Cyclists.com

Muscat – Wadi Dayqah

140 km road cycling loop1,407 m climbing5–7 hoursGPX

Muscat, Muhafazat Masqat, Oman · Road

A hilly 140 km road cycling loop from Fuad al Hadu, Muhafazat Masqat through Muhaydith, Madam and Dīm, with 1,407 m of climbing over Wadi Dayqah. Most of it (99 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane. There is a 51 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 2–53).

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Saturday 24th January 2026

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At a glance

Best for
Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
Distance
139.6 km
Loop
Elevation gain
1,407 m
10 m per km
Riding time
5–7 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
99% paved · 1% unpaved
Traffic
Mostly main roads
99 km on main roads without a cycle lane
Food & water
Longest gap 51 km
6 cafés and restaurants · 4 shops · 1 water point · 5 petrol stations · 1 public toilet
Best months
Dec to Feb
Muscat climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Fuad al Hadu

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,407 m
Distance
140 km
0100200300400m0 km50100140 km384 m · highest, at 26.2 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Fuad al Hadu
  2. Muhaydithkm 2
  3. Madamkm 5
  4. Dīmkm 10
  5. Mazra‘ Sumayrkm 32
  6. Wadi Dayqahkm 89
  7. Makhādahkm 103
  8. Mazra‘at al Hātihkm 108
  9. Fiyāḑkm 113
  10. Fuad al Hadukm 140

Starting near the towns of Fuad al Hadu and Saadi, the route heads through several small towns including Madam, Dīm, and ‘Arqī. The terrain includes multiple climbs: a 4.9 km climb from 20.2 km gaining 118 m at 2.4% average gradient, and other shorter climbs with max gradients up to 9.7%. The highest point is at 384 m around 25.6 km. The longest descent of 7.3 km commences at 45.3 km, dropping 224 m in elevation.

The route is mostly paved (99%) with 63.2 km on main roads and 35.8 km on major roads, including 34.1 km on the Muscat - Qurayyat - Sur Road and 34.1 km on Al Mazari Road. There are 99 km on main roads without cycle lanes. Facilities include a café, supermarket, and drinking water near 1.7 km, petrol stations at 53.4 km and beyond, and toilets around 70.3 km. The Wadi Dayqah Dam Overlook viewpoint lies 381 m off route at 70 km. The route passes beneath Jabal Akhbar at 77.8 km and returns to Muscat near medical facilities including Al Masarra Hospital.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs Wadi Dayqah (4.1 km at 5.1 %).
  • Tops out at 384 m, 25.6 km in.
  • A 7.3 km descent dropping 224 m.

Highlights

  • Wadi Dayqah Dam Overlook viewpoint at 70 km
  • Longest descent: 7.3 km dropping 224 m from 45.3 km
  • Climb at 20.2 km; 4.9 km at 2.4% gradient
  • Passes beneath Jabal Akhbar at 77.8 km

Along the route

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

Places passed

  1. Madam 4.5 km
  2. Shukayli 6.2 km
  3. Dīm 9.7 km
  4. ‘Arqī 20 km
  5. Mazra‘ Sumayr 32.3 km
  6. al Mazari 69.5 km
  7. Makhādah 102.5 km
  8. Sawāqim 103.9 km
  9. Mazra‘at al Hātih 107.8 km
  10. Hayfadh 112.8 km
  11. Fiyāḑ 112.8 km
  12. Hamah 118 km
  13. Salil 127.5 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 climb20.2 km4.9 km · 118 m · 2.4 % · max 3.3 %—372 m
Unnamed climb37.9 km2.2 km · 52 m · 2.4 % · max 4.4 %—198 m
Unnamed climb41 km2.5 km · 75 m · 3.1 % · max 8 %—267 m
Unnamed climb53.5 km1.9 km · 61 m · 3.3 % · max 8.2 %—114 m
Unnamed climb60.6 km1.9 km · 79 m · 4.1 % · max 9.5 %—150 m
Unnamed climb70.7 km1.3 km · 44 m · 3.4 % · max 7.1 %—197 m
Wadi Dayqah89.1 km4.2 km · 213 m · 5.1 % · max 9.7 %4.1 km · 207 m · 5.1 %251 m

High point 384 m at 25.6 km; low point 37 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 89.1 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: 71% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.

Roads
47% main road · 26% major road · 24% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% other roads and tracks
Main roads
99 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Main roads used
Muscat - Qurayyat - Sur Road (34 km), Al Mazari Road (34 km)
Surface
Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
Gradient
19% climbing · 23% descending · 58% flat
Steep sections
5.2 km over 5% · 1.8 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 13.9% at 0 km
Longest descent
7.3 km from 45.3 km, dropping 224 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 51 km, from km 2 to 53. Along the route: 6 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 1 water point, 5 petrol stations and 1 public toilet.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 1.7 kmCafé · 120 m off route
  2. 1.7 kmSupermarket · 100 m off route
  3. 1.7 kmDrinking water · 110 m off route
  4. 53.4 kmShell · petrol station · 80 m off route
  5. 70.3 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  6. 90.3 kmمطعم زهرة قريات · restaurant · 100 m off route
  7. 90.3 kmOmanoil · petrol station · 70 m off route
  8. 104.3 kmCafé · 30 m off route
  9. 104.3 kmConvenience store · 110 m off route
  10. 107.6 kmShell · petrol station · 90 m off route
  11. 114.6 kmOmanoil · petrol station · 120 m off route
  12. 133.9 kmRestaurant · 340 m off route
  13. 135.7 kmمستشفى المسرة · clinic · 240 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 70 km — Wadi Dayqah Dam Overlook (viewpoint)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 51.4 km from 2 km to 53.4 km
  • 99 km on main roads without cycle lanes

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

15 photographs from the road

Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Date ridden
Route line
Built from 2 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 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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