Masafi Loop via Khor Fakkan and Fujairah

Route overview

Riders comfortable with 116.8 km in a day; with only 279 m of gain, the challenge is distance rather than climbing.

A 116.8 km loop from Masafi in the Hajar Mountains, crossing to the coast at Khor Fakkan and returning via Fujairah, with 279 m of climbing.

The loop leaves Masafi and drops briefly to its low point of 386 m at km 3.2 before the only sustained climb of the day: 4.8 km at 3.7%, gaining 178 m to 565 m, with a maximum of 6.8% and a viewpoint at km 5.7. The road continues to rise past Jabal Daftah (878 m) and other summits of 870 m and 848 m, reaching the high point of 595 m at km 16.8. A reservoir observation deck at km 23.4 marks the descent towards the coast at Khor Fakkan, around km 26.5. From there the route turns inland through Madha at km 35.5, Sa‘d and Hajar Bani Hamid, passing beneath Jabal Muhammad Bin Salim (516 m) and Jabal Half (569 m), with a viewpoint at km 62.9 and water at km 64.6. Mirbah and Qurayyah follow at km 69.6 and 71.2, then the coastal run through Sakamkam at km 83.2. The closing third heads back into the hills past Jabal Muthrad (380 m), Al Bithnah at km 100.1 and Jabal Salhal (605 m), through Daftah and Al Ghamarah before finishing at Masafi. All of the elevation gain falls in the first half, so the return is largely flat or gently graded.

Highlights

• 4.8 km climb at 3.7% out of Masafi to 565 m
• High point of 595 m at km 16.8, beneath Jabal Daftah (878 m)
• Reservoir observation deck at km 23.4
• Coastal stretch through Khor Fakkan, Mirbah and Qurayyah

Practical information

Surface

Paved

Route shape

Loop

Riding time

4½–6 hours riding

Season

Recorded in December and January at 18-26 °C, which suit the distance better than the summer months.

Know before you go

• No water or café listed between km 11 and km 64.6
• Recorded temperatures up to 26 °C, even in winter months

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