Al Batinah South · Oman
Wadi Bani Awf Crossing
Al Awabi to Bilad Sayt
The Wadi Bani Awf crossing is one of the most dramatic 4WD routes in the Middle East, threading Snake Gorge then scaling the Western Hajar on precipitous switchbacks to the clifftop village of Bilad Sayt.
From the road near Al Awabi the track descends into Wadi Bani Awf, following a spring-fed stream through Snake Gorge where the walls close to a few metres apart. Beyond the gorge the surface becomes compacted gravel as the route climbs the Hajar escarpment in steep, tight switchbacks toward the Sharaf al Alamayn pass, the terraced mud-and-stone village of Bilad Sayt appearing suddenly in a hidden bowl below. Experienced 4WD drivers only.
Scenery
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Wadi Bani Awf Crossing on the map15.6 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Steeper than 9 in 10 roads here in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 10Elevation
under 4%4 to 8%over 8%482 to 1,131 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Little Snake CanyonViewpoint4.6 mi in
- Snake Gorge (Wadi Bimah)Landmark14 mi in
- Bilad SaytLandmark15 mi in
Hazards
- 4WD with high clearance is absolutely essential, a 2WD will not complete this route
- Extremely narrow ledges with sheer drops of 500 m or more
- Loose gravel and rockfall risk throughout the upper section
- Flash floods can inundate the wadi floor without warning
- No fuel, phone signal or services for the entire crossing
Sources
“Wadi Bani Awf offers some of the best off-road driving you experience in Oman”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
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