A Day Trip to Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah

The celebrations of UAE's 52nd National Day have come to an end but the memories we had over the weekend were nothing short of amazing. We went to Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah to relax and explore. Our initial plan was to camp for a day as well as hike the Wadi Shawka Trail but because it was a public holiday, it was quite crowded. We tried to find a spot close to the park and play area but it was full so we decided to camp out somewhere a bit far but also by the river bed beside the stream. 

Wadi Shawka translates to ''powerful valley'' and it stands out as a seasonal riverbed. The wadi runs along four villages so there's plenty of space to camp. The country experienced heavy rain in the last few weeks so the riverbed is not dry and we enjoyed the cool and refreshing water flowing in the stream.

Recognized for its dam, Wadi Shawka is a picturesque location celebrated for various outdoor activities, including cycling, hiking, and running. The Jebel Jais mountains provide entry to this unique, rain-kissed wadi, where you can explore ancient ruins, encounter the occasional inquisitive goat, discover secluded camping spots, and traverse countless rugged mountain paths and trails for hiking which we look forward to doing in the coming weeks.

As soon as we set up camp, I cooked eggs to eat with our pandesal and heated water for coffee. The simple pleasure of sharing a meal surrounded by the natural beauty of  Wadi Shawka added an extra layer of joy to our day.

Lunch was some barbeque, spaghetti, sinigang, and rice. Eating by the water like this reminds me of my hometown in the Philippines.

The water was only ankle-deep in the area where we camped and you could go back and forth to the other side of the stream. It was not so crowded when we arrived in the morning but as the day progressed, lots of people came to this side of the wadi as well until it was packed.

We left before sundown just after we ate early dinner. We had a great day in this oasis and will surely go back one of these days when the weather is good.