Into the Ancient Lands of AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Itinerary

• I landed in AlUla (which has its own small international airport) from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. There, I stayed in a furnished apartment and rented a car.

• First, I visited Al-Hegra historical site, a UNESCO world heritage site, corresponding to the ancient booming city of the Nabatean civilization. This is where you can find those renowned tombs carved in the mountains, with the largest one being Qasr Al-Farid.

• Then, I paid a visit to Dadan, the ancient capital of the Dadanite civilization with more tombs carved in the mountains in an open-air museum style. Nearby, Jabal Ikmah holds ancient carvings and writings on the side of the mountain that tell tails of these ancient peoples.

• I also paid a visit to the Elephant Rock, a solitary rock formation in the middle of the desert that resembles an elephant through millennia of continuous wind erosions. This is a picturesque place with comfortable seating and several restaurants/cafes nearby. At night, there are light shows that are illuminated on this rock

• Also, do not forget to pass by Harrat viewpoint, a nice viewpoint on top of a rock formation overlooking the vast desert (with its rock formations, towns, and beautiful sunsets), alongside a luxurious restaurant.

• Finally, you cannot complete a trip of AlUla without paying visit to its old town and markets.

• Added bonus: I did a desert hike through what’s called the “Hidden Valley” with a guided tour. This place is also fantastic for tracing back the old caravan routes, with writing dotting the rocks all around.