We were stupid enough to follow news from the end of the year 2022 that Khaled Al-Enazi, a Saudi professional photographer from AlUla, spotted a 550-million-year-old formation in the shape of a fish. We followed Google Navigation and parked our truck on the side of the road. Then, it took...
After a tough week at the Dakar Rally 2024, when we didn’t get much sleep, we decided to revisit the Al Ula oasis. We were here last time just eight months ago, and to our surprise, a lot has changed here. The entrance gate to the old town disappeared, and several other parts of the...
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 near Al Hofuf were formed due to the dissolving process of water-soluble rocks, the collapse of the upper rock layers due to...
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...
Wadi Disah is nestled between the towering escarpments in the northern region of Saudi Arabia in the Tabuk Province. “The Valley of Palm Trees” lies 400 meters above sea level, surrounded by massive sandstone cliffs. The valley has two entrances; however, the southern entrance is more...
After a heavy storm, we drove to the Arch (Rainbow) Rock. It is called Rainbow Rock because it looks like an arch or a rainbow with two clouds. Near the Rainbow Rock are other rock formations, such as the Dancing Rocks, two large rock pillars that appear to be dancing together. But we did...
Jabal Ikmah is an open library of inscriptions, rock art, and petroglyphs set in a stunning desert canyon. The ticket costs 60 SAR, and the tour runs at 08:45 and 16:45 from Winter Park (duration 2,5 hours, including Dadan). Nearby, Dadan was a caravan way station for many people, and one...
Amongst the most significant discoveries in all of Al-Ula is the city of Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms. The town built meticulously from stone and astride the valley’s oasis, dates back between the late 9th and early 8th century BC (Kingdom of Dadan) and 5th–2nd...
Less than 22 km from Al-Ula is Hegra (also known as Madain Saleh or Mada’in Salih), built amid rugged desert canyons and mountainous terrain. It lies in the most stunning setting that bears testimony to the Nabataean civilization. The ticket costs 95 SAR, and the tour runs at 08:00...
We spent a few busy days at the kingdom’s most famous destination. Al-Ula is a living museum of preserved tombs of ancient cultures, historic dwellings, dramatic rock formations, sand-swept dunes, and natural wonders. For thousands of years, northwest Saudi Arabia attracted people...