The dunes are constantly moving - up to 33 ft a year - making permanent roads impossible. Instead, you'll find just a few tracks created by visitors that come for desert camps. If you are staying at a desert camp and making the initial drive into the desert yourself, you'll need to deflate your tires. Lowering the pressure helps expand the surface area of the tire as you drive, improving the traction and helps keep you from getting stuck.

If you are used to driving in sand with a 4x4 it is possible to drive yourself in the Wahiba Sands between the longitudinal dunes. It is however recommended to travel in the company of another car for safety reasons. Also, do not go off-road during the hottest months, between April to October. Make sure you have provisions (food and water) with you for several days.

If you drive a 2 WD in Oman you can arrange a pick-up service from one of the camps in the Wahiba Sands. Most of the camps pick you up either in Bidiyah or Al Wasil. Although these transfers can be expensive for what is generally quite a short drive, it's still much cheaper than hiring your own 4 WD for a few days. There are also lots of Bedouins trying to offer rides to your accommodations but prices can be extremely high. We strongly advise you to make arrangements ahead of time.