Dubai to Kalba Pass
Discussion
Hello all
I just moved to Dubai recently and am loving lots about the place, but not the endless treks up/down SZR every day. In a bid for automotive freedom, I fancy having a bit of a run out of Dubai someday in search of fun roads to drive. You know the sort. I've seen from old threads the Hatta to Kalba Road is definitely worth a trip. I have the navigation skills of Speckled Jim, the deceased carrier pigeon from a certain cunning comedic show in the 90's...so my starter for 10 is this road still worth searching out and if so, will a muppet like me have a high chance of getting stranded in the desert and lost to the world....? Google maps suggests not, but then the frenzied road-building out here seems to throw google maps and satnavs into a spin at the best of times...!
many thanks
I just moved to Dubai recently and am loving lots about the place, but not the endless treks up/down SZR every day. In a bid for automotive freedom, I fancy having a bit of a run out of Dubai someday in search of fun roads to drive. You know the sort. I've seen from old threads the Hatta to Kalba Road is definitely worth a trip. I have the navigation skills of Speckled Jim, the deceased carrier pigeon from a certain cunning comedic show in the 90's...so my starter for 10 is this road still worth searching out and if so, will a muppet like me have a high chance of getting stranded in the desert and lost to the world....? Google maps suggests not, but then the frenzied road-building out here seems to throw google maps and satnavs into a spin at the best of times...!
many thanks
echo the above. Lots of cameras for the first 50km (which is a long straight road anyways) but once you hit the mountains - lots of fun.
As a little side trip can I suggest the following:
On your way to Kalba, you will go through x2 tunnels. After the first tunnel you will make a small decent, at the bottom and just before a sweeping left hander, you will see an exit (not sure what it is called). Take that exit and then turn right at the T-junction. Its a very nice road to "crack on" along. At the end of the this road, you have to turn right then after 100m make a U-turn and you are heading for the Kalba corniche - job jobbed.
As a little side trip can I suggest the following:
On your way to Kalba, you will go through x2 tunnels. After the first tunnel you will make a small decent, at the bottom and just before a sweeping left hander, you will see an exit (not sure what it is called). Take that exit and then turn right at the T-junction. Its a very nice road to "crack on" along. At the end of the this road, you have to turn right then after 100m make a U-turn and you are heading for the Kalba corniche - job jobbed.
The Kalba road also links up to the Hatta squiggle - the nice little stretch through the hills behind Hatta Fort hotel. To be honest, there's loads of nice roads out that way.
Best option is to head out early and start exploring - really no chance to get 'lost' per se. Worth carrying your passport with you just in case you end up on the Hatta road and drive through the little bit of Oman - you won't get past the border 'post' without it, not that they stamp it or anything.
And yorky - agree on the side road fun, drove the Veyron down that way a few years back in a previous life; utterly destroyed that road - watch out for the yumps though, getting air under the wheels of a Bugatti isn't recommended!
Best option is to head out early and start exploring - really no chance to get 'lost' per se. Worth carrying your passport with you just in case you end up on the Hatta road and drive through the little bit of Oman - you won't get past the border 'post' without it, not that they stamp it or anything.
And yorky - agree on the side road fun, drove the Veyron down that way a few years back in a previous life; utterly destroyed that road - watch out for the yumps though, getting air under the wheels of a Bugatti isn't recommended!
thb said:
And yorky - agree on the side road fun, drove the Veyron down that way a few years back in a previous life; utterly destroyed that road - watch out for the yumps though, getting air under the wheels of a Bugatti isn't recommended!
If you turn left instead of right, that road is pretty good. Agree on those "yumps". A veyron would have destroyed those roadsThis is why PH is The Business - many thanks all, will pore over the above and get planning. Car is in workshop at moment but it sounds like there's plenty fun to be had. Definitely like the idea of multi-car forays so when the car's back and am a bit more settled (still new here) would love to take folk up on the offer of tag-alongs sometime....
This is the right time of the year to be going out on drives. Lots of car and Biker clubs are currently out every Friday AM until around March next year (from what I saw on a quick trip to Hatta last Friday).
As I said, Evolve.ae will be having a drive on 22 Nov, BMW Club have a drive on 15 Nov. Both look as if they are taking the same route.
As I said, Evolve.ae will be having a drive on 22 Nov, BMW Club have a drive on 15 Nov. Both look as if they are taking the same route.
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