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Kalba Loop via Shawka and Munay

Kalba, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesMixed

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Saturday 10th December 2022

155 km
Distance
1,711 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Kalba Loop via Shawka and Munay

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,711 m
Distance
155 km
0200400600800m0 km50100155 km622 m · highest, at 71.8 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for experienced cyclists prepared for a long distance with mixed climbing and fast roads.

154.9 km loop from Kalba in the Hajar Mountains, UAE, with 0 m elevation gain and varied road types.

This 154.9 km loop starts and finishes in Kalba, passing through places such as Esfini, Kadrah, Shawka, Munay, and Fayyad before returning to Kalba and continuing through several other settlements including Sour Kalba and Al Sharia. The route features mainly paved surfaces (95%), with 2% gravel or unpaved and 4% unmapped. Roads vary from main roads (38%) and motorways (26%) to minor roads, quiet streets, tracks, and paths. The longest main roads without cycle lanes cover 125.2 km, with 58.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.

Highlights

  • Beneath Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m) at 37.8 km
  • Longest descent of 11 km dropping 258 m from 77.3 km
  • Climb of 8.1 km starting at 128.3 km to 475 m
  • Visit Kalba and Sour Kalba towns along the route

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Esfini 9.9 km
  2. Kadrah 22.1 km
  3. Shariyah 32.6 km
  4. Shawka 32.9 km
  5. Munay 54.6 km
  6. Al Qilē'ī 60.9 km
  7. Minazif 61.5 km
  8. Fayyad 63.5 km
  9. Harrah 67.3 km
  10. Shia 67.9 km
  11. Al Uqdah 79.5 km
  12. Al Saaf 86.3 km
  13. Al Ghail 86.3 km
  14. Al Maqt'a 91.3 km
  15. Al Quala'a 94.3 km
  16. Khawr Kalba 94.6 km
  17. Al Mafraq 94.9 km
  18. Al Nighala 95.2 km
  19. Al Bardi 95.9 km
  20. Al Aoud 95.9 km
  21. Kalba 96.2 km
  22. Al Sidrah 96.6 km
  23. Al Bateen 96.6 km
  24. Al Qadesia 96.6 km
  25. Hitteen 97.2 km
  26. Al Musalla 97.2 km
  27. Al Khuwair 97.2 km
  28. Dhyatt 97.9 km
  29. Al Mughaider 98.2 km
  30. A'quola 98.5 km
  31. Al Mahatta 98.5 km
  32. Al Bhaies 98.8 km
  33. Darweshia 99.2 km
  34. Al Husen 99.4 km
  35. Suhaila 99.7 km
  36. Sour Kalba 100.6 km
  37. Rughaylat 102.2 km
  38. Al Gurfaa 103.1 km
  39. Ghalala 104.3 km
  40. Safad 104.3 km
  41. Owaid 105.5 km
  42. Al Faseel 106.2 km
  43. Al Sharia 107.9 km
  44. Al Sharia 1 108.2 km
  45. Al Hilal 108.7 km
  46. Ishwais 113.4 km
  47. Sakamkam 114.6 km
  48. Yabsa 120.8 km
  49. Al Ghizaimri 127.4 km
  50. Al Farfar 127.4 km
  51. Far`ah 128.5 km
  52. Madouk 130.7 km
  53. Mamduh 140.1 km
  54. Rima 142.1 km
  55. Esfai 151 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—34.6 km2.9 km89 m3.1 %5.1 %371 m
—39.6 km3.5 km103 m2.9 %5.9 %482 m
—64.1 km4.9 km157 m3.2 %9.5 %424 m
Ishwais climb114 km4.6 km241 m5.2 %12.2 %247 m
—128.3 km8.1 km337 m4.2 %7.4 %475 m
—146.3 km5.2 km120 m2.3 %5.2 %484 m

High point 571 m at 71.1 km; low point 1 m. Passes beneath Jabal Ash Shibkah, Jabal Al Hinnah, Jabal Ash Shahayrah.

Ishwais climb · starts at 114 km

4.5 km at 5.3% · 240 m
50100150200m3.6%5.7%11%0 km12344.6 km243 msteepest 10.5%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
38% main road · 26% motorway · 18% major road · 8% minor road
Main roads
125.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
58.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Sharjah - Kalba Road (26 km), H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Freeway (12 km), Yabsa Bypass Road (10 km), Kalba Beach Road (5 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
23% climbing · 25% descending · 52% flat
Steep sections
7.1 km over 5% · 3.3 km over 8% · 2 km over 10%
Longest descent
11 km from 77.3 km, dropping 258 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 55 km, from 34 km to 89 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 9.9 kmConvenience store · 230 m off route
  2. 10.5 kmHospital · 150 m off route
  3. 22.4 kmKadrah Health Center · clinic · 70 m off route
  4. 32.9 kmDrinking water · on the route
  5. 33.2 kmRestaurant · 110 m off route
  6. 34.6 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 450 m off route
  7. 47.8 kmToilets · 110 m off route
  8. 85.5 kmKalba Health Center · clinic · 190 m off route
  9. 88.7 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  10. 89.3 kmWALFA CAFE · café · 120 m off route
  11. 91.7 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 220 m off route
  12. 99.8 kmTamm Cafe · café · 60 m off route
  13. 102.3 kmAkbar Supermarket · convenience store · 320 m off route
  14. 102.9 kmToilets · 90 m off route
  15. 104.1 kmBike rental · 90 m off route
  16. 108 kmStarbucks · café · 70 m off route
  17. 108.6 kmZOOM · convenience store · on the route
  18. 108.6 kmENOC · petrol station · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 109.1 km — Fujairah Station (station), 590 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 92 km — Visit Center of Khor Kalba Mangrove Reserve (attraction)
  • 99.5 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
  • 103.2 km — Bull fighting (Bullring) (attraction)

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
6–8½ hours riding
Season
December with temperatures around 25°C.
Best months
Dec to Feb — daily highs of 24–26 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 55.2 km stretch without café, shop or water between 33.5 km and 88.7 km
  • 125.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 58.3 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits or higher
  • 7.1 km climbing over 5% gradient including 3.3 km over 8% and 2 km over 10%

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

3 photographs from the road

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