a cemetery is located. With the yellow gravestones lined up, this place is special and serene.
Now proceed over the ridge—the highest point of the hike at waypoint 7—and prepare yourself for more stunning views on the other side. The adjacent wadi lies below you and you will notice a winding tarred road in the far distance.
Another village comes into sight and this is the place you will walk to. Head for the water reservoir and from there a trail leads to the village, which is guarded by Pakistani housekeepers.
Return to the wadi
Traverse this settlement until you have reached the far end and start your way down via the trail which leads over the ridge to some fields in the distance. From these fields, a perfect mountain path will bring you down smoothly, zigzagging over the slope until you arrive in the wadi. From there the trail will obviously lead you to the tarred road, the end of the hike, and your car.
Access and respect
This route passes through villages, agricultural terraces, a cemetery and land that may be used by local residents. Access and trail conditions can change. Check current permissions before going, respect gates and private property, do not disturb residents or take water from farms, and avoid visiting in large noisy groups.
Carry enough water, food, an offline map, sun protection, a first-aid kit and a headlamp. Do not enter a wadi when rain or flash-flood risk is present, and go with a capable group that can handle loose ground, scrambling and a long mountain day.
