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Musandam Grand Loop from Khasab

147 km road cycling loop979 m climbing5½–7½ hoursGPX

Khasab, Musandam, Oman · Road

A rolling 147 km road cycling loop from Khasab, Musandam through Tibat, Hil and As Salyan, with 979 m of climbing over the Mūkhī climb. Most of it (129 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 74.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 32 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 45–77).

Route contributed by Marcus · Last ridden Saturday 14th December 2024

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
146.6 km
Loop
Elevation gain
979 m
7 m per km
Riding time
5½–7½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
99% paved · 0% unpaved
Traffic
Mostly main roads
129 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 74.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 32 km
12 cafés and restaurants · 3 shops · 3 water points · 3 petrol stations · 5 public toilets
Best months
Dec to Mar
Khasab climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Khasab

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Musandam Grand Loop from Khasab, Khasab

Elevation profile

Total ascent
979 m
Distance
147 km
-50050100150200250m0 km50100147 km194 m · highest, at 117.8 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Khasab
  2. Tibatkm 4
  3. Hilkm 19
  4. As Salyankm 51
  5. Simakm 61
  6. Al Haqatkm 85
  7. Mūkhīkm 106
  8. Mūkhī climbkm 108
  9. Al Jarikm 117
  10. Khasabkm 147

This loop ride starts and finishes in Khasab, covering 146.6 km with 768 m of elevation gain. The route begins through the towns of Tibat at 4.2 km, Ghamḑā’ at 9.2 km, and Fadgha at 10.6 km. Climbing starts around 25 km with a 2.6 km ascent gaining 154 m at an average gradient of 5.9%, reaching 193 m near Jabal Mustah past 27.7 km. The first half contains 78% of the total climbing.

The ride follows a mix of main roads and major roads, with 61% on major roads and 31% on main roads. Notably, 129 km are on main roads without cycle lanes, with 74.7 km on roads posted at 80 km/h or above. The surface is 99% paved. Facilities such as cafés, restaurants, shops, water, and toilets are available but note the longest stretch without any café, shop or water is 32.1 km between 44.5 km and 76.6 km. There are two climbs, the second starting at 108.3 km, 3.4 km long with 174 m gained at 5.2% average gradient. The route loops through several towns before returning to Khasab.

Along the way are petrol stations at 12.4 km, 44.5 km, and 100.5 km. Food options include cafés at 43.4 km, restaurants at 76.6 km, 93.3 km, and 100.5 km, and fast food near 13.9 km and 121 km. Several toilets lie on the route at 19.4 km, 25.8 km, 38.4 km, 94.8 km, and 117.8 km. The highest point is 193 m, the lowest at sea level around 98.2 km, with a longest descent of 2.6 km dropping 166 m.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs the Mūkhī climb (3.1 km at 5.9 %).
  • Crosses a border: UAE and Oman.

Highlights

  • Climb near Jabal Mustah at 27.7 km
  • Climb starting at 108.3 km
  • Longest stretch without café or shop for 32.1 km
  • Highest point 193 m near 27.7 km

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed· crosses into Oman

  1. Tibat 4.2 km
  2. Ghamḑā’ 9.2 km
  3. Fadgha 10.6 km
  4. Ḩill al Gharbīyah 18.3 km
  5. Hil 19.1 km
  6. Wa‘ab Mubārak 35.3 km
  7. Qada 35.6 km
  8. Wa‘b al Laff 49 km
  9. As Salyan 50.8 km
  10. al Habalyah 53.3 km
  11. Ra's Hafif 54.8 km
  12. Khabbat Fatim 57.8 km
  13. Sima 60.9 km
  14. Sall A'la 68.1 km
  15. Ghaban Hamad 78.3 km
  16. Khazinuh 81.9 km
  17. Al Haqat 85.2 km
  18. Ruwaybah 87.2 km
  19. Khasab 93.2 km
  20. Sharqi 103.8 km
  21. Wa`ab Salim 104.3 km
  22. Mūkhī 106.3 km
  23. Ţaff ar Rakham 106.3 km
  24. Ḩannā 109.6 km
  25. al Harf 113 km
  26. Al Jari 117.1 km
  27. Al Jādī 123.4 km
  28. Bukha 126.8 km
  29. Ra'alat Ad Darah 139.6 km
  30. Al Jeer 140.4 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Unnamed climb25 km2.6 km · 154 m · 5.9 % · max 11.3 %—193 m
Mūkhī climb108.3 km3.4 km · 174 m · 5.2 % · max 13.9 %3.1 km · 182 m · 5.9 %190 m

High point 193 m at 27.7 km; low point 0 m. Passes beneath Jabal Mustah, Jabal Haragah.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Mūkhī climb · full ascent, starts at 108.3 km

3.1 km at 5.9% · 182 m
50100150m8.4%0 km123.0 km188 msteepest 8.4%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

This is not a cycle-track route: 88% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 74.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
61% major road · 31% main road · 4% quiet street · 3% minor road · 1% other roads and tracks
Main roads
129 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
74.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Khasab - Tibat Road (77 km), Sall A'la Road (41 km), al Sina'iyah Road (5 km)
Surface
Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved.
Gradient
10% climbing · 9% descending · 81% flat
Steep sections
4 km over 5% · 2.3 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 10.9% at 115.8 km
Longest descent
2.6 km from 29.4 km, dropping 166 m

Food, water and services

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

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 32 km, from km 45 to 77. Along the route: 12 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 3 water points, 3 petrol stations and 5 public toilets.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 12.4 kmBukha Service Station · petrol station · 50 m off route
  2. 13.9 kmFast food · 210 m off route
  3. 13.9 kmBukha Hospital · hospital · 270 m off route
  4. 19.4 kmToilets · 50 m off route
  5. 25.8 kmToilets · 50 m off route
  6. 38.4 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  7. 43.4 kmCafé · 170 m off route
  8. 44.5 kmKhasab Service Station · petrol station · 60 m off route
  9. 76.6 kmAbu Maktoum · restaurant · 60 m off route
  10. 76.6 kmGrocery Stores · convenience store · 60 m off route
  11. 93.3 kmPakistani Restaurant, great and cheap · restaurant · 70 m off route
  12. 94.8 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  13. 97.8 kmPharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
  14. 100.5 kmYemen Restaurant · restaurant · 90 m off route
  15. 100.5 kmQarah Filling Station · petrol station · 70 m off route
  16. 117.3 kmConvenience store · 60 m off route
  17. 117.8 kmWater tap · on the route
  18. 117.8 kmToilets · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 100.8 km — Ferry, 190 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 14.2 km — Bukha Fort (castle)
  • 28 km — Jabal Mustah (peak, 223 m)
  • 43.9 km — Khasab AirPort Central Roundabout (viewpoint)
  • 97.5 km — Khasab Fort (castle)

Know before you go

  • 129 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 74.7 km on roads 80 km/h or faster
  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 32.1 km from 44.5 km to 76.6 km

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

27 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Dates ridden
to · 3 recordings
Route line
Built from 3 GPS recordings of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Khasab (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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