After driving a desert buggy at the sand dunes of Sharjah, we got back inside the vehicle to proceed to Hatta. We were to get wet in a natural swimming pool in Wadi Al Qahfi (Khaffi). I didn’t expect much of the place as all I knew about the Middle East was it being a desert, but the natural pool intrigued me.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Swimming in Wadi (Valley) Al Qahfi
April 30, 2013
Wadi Qaffi in the Hatta Mountains
The drive took awhile, but I was busy staring at the view of the landscape changing. From soft and sandy desert dunes to rough and mountainous rocks. I’m glad that we had the car all to ourselves as it felt like a private tour. Plus there’s lots of leg space! 🙂
driving in the mountain
Swimming in Wadi Khaffi (Al Qhafi)
We went for stopover and our guide told us that we could dip in the natural swimming pool below. I was surprised to see that a body of water existed here. Preconceived notions of hot and dusty sand were what I only thought about of Dubai.
Prior to the trip, our guide advised us to bring extra clothes in case we wanted to swim. At the back of my mind, I wasn’t really expecting the water to be inviting because this was a desert, after all. Dubai is known to be a city built from sand; so my expectations of a natural water source didn’t raise my hopes high.
Wadi Al Quaffi, Oman
hidden water
Don’t get me wrong, manmade structures like the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) or the Palm Islands will make you appreciate how these creations were constructed. It’s just that I come from a country that’s rich in natural resources so my expectations of nature are set a little higher.
Anyway, I was amazed when I saw the pool and how clear it was. I wanted to take dip right away! Shahzad, our guide, showed us the way to go down so we could swim. There were a few other tourists around, but they were mostly just sunbathing.
other tourists sunbathing from afar
clear water
Jumping In the Natural Pool
The water was really inviting that I was really happy to swim in it. One thing I noticed were vandals on the rocks which would’ve been nice if they weren’t there. Shahzad also mentioned that we could jump from one of the rocks, to which I immediately climbed so I could see how high it was.
Despite having bungy jumped from the Macau Tower, and even in Malaysia, or having jumped off a 50-foot cliff in Malapascua, it still gives me jitters when I think about heights; even if this was just a short jump. Still, I managed to take off and plunge into the water.
swimming in the natural pool
We drove a little further to go to a pool with a more open area. But we only stopped by to take a few more photos. I preferred the first pool because it looked as if it was hiding itself. Still, it was a welcome treat to see a body of water amidst the valleys.
Wadi Qaffi
It was time to head to our main destination which was the Hatta Mountains. To be continued…
Tour Guide: Shahzad Ahmad
Mobile Number: +971 56 2318281, +971 52 7866550
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Check out my other posts about our Hatta Mountain Tour here:
- Dubai Hatta Mountain Safari Tour Highlights
- Dubai, UAE: Driving a Desert Buggy in Lahbab, Sharjah
- Dubai, UAE: Swimming in Wadi Al Qahfi
- Dubai, UAE: Quick Stop at the Hatta Mountains
- Dubai, UAE: Hatta Heritage Village Tour
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Check out my other Dubai articles here:
- My Dubai Desert Safari Adventure Experience
- First Time to Ride an Emirates Boeing 777 Plane
- Now Blogging in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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soloflightEd.com is a travel blog by Edcel Suyo. He enjoys performing headstands and crazy stunts during his trips in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Now based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and working to earn a living, he takes time to enjoy the city and travel during weekends.
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wow! a natural pool in the desert! this is a refreshing sight to behold! would love to visit this place if ever I go to Dubai! 🙂
Always great to visit the desert and then check this place out. So you can compare how great that there’s fresh water-pool in the Middle East. Thanks for dropping by my blog! 🙂
An oasis??? Not your usual place in this side of the middle east! Thanks for blogging . About this. The place looks awesome!
Thanks mAe for visiting this site and leaving a comment! We try to travel as much with the limited time that we have. 🙂
hi ed,
how are you? mukhang comfy ka na dyan ah. hehe
anyways, I’m trying to transfer my blogspot to wordpress. I have some questions. PLs email me. thanks
take good care always
hi rols! just looks comfy, still adjusting to the work and one day off! hehe. Ok will email you. 🙂
the water is crystal clear; the view -breathtaking!
glad to know you can still travel in between work there.
sana makarating din ako ng dubai in the future.
haha, we’ll travel when we have the time. It’s the only way I can get away from the workweek stress. Dating ka dito Doc! Basta Sunday ang off ko. hehe
Wahhh! Nakakamiss naman ang UAE 🙁 The water looks soooo inviting! Fave ko last photo.
Not many people were around so mas maganda. Sarap maligo talaga.
Wow nice place sadiq!
yes yes! very unusual for a Middle Eastern location!
Hilwa ya sadik!
This is a complete contrast to the usual desertscape people usually associate the Middle East with. While I couldn’t tackle the jump like you did, I’d merrily soak myself in those waters!
Definitely a fresh sight from the desert scene, Dennis! Haha, Had to jump especially with the water so inviting! 🙂
Halaaaa! Naa diay ing-ani sa disyerto?! Naamaze gud ko. HAHAHA! Dapat muadto jud ko dire puhon. 🙂
Reminds me of 127 hours. 1…2… JUMP!
Can you please give exact location or directions to this spot. thanks
hi, sorry as im not familiar of the directions. we bought a package tour online for a day trip to Hatta, and this is a sidestop.