Why this ride
A 104 km round trip from Tyre - roughly 1 h 46 in the saddle. On the way it passes Qalaat Chama’, Qalaat Tibnin and back through Qalaat Chama’. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Tyre and Qalaat Tibnin
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 104 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 1 h 46
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Tyre
Tyre was already ancient when Alexander the Great arrived in 332 before Christ. Then it was an island city just off the coast of what is now southern Lebanon, famously rich and famously stubborn, and when its citizens refused to open their gates, Alexander built a causeway out to the island and besieged it for months. Sand piled up against that causeway over the centuries, and the island became the peninsula you see today, with the modern city of Tyre spreading across it and the old harbour still busy with fishing boats.
Read the complete Tyre write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tyre is where the day begins. Next is Qalaat Chama’.
2. Qalaat Chama’
Before anything else: this is one of the most sensitive places on any of these routes. Qalaat Chama, or Shamaa castle, stands on a hilltop in southern Lebanon, a few kilometres north of the border with Israel and inland from Naqoura, in an area that has seen repeated conflict, including heavy fighting in recent years, and that many governments advise against visiting under any circumstances. Damage to historic sites in the area has been reported, and conditions may have changed. Do not go without checking current official travel advice, and if in doubt, do not go at all.
Read the complete Qalaat Chama’ write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Qalaat Chama’ comes up about 20 km into the recorded legs. Next is Qalaat Tibnin.
3. Qalaat Tibnin
Tibnin is a castle on a hill in south Lebanon, and the story it tells is one of rival crowns trading the same piece of ground. The Crusaders built it in the early twelfth century, around 1105, under Hugh of St Omer, and called it Toron. It sat between the coast at Tyre and the road to Damascus, and from its walls a garrison could see raiders coming a long way off. Saladin took it in 1187, and the fortress changed hands and shape for centuries afterwards, ending up a half-ruined hill crowned with pale stone, with a village of the same name spread around it.
Read the complete Qalaat Tibnin write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 52 km into the recorded legs you reach Qalaat Tibnin. Next is back through Qalaat Chama’.
4. back through Qalaat Chama’
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Qalaat Chama’ write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Qalaat Chama’, late in the day. Next is Tyre.
5. Tyre
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Tyre write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Tyre. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Tyre to Qalaat Chama’
Tyre → Qalaat Chama’ is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Qalaat Chama’ to Qalaat Tibnin
Qalaat Chama’ → Qalaat Tibnin is 32 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Qalaat Tibnin to back through Qalaat Chama’
Qalaat Tibnin → back through Qalaat Chama’ is 32 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Qalaat Chama’ to Tyre
back through Qalaat Chama’ → Tyre is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
More motorcycle rides nearby
- Qalaat Chama’ and Qalaat Deir Kifa · 92 km
- Junayn Garden and Qalaat al-Chakif · 180 km