Exploring AlUla: Discover the Heart of the Arabian Kingdom
“Imagine towering sandstone cliffs, ancient ruins, and lush oases hidden in the desert sands—welcome to AlUla, Saudi Arabia's best-kept secret."
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently opened to tourists over the last decade. This was an opportunity for me to visit a country that not long ago was impossible to visit as a traveller. Since 2019, Saudi has wanted to boost its world image by pivoting to a tourism economy to help be symbolic of changes to the Kingdom.
Collaborating with 88 Destinations, I began my tour in Riyadh as part of the Saudi Heritage Route tour, which brought me to Ushaiger Village, Hail and Jubbah region. Learning about these regions opened my eyes into the hospitality and culture of Saudi Arabia. This led to visiting Alula, a region in the northwest of the country, which would become my ultimate highlight of my Saudi travel experience.
AlUla is situated in the Hejaz region in the northwest of Saudi Arabia.
Unveiling AlUla: First Impressions:
Situated in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, it features prominently in the history of Islam and pre-Islamic civilizations. AlUla was a market city on the incensed trade route that linked India and the Persian Gulf to the Levant and Europe.
A map outlining the AlUla region in Saudi Arabia.
Driving on the bus through the Arabian Desert, I arrived in Alula and began visiting with a visit to the AlUla Oasis. For context, an oasis is a series of trees and natural vegetation compound situated in the middle of the desert. It features water, palm trees, coconuts, limes and in the case of Saudi Arabia, dates growing on trees.
Exploring the AlUla Oasis in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia. The hiking trail takes around 2 hours and suitable for anyone to enjoy the scenery of the palm trees, mud houses and surrounding oasis.
The group and I ventured to Elephant Rock, where I met Amal, a Saudi local from Jeddah and spent time with her and her sister learning more about her life growing up in Saudi Arabia and sharing our commonalities of travelling the world. After having the opportunity to see Elephant Rock, I returned to the resort, eager to rest before the adventure awaiting me at Wadi Dissah.
Fun Fact: My group and I returned to Elephant Rock the next night to catch the sunset. Unfortunately, we got back late and didn’t return in time for the sunset, but had a chance to see a different perspective of the rock at nighttime.
Elephant Rock: a rock formation that is majestic and symbolic for it’s elephant shape and attraction into AlUla. A potential commercialized spot for tourists in a few short years.
The Magic of Wadi Dissa:
A three hour journey to Wadi Dissa rewarded an experience to travel inside the 15km long canyon through Jebel Qaraqir, a sandstone massif lying about 80km south of the city of Tabuk. The vegetation inside the canyon and the rock formations are truly magnificent to see. Riding in open jeeps, driving through narrow mud roads, and strong winds made for an exciting journey. The adventure was thrilling when the strong winds blew off my hat and miraculously held still on the road where the driver of our vehicle successfully retrieved it for me for a thrill to the end of the adventure in Wadi Dissa.
The canyon of Wadi Dissa offers a magical vibe of natural rock formation and vegetation that feels straight out of a movie set.
Kingdom of Hegra: A Journey Through Time:
AlUla brought one last highlight when my group and I ventured into the ancient Kingdom of Hegra. a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by the same Nabatean civilization that created Petra in Jordan, Hegra boasts an astonishing 88 tombs and cities carved into the sandstone.
The ancient Kingdom of Hegra in AlUla built by the Nabatean civilization. Relatively unknown to travellers, this has potential to be a commercialized tourist spot in the near future.
Featuring around 88 cities and tombs, the tour group and I exoplored many intricate tombs before arriving at Qasar Al-Farid, meaning the “Lonely Castle” and the most famous tomb in Hegra, having been constructed in the first century CE. Visiting this marvel after gave me a profound appreciation for the craftsmanship and history of this ancient civilization.
Standing outside Qasir Al-Farid in the Kingdom of Hegra. The most famous tomb in Hegra, it was like travelling through time.
Meeting A New Traveller:
Meeting Amber, a woman from the UK who has travelled to 80+ countries and whom shares a passion of being a Formula 1 fan was inspired by my stories travelling as someone on the autism spectrum, enhanced my experience throughout Hegra. Travelling across Saudi Arabia, Amber provided me with some insights about Medina, the next destination and highlight for my experience in Saudi Arabia.
How to Get to AlUla:
For my journey to AlUla, I traveled with 88 Destinations on a tour bus. While this option worked for me, it may not be ideal for autistic travelers due to the long travel time (around 3.5 hours from Hail) and the potential for unpredictable situations that could cause anxiety.
Instead, I recommend flying directly to AlUla International Airport (ULH) for a smoother and more convenient experience. Direct flights are available from major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, and Doha, making it the best choice for autistic travelers seeking a more comfortable journey.
Old Town AlUla featuring silk shops, cafes and restaurants for travellers to explore during some free time in AlUla.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend AlUla as a must visit destination in Saudi Arabia? Absolute yes! This region offers everything Saudi Arabia stands for as a country from natural rock formations, an historic old town with traditional Saudi and modern architecture, the ancient Kingdom of Hegra, Elephant Rock where locals and foreign travellers can meet and hang out and some of the finest resort accommodations in the Arabian Peninsula region.
Have you ever visited AlUla or a destination that surprised you? Share your story in the comments below!
