Bimmah Sinkhole Oman: Complete Guide For The Best Experience

Water in the hole! 

The Bimmah Sinkhole, to be precise!

This unique natural wonder is worth visiting when driving through Oman or just visiting Muscat. The Bimmah Sinkhole is next to one of the main roads, so it is very easy to visit.

Let’s dive into the hole and discover everything you need to know; let’s go!

Bimmah Sinkhole Oman

Located in Oman, Bimmah Sinkhole, also known as Hawiyat Najm Park, is an incredible natural wonder/pool.  

What is the Bimmah Sinkhole?

It is often listed as one of the most beautiful attractions in Northern Oman. It is the most beautiful sinkhole in Oman, with its clear water and limestone formations creating a unique sight. While it looks like a giant explosion took place, this sinkhole was formed naturally.

The sinkhole was created when underground water dissolved the underlying limestone, eventually causing the ground above to collapse. 

One of the great things about visiting Bimmah Sinkhole is the opportunity to swim in the crystal-clear waters of the natural pool.

Swimming in the natural pool

Swimming in the Bimmah Sinkhole is a fantastic experience.

The clear water and unique surroundings make it an irresistible spot for a dip.

The first part is not deep at all, and you can easily stand there and dip your feet in the slightly cold, turquoise water.

What to wear when swimming

Oman is a traditional country, and exposing too much skin is not allowed or at least not appreciated in many places.

Now, this is a much-debated topic, but in my experience and from what other Oman travelers have told me, at many tourist areas such as wadis and also the Bimmah sinkhole, it is fine to swim in your regular swimming wear.

Don’t get stressed about whether to wear a bikini or not.

Omani locals are relaxed and don’t have the mindset of, “I’m covering my body, so you should too.”

They know tourists wear different clothes and that’s fine. If you do feel uncomfortable, you could always throw on a T-shirt while swimming. It also helps to protect from getting sunburned, so it’s a win-win.

What’s not fine, for example, is to wear swimming wear inside the supermarket or a mall. That will not be appreciated and a security guard might not let you in. 

Cliff diving at Bimmah Sinkhole

Cliff diving is not allowed at the sinkhole, but swimming in Bimmah Sinkhole is!

You might see locals jumping in the water all the way from the top, but they are experienced and know the area well. 

What you might do is swim to one of the lower areas inside the sinkhole and jump off from there!

Personally I wouldn’t risk it injuring yourself, there is so much to see in Oman and you’ll have to walk quite a lot if you want to visit wadis and much more.

Better safe than sorry in this case would be my advice.

4 Bimmah Sinkhole facts

1. Magic Water: People say the water in Bimmah Sinkhole has special powers, making it a must-swim location in the Sultanate of Oman. Some believe it can heal you, though science hasn’t proven that yet!
2. Deep Secrets: No one knows how deep Bimmah Sinkhole really is. It’s like a mystery waiting to be solved!
3. Ancient Past: Bimmah Sinkhole has a rich history. Archaeologists think it was important to ancient people who lived nearby thousands of years ago.
4. Cosmic Connection: Some folks say Bimmah Sinkhole was made by the stars. It adds a bit of magic to this already amazing place!

How long should you spend at the Bimmah Sinkhole?

I would recommend to spend about 1,5 hour to 2 hours there. Some say you could stay longer but the area isn’t that big and there is so muh more to see in Oman that I would use the rest of the day for Wadi Shab or Wadi Tiwi.

Bimmah Sinkhole Bathrooms

Good news!

There are free bathrooms at Bimmah Sinkhole, which are perfect for changing into your swimwear.

You can pop in there for a quick change before heading to the swimming hole. Surprisingly, the bathrooms are pretty clean compared to other places I’ve been. You’ll have to bring your own toilet paper, but they’ve got a bidet and soap to wash your hands.

If you are wild camping with a 4WD and a rooftop tent, it is an excellent stop for a number 2…

Camping at Bimmah Sinkhole

Setting up camp at the sinkhole is not allowed; the park closes at 11pm, but you can camp anywhere you like, close to the sinkhole, as it is super close to the coast, which is just amazing to camp.

I stayed near Fins, which is only 20 minutes driving. 

Bimmah sinkhole depth and width

The sinkhole is about 20 meters deep and 50 meters wide, the deepest point to the bottom of the sinkhole is about 90 meters deep!

I was kind of shocked to hear this. Luckily there aren’t any scary fish only the little once that give you a good feet cleaning. 

Visiting Bimmah Sinkhole with kids

The sinkhole is a great location to visit with your family;

• The walk from the car to the area is only 100 meters
• Plenty of benches outside the sinkhole allow you to sit down for a picnic.
• The stairs down the sinkhole are easy and with a handrail
• The first part of the sinkhole is not deep at all. 

But, the deepest part in the back of the sinkhole is 90 meters (!) deep.So make sure your kids wear life jackets or are good swimmers.

Exploring the Surroundings

When visiting Bimmah Sinkhole in Oman, consider exploring the nearby areas to make the most of your trip such as: Wadi Shab, Fins or Wadi Tiwi.

From the Bimmah Sinkhole to Wadi Shab, it takes only 23 minutes to drive. Take the route along the coast for a nice view! 

What I like so much about Oman is that all these beautiful places are so easy to reach. You can drive for an hour and be in entirely different surroundings. Even the desert, Wahiba Sands, is not far!

How to get there

Reaching Bimmah Sinkhole is easy for those traveling in Oman.

Situated near Muscat, it is just an hour’s drive away, making it a nice day trip destination for visiting the Bimmah Sinkhole.

From Muscat to the Bimmah sinkhole is about 1 hour driving, maybe a bit more if there is traffic in Muscat but the road to the sinkhole is really straightforward (135 km drive).

Take this exit, then drive to the parking lot.

The GPS app Waze works great to navigate Oman.

Best time to Visit

When I was visiting the sinkhole I was wild camping on the coast of Fins, which is not far from the sinkhole.

I went there early at 9 am, or at least I thought that would be early, but pretty soon more tourists came.

Locals arrived a bit later at 11.

If you want to visit the area without any tourist I’d suggest to go between 8 and 9 am.

The best months to visit Bimmah Sinkhole in Oman are during the cooler months of the year, from October to April.

These months are not too hot.

I personally find the month February the best month to visit Oman.

The temperature is nice and warm during the day but at night it cools a bit of which is just perfect for a good nights rest.

The benefit of doing it early is that you’ll have plenty of time to visit Wadi Shab, which is very close by and definitely worth the visit!.

Opening times every day: 07:30–23:00

Final Thoughts & Tips

Conclusion on visiting the Bimmah Sinkhole: Exploring this natural wonder is a great experience that doesn’t take too long, making it an ideal stop on your itinerary.

Verdict: go early and also visit Wadi Shab!

Where to Stay

Altho camping close to Bimmah sinkhole is the way to go, there are a few guesthouses in the area. Find available places to stay below:

Bimmah Sinkhole F.A.Q.