Explore the treasures of AlUla: tombs, rock formations and festivals
There are few places in the world where you can feel like a true explorer charting the unknown. AlUla is one of them.
In many historic destinations, the illusion of discovery is promptly shattered by a jungle of selfie sticks. But in AlUla, which is home to Saudi’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, deep in the desert in the northwestern region of the country, you might still be able to play out your fantasy of being an intrepid archeologist for a day.
Despite all the makings of a bucket list-topping global destination — ancient tombs that remain as the legacy of 7,000 years of human civilisation, stunning natural rock formations and canyons, a plethora of adventure sports options and cutting-edge art installations — AlUla remains largely off the global tourism radar, giving you plenty of space and time for reflection with the silence of the vast desert and the monumentality of its natural assets.
“It’s just incredible what’s there,” says Daniel Ponzo, an Italian-Swiss expat based in Jeddah and the managing director of Zahid Travel Group. “It’s a living museum. I’ve been there a few times, and what you see in terms of colour of the rocks, colour of the sand, shape of the rocks — it’s just unique. It’s one of the ultimate beauties of the world.”
Once a major trade hub along the ancient Incense Route connecting the Arabian Peninsula with the Mediterranean countries, the vast 22,000-square-kilometer territory is a lasting reminder of Saudi’s pre-Islamic history. The Nabataean civilization, which also built the remarkable city of Petra in Jordan, left behind 111 immaculately preserved tombs carved into the sandstone rocks at Hegra. Best of all, “you don’t see the crowds you see at other heritage sites,” Ponzo says. “You feel that you are living this experience alone.”
AlUla’s Historical Sites: Hegra, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and More
The wind-swept expanses of AlUla are a true living museum spanning hundreds of years of Arabian history. Among the many impressive highlights are the rock tombs of Hegra, the ancient capital of Dadan and its Lion Tombs, the “open library” of inscriptions in the rocks at Jabal Ikmah, the labyrinth of mudbrick houses in the 12th-century AlUla Old Town, the 18th-century Fort of Hegra and the Hijaz Railway Station.
DISCOVER MOREOutdoor Adventures in AlUla
The surreal rock outcroppings that dot the landscape are great for exploring on foot, bicycle, 4x4, Arabian horse — or with a bird’s-eye view via hot air balloon. “It’s very different from one rock to the other,” Ponzo says. “You can look and see whatever you want in those rocks.” One of the best known is Jabal Al Fil, or Elephant Rock, where you can even arrange to have a special dinner waiting for you. Adventure Canyon offers thrill-seekers plenty of alternative ways to appreciate the sights, such as dune buggies, hiking trails and a zip line. The region’s renowned dark skies make stargazing at AlGarameel and other locations a popular way to end the evening.
DISCOVER MOREDesert X, Winter at Tantora and More Culture in AlUla
You never know what world-class art might be waiting for you amid the dunes, from the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s signature infinity room at Winter at Tantora to Coachella’s Desert X AlUla festival bringing installations from El Seed, Gisela Colon, Sherin Guirguis and more to the sandy expanses. Musical sensations including Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Richie and Enrique Iglesias have all performed at AlUla’s man-made masterpiece, Maraya, the concert and entertainment venue that reflects its desert surroundings as the Guinness World Records’ largest mirrored building.
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