Saudi Arabia is Islam’s birthplace and spiritual home, represented by the cities of Mecca and Medina. The country is rich in attractions, from echoes of “Lawrence of Arabia” along the Hejaz Railway to the sculpted red dunes of romantic deserts with the carved temples of Madain Saleh, known as the second Petra, and the sophisticated rock art at Jubbah. The pristine, azure waters of the Red Sea ache to be explored. In the south, the jewel in the Kingdom’s crown, Asir, reveals breathtaking mountain scenery where mysterious and spectacular villages wait to be discovered.
We did visit Al-Qarah Mountain because it’s relatively close to Dammam, and it was a nice break to cool down in the caves before the long drive to UAE. Caves were formed due to the dissolving process of water-soluble rocks, the collapse of the upper rock layers due to abrasion, and...
We stopped at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as “Ithra” (‘enrichment’ in Arabic). It opened in 2017 and immediately became an icon and symbol of changes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And not only because of its jaw-dropping design, which...
It is a fascinating place to witness the production of raw salt from a vast area of land bordered to its west by the massive dunes of the Ad Dahna desert. Although it has been famous since ancient times for its high-quality salt, it produces about 200,000 tons of salt annually and is...
The historic courtyards of Shaqra’s heritage village feature beautiful triangular windows, roofs, and ornately carved wooden doors. We strolled around the old market and its traditional shops before our drive to Riyadh.
Parking location – Shaqra: 25.255977N 45.254603E
Situated about 200 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, near the town of Shaqra, Ushaiger Heritage Village is one of the oldest villages in the region. Historically, Bedouins first settled here 1,500 years ago. Ushaiger quickly became a popular stopping point for pilgrims crossing to Makkah...
Buraydah is a town in north-central Saudi Arabia. It is 650 meters above sea level in the largest valley of Saudi Arabia, the 600 km long Wadi al-Rummah. It has long been a commercial rival of ʿUnayzah to the south, at one time controlling the export of Arab horses and monopolizing the...
Nestled between Mount Shammer to the north and Mount Salma to the south, the city of Hail was once the capital of all the Arabian Desert and home to legends like Hatem Al Tai, the Arabian poet whose altruism earned him spots in stories like “One Thousand and One Nights.” As an...
Already second Continental tyre exploded during our ride to the forgotten house of Hatem Al Tai – a symbol of generosity and chivalry. Hatem Al Tai (died 578) was an Arab poet of the Tai tribe who lived in the region of the Aja and Salma mountains, currently known as Hail, in...
The oasis Jubbah lies on the old caravan road linking Dumat Al-Jandal with Ha’il, surrounded by the vast Nefud Desert. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions on the rock face. The carvings found on the Jibal Umm Sinman cover...
Our last stop today was Sakākā, an oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia. It lies on an old caravan route from the Mediterranean Sea coast to the central and southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Sakākā lies north of the desert of Al-Nafūd and northeast of the Al-Jawf oasis. Nowadays, it...