Sultanate4 Kesä 2016

005: The Sharqiya Sands (Wahiba Sands)

The Sharqiya Sands is one of my most favorite place in Oman. It has everything you could want; beauty, emptiness, mystery, easy access, and uniqueness. Whether you are into off-road sand driving, or you just enjoy the peace and quiet, the Sharqiya Sands is a must see in Oman.

In this episode of the Sultanate I sit down with David, a geologist here in Oman, to discuss in-depth, what created the amazing Sharqiya Sands. Because of David's position in the oil industry, he has access to a wealth of research which he shares with us to give us a better insight and appreciation of the vast sand dunes. Before wrapping up we examine: the environmental impact recreational sand driving has on the Sharqiya, David suggests a few camps to stay at if you are not keep to tent camp, and why this location is sometimes confusingly called the Wahiba Sands as well as the Sharqiya Sands.

Before speaking to David, I head out on a two day, off-road, trip through the Sharqiya with three of my mates: Goos (also featured on episode 3 of the Sultanate), Kif, and Paul. Together, we complete a test of the proposed route for next year's Wahiba Challenge off-road rally in order to help the Off Road Adventure Club gather valuable information on the conditions.

During this trip we found the conditions challenging due to the direction of travel and especially the soft sand, forcing an unusual number of stuck and bogged vehicles in the team. In the end we survived unscathed, just a little sandy. But most of all we had a blast.

So, join me on my journey as I the traverse the Sharqiya Sands with the boys, and get filled in on the desert geology with David.

Sharqiya Sands Desert Camps Discussed in this Episode

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