Visiting Bimmah Sinkhole, Oman: 16 Important Things to Know Before You Go
If you’re planning a trip to Oman, visiting Bimmah Sinkhole should definitely be on your list. When my husband and I visited in April, it was one of the easiest and most unique stops on our road trip. If you’re wondering what to know before visiting Bimmah Sinkhole, don’t worry — I’ve got you covered with everything from parking to swimming tips. Visiting Bimmah Sinkhole was one of those fun little side adventures that perfectly broke up a long driving day on our Oman road trip!
There are a few important things to know before visiting Bimmah Sinkhole if you want the experience to go smoothly. From what to wear to when to go, a little planning makes all the difference (and saves you from slipping around on wet rocks like a confused penguin). We loved that it was low-effort but still super memorable. Here’s exactly what to know before visiting Bimmah Sinkhole to make the most of your visit.
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1. Where is Bimmah Sinkhole?
Bimmah Sinkhole is located in Hawiyat Najm Park, about a 1.5-hour drive from Muscat. It’s really easy to get to — no 4WD required, just a straight shot down a main highway. Some people will do it as a day trip from Muscat. Personally, we stopped at Bimmah Sinkhole as part of a larger 8 day road trip through Oman.
2. How to Get to Bimmah Sinkhole
Renting a car is the way to go if you want the most flexibility. Tours are available too, but we loved having our own car (and playlist). However, if you’re not big on driving, a tour is a great option. Pro tip: If you opt to rent a car for your road trip, download an eSim for your phone in advance so you have access to Google Maps while exploring. We used Airalo, which was reasonably priced and worked well!
Recommended Tour: Wadi Shab and Bimmah Sinkhole Full Day Tour
3. When to Visit Bimmah Sinkhole
You’ll want to visit when it’s warm enough to swim because the water is refreshingly chilly even on hot days. Oman’s best months for good weather are late October through early April, and we found April to be perfect for visiting Bimmah Sinkhole without feeling like we were walking on the sun (though it was definitely toasty in Muscat and the desert!)
The sinkhole is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, but be smart about when you go. Fridays and Saturdays are weekends in Oman and are super popular with locals. We visited mid-morning on a weekday and shared it with just a handful of other people — very chill vibes.
4. Is There an Entrance Fee?
Nope! Visiting Bimmah Sinkhole is totally free. We love an easy, free adventure!
5. Parking
There’s free parking right next to the entrance, which makes life easy. We showed up around 10:30am on a weekday and had zero trouble grabbing a spot. The parking lot had plenty of spots, so it doesn’t seem like you should have trouble on weekdays.
6. How was Bimmah Sinkhole Created?
Local legend says a meteor hit the earth and created the sinkhole — hence the park’s name, Hawiyat Najm, meaning “The Falling Star.” Scientists say it’s actually a limestone collapse, which is slightly less dramatic, but still pretty cool.
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7. How Deep is Bimmah Sinkhole?
The sinkhole gets to about 65 feet deep. It slopes down quickly, so if you’re not a strong swimmer, hang out along the shallower edges. There’s plenty of space in the shallower areas to chill, so even if you’re not big on swimming, you can easily enjoy lounging in the waters of Bimmah Sinkhole.
8. Is Bimmah Sinkhole Freshwater or Saltwater?
It’s a mix! The sinkhole connects to the sea underground, so the water is slightly salty but not full ocean-level salty. Surprisingly, I still felt refreshed when exiting the sinkhole…but that could also be because I’m used to ocean levels of saltiness.
9. What to Wear to Bimmah Sinkhole
You’ll want modest clothing to walk around — Oman is pretty conservative, and there’s a sign at the entrance kindly reminding you to respect local culture. I wore a long dress for the day, which I used as a coverup over my swimsuit at Bimmah Sinkhole, and it worked perfectly.
For swimming, women will feel more comfortable in a one-piece swimsuit. The female locals we saw swimming there were fully covered, and most tourists opted for one-pieces without getting any weird looks.
10. What to Bring
You really don’t need to overthink it. Bring a bathing suit, a modest coverup, and a towel (we loved our quick-dry travel towels). Sunscreen is a must unless you enjoy resembling a lobster by lunchtime. Flip flops or aqua shoes are highly recommended because the rocks are pretty sharp and slippery. I wore flip flops, which I could get by with; however, if you want to do some additional exploring or climbing up walls, you would need aqua shoes for grip.
A waterproof camera like a GoPro or Insta 360 is great if you want to capture some shots in the water. If you prefer your phone for photos, invest in a waterproof phone pouch. We personally brought a GoPro and Insta 360. I’m way too risk averse to potentially getting my phone wet!
We didn’t bother with a dry bag and didn’t feel like we needed one. You can easily leave your stuff on the rocks at the edge of the sinkhole where you can keep an eye on it. Just remember to keep your valuables minimal—there is no way to lock anything up.
11. What to Expect at Bimmah Sinkhole
You’ll walk down a short flight of stairs to the sinkhole itself. The view when you first arrive is pretty incredible, with turquoise water surrounded by the rocky walls of the sinkhole. Make sure to snag a shot from the top! If you’ve seen any of the popular shots on Instagram, those were taken by climbing over the wall at the top…it’s not something I’d personally recommend since I’m not sure how stable the ground is up there. I wasn’t going to risk it!
Once you reach the bottom, you’ll find flat rocks around the edges where you can leave your stuff or lounge for a bit. A few families had picnics set up when we visited, and it had a very relaxed, come-as-you-are vibe. There’s also a little bend to the left where you can escape for a more private swim if the main area feels too crowded.
Swimming itself is super refreshing — definitely colder than I expected but awesome once you’re in. The water is so clear you can see the tiny fish swimming around, and if you stay still long enough, they’ll come nibble on your feet for a free spa treatment. It’s a simple spot but genuinely one of the more fun, low-key experiences we had in Oman.
12. Restrooms at Bimmah Sinkhole
There are basic restrooms (not squatty potties, thankfully), but the floors were quite wet when we visited, which makes it challenging to change clothes. Honestly, it’s easier to come dressed to swim.
13. What to Eat at Bimmah Sinkhole
There’s no food or drink on-site, so plan ahead when visiting Bimmah Sinkhole. We grabbed picnic supplies at Lulu’s Hypermarket before leaving Muscat, which became our go-to spot for road trip snacks and to-go meals…check out the hot counter near the bakery (little pizzas galore!)
There are picnic tables up top if you want to bring lunch. Otherwise, Star Restaurant about 20 minutes away has great reviews if you’d rather grab a sit-down meal after your swim.
14. What Else to Do Near Bimmah Sinkhole
If you want more beach time, Hidden Beach and Pebble Beach are just a quick drive away after visiting Bimmah Sinkhole. Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi are also nearby and absolutely worth a stop if you want to turn it into a full-day adventure.
We visited Bimmah Sinkhole, then Pebble Beach, and continued to Sur before spending the night near Qalhat — a perfect spot to be close to Wadi Shab for an early start the next day. I highly recommend this order of events if you’re looking to maximize your Oman itinerary and hit Wadi Shab with minimal crowds.
15. Is Bimmah Sinkhole Worth a Visit?
If you’re doing a road trip around Oman, visiting Bimmah Sinkhole is 100% worth it. We probably spent about an hour here, which was the perfect amount of time to swim, relax, and snap some photos.
If you’re only staying in Muscat, it’s a bit of a drive just for Bimmah (and I wouldn’t recommend driving 3 hours round trip for only Bimmah), but it’s totally worth it if you combine it with Wadi Shab — possibly my absolute favorite adventure in Oman.
16. Where to Stay When Visiting Bimmah Sinkhole
You have a few options on deciding where to stay when visiting Bimmah Sinkhole in Oman. You can visit as a day trip from Muscat (and have much nicer hotels) or do a road trip and stay at different spots throughout Oman (which means not as nice hotels, but less driving and reaching attractions earlier). We opted for the second option. I’ll share my recommendations for both Muscat hotels (where we started our trip) and hotels near Bimmah Sinkhole so you can choose what works best for you!
Muscat Hotel Recommendations
- Kempinski Hotel Muscat for the most Instagrammable luxury hotel
- Intercontinental Muscat for the best hotel in the middle of Muscat
- Al Bustan Palace, Ritz Carlton for a hotel befitting royalty (it was built as a palace)
- The Chedi Muscat for a stylish hotel and Gulf of Oman views
- Shangri-La Al Husn for the best views & a private cove
Tiwi & Qalhat Hotel Recommendations
You have less options if you opt to stay outside of Muscat with more basic choices available. However, I found a couple good recommendations to pass along. The big plus? They’re a lot closer for visiting Bimmah Sinkhole than the Muscat hotels!
- Wadi Shab Guest House for a clean, reliable hotel 20 minutes from Bimmah Sinkhole and only 1 minute from Wadi Shab’s parking lot.
- Alshumukh Guest House for a cute guest house in Qalhat with great hospitality (15 minutes from Wadi Shab, 30 minutes from Bimmah Sinkhole). This is where we stayed and I would absolutely recommend it!
Visiting Bimmah Sinkhole was such a fun stop on our Oman road trip — easy, beautiful, and refreshingly low-effort. Now that you know exactly what to know before visiting Bimmah Sinkhole, you’re set up for a smooth and fun visit. Pack a towel, throw on your swimsuit, and get ready for a refreshing dip in one of Oman’s coolest natural spots.
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