The Wadi Shab hike is predominantly flat for the first 1.5km. After this point you have some easy boulder hoping with intermittent flat path inbetween. This section through the boulders is marked by arrows and dashes of paint, but it’s not always clear.

You may have to slightly backtrack at points, but it’s not difficult and you rarely go wrong by more than a couple of steps. If you are visiting in the middle of day you’ll be following the masses and have no trouble navigating. It’s not a difficult section, but depending on how eagle eyed you are, you sometimes miss the markers.

You will then arrive at the first pool and from here begins the wading/swimming section of the wadi. There are some short slippery bits which we will cover in the trail notes below. Otherwise the swimming is easy, but if you aren’t a confident swimmer then you might want to have a noodle or life jacket with you, not because there is a current, but because you might get tired when swimming and treading water, particularly if you want to spend a bit of time in the cave. However, overall it’s an easy swim, with regular places that are shallow enough to stop for a breather if needed.