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Around Muscat

154 km road cycling route1,620 m climbing6–8½ hoursGPX

Muscat, Muhafazat Masqat, Oman · Road

A hilly 154 km road cycling route from Muscat, Muhafazat Masqat through Madinat al Ilam, Wadi Adai and al Mahaj al Shamaliyah, with 1,620 m of climbing over Wadi Dayqah. Most of it (126.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 16.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 36 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 106–142).

Route contributed by Stefan · Created from a ride on Saturday 20th January 2024

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
154 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
1,620 m
11 m per km
Riding time
6–8½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
100% paved · 0% unpaved
Traffic
Mostly main roads
126.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 16.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Longest gap 36 km
88 cafés and restaurants · 18 shops · 3 water points · 12 petrol stations · 6 public toilets
Best months
Dec to Feb
Muscat climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Muscat

Map and elevation profile

Embankment in Mutrah (Muscat, Oman).
Photo: Ondřej Žváček · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,620 m
Distance
154 km
0100200300400m0 km50100154 km383 m · highest, at 80.2 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Muscat
  2. Madinat al Ilamkm 2
  3. Wadi Adaikm 13
  4. al Mahaj al Shamaliyahkm 23
  5. Al Mahyulkm 45
  6. Muhaydithkm 54
  7. Shukaylikm 58
  8. Mazra‘ Sumayrkm 85
  9. Wadi Dayqahkm 142

This 154 km route begins in Muscat and passes through places including Madinat al Ilam (1.8 km), Qurum (8.1 km), Al Amerat (22.6 km), and more, ending back at Muscat. The route is fully paved and consists mainly of main and major roads, with 126.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane and 16.6 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest sections on named roads are 51.8 km on Muscat - Qurayyat - Sur Road and 33.6 km on Al Mazari Road.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs Wadi Dayqah (4.1 km at 5.1 %).
  • Tops out at 384 m, 78.9 km in.
  • A 9.1 km descent dropping 229 m.

Highlights

  • Climbs reach up to 384 m height
  • Longest descent of 9.1 km dropping 229 m
  • Passes near Jabal Akhbar at 130 km
  • Al Qurm natural Park near start

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Qurum 8.1 km
  2. al Wutayyah 9.7 km
  3. Wadi Adai 12.8 km
  4. Al Bajriyah 21 km
  5. Al Amerat 22.6 km
  6. al Mahaj al Shamaliyah 22.6 km
  7. Sayh adh Dhabi 25.3 km
  8. Al Hajar 36 km
  9. Al Mahyul 45.1 km
  10. Manzariyah 47.4 km
  11. Fuad al Hadu 50.1 km
  12. Saadi 53.2 km
  13. Muhaydith 53.5 km
  14. Jahlut 54.1 km
  15. Madam 56.8 km
  16. Shukayli 58.4 km
  17. Dīm 62 km
  18. ‘Arqī 72.2 km
  19. Mazra‘ Sumayr 84.9 km
  20. Sawāqim 87.5 km
  21. Makhādah 88.8 km
  22. al Mazari 121.7 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 climb11.6 km2.1 km · 68 m · 3.2 % · max 6.9 %—93 m
Unnamed climb73.4 km2.3 km · 56 m · 2.4 % · max 3.4 %—310 m
Unnamed climb76 km2.2 km · 56 m · 2.6 % · max 4.3 %—369 m
Unnamed climb90.9 km2.1 km · 55 m · 2.6 % · max 4.3 %—196 m
Unnamed climb94 km2.7 km · 72 m · 2.7 % · max 7.3 %—267 m
Unnamed climb106.5 km2.1 km · 68 m · 3.3 % · max 7.5 %—119 m
Unnamed climb113.5 km1.8 km · 79 m · 4.4 % · max 9.1 %—151 m
Unnamed climb119.4 km1.8 km · 45 m · 2.6 % · max 4.3 %—197 m
Wadi Dayqah141.5 km4.5 km · 215 m · 4.8 % · max 8.5 %4.1 km · 207 m · 5.1 %253 m

High point 384 m at 78.9 km; low point 1 m. Passes beneath Jabal Akhbar.

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).

Wadi Dayqah · full ascent, starts at 141.5 km

4.1 km at 5.1% · 207 m
50100150200250m8.9%3.1%0 km1234.2 km259 msteepest 8.9%
< 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: 82% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 16.6 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
44% main road · 41% major road · 11% minor road · 4% quiet street
Main roads
126.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
16.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
Muscat - Qurayyat - Sur Road (52 km), Al Mazari Road (34 km)
Surface
Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
Gradient
18% climbing · 18% descending · 64% flat
Steep sections
5.9 km over 5% · 0.5 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8.6% at 147.7 km
Longest descent
9.1 km from 80.2 km, dropping 229 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 36 km, from km 106 to 142. Along the route: 88 cafés and restaurants, 18 shops, 3 water points, 12 petrol stations and 6 public toilets.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmCafé · 90 m off route
  2. 0 kmFree drinking filtered water · drinking water · 70 m off route
  3. 1.2 kmToilets · 100 m off route
  4. 4.1 kmAl Makhan · café · on the route
  5. 7.8 kmScientific Pharmacy · pharmacy · 100 m off route
  6. 10 kmCoffee Shop · café · 210 m off route
  7. 10.7 kmAl Maha · petrol station · 80 m off route
  8. 12.6 kmWholesale of Different Food Products · supermarket · 160 m off route
  9. 24.8 kmice shake · café · 200 m off route
  10. 26.4 kmAdLife Hospital · hospital · 120 m off route
  11. 33.2 kmToilets · 100 m off route
  12. 37 kmمخبز صحار · bakery · 160 m off route
  13. 52.3 kmمستشفى المسرة · clinic · 280 m off route
  14. 54.2 kmSupermarket · on the route
  15. 54.2 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
  16. 87.3 kmConvenience store · 130 m off route
  17. 105.9 kmShell · petrol station · on the route
  18. 142.5 kmمطعم زهرة قريات · restaurant · 140 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 0 km — Al Qurm natural Park (attraction)
  • 6.1 km — Fun zone (attraction)
  • 122.8 km — Wadi Dayqah Dam Overlook (viewpoint)

Start and access

Starts at Muscat. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start

Water
Free drinking filtered water (70 m)
Food and coffee
The jungle (100 m), Coffee Shop (380 m), Al Maida restaurant (250 m)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch with no café, shop or water: 35.7 km from km 105.9 to 141.6
  • 126.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 16.6 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit or more

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

9 photographs from the road

Photo: Ondřej Žváček · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

About this route

Ridden by
Stefan
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording 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 Muscat (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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