Following on from previous successful expeditions run by this unit that were quite technical adventurously, we were in pursuit of a new challenge that would be more accessible to all cadets and provide an exclusive experience out of the everyday for the participants. Oman was selected as our destination for October 2010 for its majestic natural environment offering abundant opportunities for varied adventurous activities, as well as the cultural experience of an Arabic Sultanate.
Upon arrival at the airport we were met by our guides from Muscat Diving and Adventure Centre. That day we were hosted for a presentation and Q&A session by the Environment Society of Oman which proved very informative. To allow for acclimatisation the first two days were spent in the city then out at sea on a traditional dhow boat. From the dhow the cadets enjoyed swimming, snorkelling and sea kayaking on the reef. Some were lucky enough to spot sea turtles, and thankfully none succumbed to sea-sickness as we slept the night on the dhow, rocking gently with the wind.
After the first nights in the hotel and on the dhow, every night up to the end of the trip was spent wild camping; everyone opted out of tents to sleep under the clarity of the Milky Way and spotting shooting stars streaking overhead.
The intensity and physicality of the activities built up gradually, from a walk and swim through the picturesque pools and a glowing cave at Wadi Shab and an unforgettable experience at the Raz Al-Jinz turtle reserve at night observing stages of the life cycle of green turtles, to two days of hard trekking through the desert dunes of the expansive Wahiba Sands with camels from the Bedouin. The cadets engaged brilliantly with the Omani guides that accompanied us throughout the trip, making the most of the chance to learn about each other’s cultures. We even made some attempt at dining in traditional Bedouin style sans cutlery, sharing a platter between 5 people and eating with our hands to varying degrees of success!
A day was spent at the awe-inspiring Wadi Bani Khaled, walking through the stunning canyon and swimming through (and cliff-jumping into) the crystal clear blue pools of breathtakingly cool freshwater. That was followed by a few hours on-and-off road driving to our wild camp at the top of Jebel Shams, the highest peak in Oman at 3000m.
The next morning yielded an early start for the eagerly-anticipated adrenaline activities in the capable hands of our technical guides. This included the Giant Abseil – a 200m abseil overlooking a 1000m exposure into Oman’s own Grand Canyon, and a Via Ferrata back to the top. Vertigo only claimed 3 individuals who completed the Balcony Walk instead.
The last of the adrenaline-junkie activities took place in Snake Canyon, whereby 6 people were deemed hardy enough to deal with the challenge of the famed Snake Canyon Via Ferrata 100m off the canyon floor, whilst the rest of the group enjoyed canyoning down below.
The trip was rounded off with a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, the third largest in the world, before we were despatched to the airport. It was an emotional end to what was, for many, a trip of a lifetime and one from which they have taken away great memories and growth in themselves. We would like to sincerely thank the Ulysses Trust and the RAF Charitable Trust for their grant towards making this expedition happen. This has proved to be a very memorable experience for all participants.