If you are looking for off the beaten track places to explore in Oman, Barr Al Hikman is one that many tourists miss. The fact is that it is a long drive from anywhere, so you have to be fully road trip committed to make it. But I'd argue that the 10 hour round trip from Muscat is worth it to experience this extraordinary stretch of Arabian coastline.
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What is Barr al Hikman?
Barr al Hikman is the Middle East’s longest natural sand bar and Oman's largest tidal plain covering 2,900 km². It boasts dazzling salt flats, muddy inlets and white sandy beaches lapped by the duck egg blue Arabian Sea. This makes it a haven for birdlife with dozens of species passing through from autumn to spring.
In the summer a very different kind of bird takes to the skies: kite surfers. They benefit from the edge of the summer monsoon, or Khareef season, which is centred around Salalah 700km to the south.
Crabs are also a common sight. They burrow into the sand bar and make a tasty snack for larger predators.
We've visited Barr Al Hikman twice. The first time we wild camped for two nights, dipping in the sea and playing in the lagoon behind the beach where we pitched our tents.
It was April and the summer kite surfing season was already in full swing with winds picking up and long hot days.
The second time we booked Whales Head Camp - one of a handful of glamping sites nestled between the sea and dunes.
It was early October and the weather was perfect for paddle boarding on the lagoon and sea.
The winter season is when more people come to the sand bar to camp.
Read on for the low down on how you can organise a trip to this beautiful remote Oman beach.
The road trip from Muscat
Barr Al Hikman is 450km south of Muscat and a 800km journey north from Salalah. So Muscat is your natural starting point for visiting unless you are making the road trip between Oman's two major cities.
You could also fly in to Duqm and drive three hours north from there, but that's far less economical both in terms of time and expense.
Either way, you will need a car - hired or with a guide.
We have driven to Barr Al Hikman from Muscat on two occasions, both times with groups of friends.
The journey takes you through the Hajar Mountains, past Wahiba Sands desert and through long dry planes where camels roam and the heat haze shimmers on the highway.
There are lots of petrol stations and small towns along the way where you can fuel up, find snacks and water. The last big supermarket is Lulu Hypermarket at Samad Al Shan on Route 27.
After four hours of driving (allow more for breaks) you reach the cross roads town of Mahout. This is the last stop for supplies and where you can meet a guide to take you safely across the sun scorched salt flats.
I highly recommend taking a guide
It would be very easy to get disorientated, lost or stuck while crossing Barr Al Hikman, even if you are an experienced off road driver. It's not somewhere to travel alone or at night.
Initially the landscape looks flat, hard and baron. The sandy surface glistens with salt crystals and the tracks of recent visitors are easy to spot.
But the five inlets that feed the salt flats mean they are ever-changing with the tide. After rain, there can also be large patches of sticky mud.
The first time we visited we saw an abandoned Jeep up to its axels in the middle of nowhere. And people have gotten themselves into much worse situations when underestimating Barr al Hikman.
This is why you should get a guide to help you navigate a safe path. We have used this local guide and paid a fixed price for a return trip following him in our own 4x4.
Both times we visited, it was necessary for our guide to wade though water to check the bottom was firm enough before we could progress.
At this point (picture above) we were running board deep in an inlet that went on for as far as we could see, hoping our guide hadn't gotten lost himself.
Eventually the seemingly endless terrain opens up to reveal seascapes with dunes and a powdery beach strewn with coral, shells and, sadly, quite a lot of rubbish.
The Maldives of Oman?
Barr al Hikman is often compared to the Maldives because of its white shores and clear waters. I haven't been to the Maldives, but I'm certain they are very different destinations.
Hikman is 'undiscovered' when it comes to mass tourism. There's no infrastructure, villas on stilts or beach bars.
But it is well known to locals, fishermen and enterprising small tourism businesses keen to service adventure travellers.
The downside to being off the beaten track
The people who come to Barr al Hikman bring rubbish with them. The fishing equipment - plastic bottles and canisters, white ice sacks and ghost nets - are the most obvious left overs.
Having travelled extensively in Oman, the amount of rubbish here was not a surprise to us, but it is still a great shame in a location that is otherwise extraordinary.
If more tourists (and larger commercial interests) come to this remote part of Oman maybe this issue will be tackled.
Camping at Barr al Hickman
We have wild camped at Barr al Hikman, bringing our own tent, food, water and au-natural toilet making equipment with us.
You can wild camp anywhere in Oman for up to two nights, as long as you are off the road and out of sight of permanent dwellings.
We pitched between the beach and lagoon near Whales Head Camp, which is why we knew it was there for our next visit.
Staying in the camp's weathered accommodation is a step up from putting up your own tent because there's flushing toilets and cold water showers. They also feed you and have plenty of drinking water so you don't need to worry about running out.
Read my full review of Whales Head Camp to find out more.
More tips for visiting Barr al Hikman
Here's some other points that I think are helpful for anyone planning to visit:
When to visit?
Barr Al Hikman is a year-round destination enjoying cooler summer temperatures than Muscat thanks to monsoon currents travelling up from the far south.
However, the best time for wild camping is when the weather is even cooler and calmer between October and March. This is also the best time to see migrating birds.
If kitesurfing is on your agenda, visit between April and September when the winds are perfect for launching.
How long do you need?
Barr Al Hikman is somewhere I'd recommend staying for two nights. This allows you time to relax after your journey and enjoy a full day on the sand bar before moving on.
And unless you are an avid kite surfer or bird watcher, one full day is enough.
Things to bring
Aside from clothes, personal sun protection and camping gear, here's some tips on what to pack:
- All of the food and water you need for you stay, unless you are staying at a camp like Whales Head. There are no shops or restaurants on the sand bar.
- Extra shade - the midday sun is intense and there is no shade unless you bring your own or stay at an organised camp.
- Beach shoes to protect your feet from the hot sand and sharp coral.
Final thoughts on visiting
Barr al Hikman is a remote paradise that I'd happily return to for a third visit if we have the opportunity. Getting there is an adventure and if you time your trip right, avoiding national holidays, it can feel like you have it all to yourselves.
It may not be like this forever. As Oman's tourism industry matures I can see this being a prime location for development. To experience the authentic Barr al Hikman, now is the time to visit.
Staying at one of the small permanent or temporary camps is a good idea if you are on a longer road trip as there are no other facilities or shops once you are across the salt flats.
How ever you decide to experience the sand bar make sure you have help getting there. It would be an unforgiving place to get stuck. And please leave only foot prints.
Before you go, read my latest posts
- Jebel Shams: tips for exploring Oman's highest mountain
- Nizwa Goat Market - Oman's most famous livestock souq
- Jebel Shams Resort - an ideal base near the Balcony Walk
- Jebel Shams Balcony Walk: what you need to know
- How to visit the Daymaniat Islands from Muscat
More essential reading before visiting Oman
As well as reading my guides about what you need to know about driving in Oman and what to pack, I can recommend buying the Lonely Planet guide to Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsular.
I bought this before our move here and found it invaluable as an introduction to the country and culture.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase I may earn some commission. This does not affect the price you pay.