Wadi Bani Awf & Snake Canyon Traverse

The Wadi Bani Awf & Snake Canyon Traverse is a 3-day 820 km hard-rated expedition through two of Oman’s most dramatic geological formations. The convoy enters Wadi Bani Awf from the Rustaq plain and immediately begins the steep ascent through a sequence of stacked limestone cliff faces, where the track alternates between loose gravel ledges and exposed bedrock slabs. The canyon walls rise over 600 metres on both sides as the route narrows toward the Al Hajar plateau. Snake Canyon — a side branch of Wadi Bani Awf — is a tight slot canyon that requires vehicles to thread through a series of bedrock pinch points barely wider than a standard pickup truck, demanding millimetre-precise steering and occasional tyre deflation to 8 PSI to reduce vehicle width. Low range is engaged for the entirety of the canyon section, with spotters required at technical passages. The route descends the northern face of the Al Hajar to Wadi Ghul, passing the Al Hamra heritage village, before a final transit back to Rustaq on a sealed road. Three nights are camped at remote wadi sites requiring full self-sufficiency. Vehicles with long wheelbases — particularly 200 series Land Cruisers with rear overhangs exceeding 1.4m — face increased articulation difficulty in Snake Canyon pinch points. December to February is the operational window for this drive.