Many ancient civilisations have been thrilled by AlUla’s treasures, but modern travellers have yet to truly discover it. Explore this gem’s rich culture and adventure before everyone else does...
AlUla’s terracotta-hued landscape is dripping with heritage and there are few places where that’s more true than Hegra, the southern principle city after Petra. Carved out of stunning rocky outcrops, the Nabataean Kingdom’s second city is arguably more dramatic than its better-known cousin. A tour by vintage Land Rover with a rawi (a local story teller) is the best way to explore its 110-plus atmospheric tombs. AlUla isn’t just a one-hit heritage wonder. One of the most significant discoveries is the ancient Abrabian city of Dadan, built meticulously from stone and boasting the Lion Tombs, more than a dozen tombs cut high into the red-rock cliff. Nearby, Jabal Ikmah has fine rock art and the stone and mud-brick structures of AlUla Old Town is one of the most impressive examples of time-honoured northern Arab architecture.
AlUla is also a haven for adrenalin-seekers. Its sandscapes are ripe for every type of adventurer. The 8km-long Adventure Trail winds past millennia-old rock art whose drawings are like living storybooks, while the Oasis View Trail’s finale serves up a palm-filled panorama from atop Alfath mountain. For a triathlon AlUla-style, the Twisted Maze Hike has you trekking, climbing and swimming through the canyons of Madakheel. That’s not all: in AlUla you can take to two wheels and explore the desert landscape by bike, or try your hand at camel trekking in the Ashar Valley.
AlUla’s unspoilt landscapes are well worth protecting. To help conserve its native species, Sharaan Nature Reserve was established as the region’s first protected area. A fine way to explore the reserve is on a 4X4 safari tour which will take you past the copper-tinged canyons and wildflower-freckled valleys, following designated paths to minimise the impact on the environment. But nothing says classic Arabia like camel trekking in the Ashar Valley with Bedouin guides who will share their culture with you such as falconry displays.
For somewhere still remarkably undiscovered, AlUla has many pinch-me moments. A helicopter flight offers a fresh perspective of AlUla’s richest treasures, including Hegra and Elephant Rock, with the latter enchanting at dawn or dusk with its colour-changing rocks. But in AlUla, it’s after dark where the magic begins, as the region’s remoteness lends itself to ink-black skies and ethereal stargazing. Gharameel’s bewildering rock formations provide the perfect setting for the ultimate after-dark experience, where you’ll sit on a woven carpet with the bright stars above as a rawi shares cosmic tales à la Arabian Nights, an evening you won’t soon forget.
Find out how you can have an adventure like no other in AlUla with the help of the experts at Windows on the Wild.
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