Walking Wadi Wuday

This month we have something a little different for you. It’s a short walk that takes no more than an hour, on this route there is no summiting of mountain tops, the views are nice but nothing spectacular and for the most part of it you can hear the white noise from the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Highway.

Just a short 15-minute drive from Fujairah’s City Center Shopping you will find the start of this trek. There is no car park but the route beginning is marked on Google Maps as Wadi Wuday and there is plenty of space along the side of the dusty track for you to leave your car.

I would recommend you take a torch with you because the start of the trek takes you directly underneath the highway and it is 99% dark at its midpoint and several hundred metres in length. You can walk through without a light but you have been warned. It is dark! Also, you would have to be very unlucky to be caught in heavy rainfall but be aware this the tunnel has not been built for your walk.

Its size will give you an idea of the amount of rainfall that flows through it. I have been told by the locals that the rain floods off the mountains directly into it. So, you start the trek through the tunnel and once the light does come back and your eyes have readjusted to the daylight you follow the trail up the valley and away from everything. The route was the old way taken by hunters. The halfway and return point is a permanent all year-round natural spring. Judging by the different animal tracks you see on the way up, this watering hole is still in constant use.

The route has few signposts but Fujairah Adventures have made it quite clear with the majority of it’s way lined by rocks. As I said, the spring is the half way point and lovely place to take a rest. You can also explore a little around the area. Once you are ready to return home, you will take the trail back down the opposite side of the valley you walked up. Walking down you are taken directly through an archaeological site, complete with a couple of hidden petroglyphs.

There have been several finds of tools and stones used by the historical residents of this site. The walk isn’t difficult but there are several areas where you are almost stepping from one large stone to another. Its quite tough on your ankles and I would advise you wear at least a good pair of sports trainers but better still your hiking boots.

There are definitely no shops, refreshments or toilets on this route, so go prepared. As stated earlier the full walk is no more than an hour. It is quite possible to do with no water, but as ever I would recommend you taking the essential minimum for any walk (water, food, phone, whistle etc). There are large areas of this trek without cell phone coverage but you don’t have to walk long distances to reconnect.

I have now walked the Wadi Wuday trek three times and each time really enjoyed it. If I was asked whether I would do it again? My answer would be, an unequivocal ‘yes!’

For more information contact: Tel: +971 50 6286160

Dave

To read the Digital Fujairah Observer Magazine please click on the link:

Read Magazine