Al Ula, A Must Visit In Saudi Arabia
"Don't tell me how educated you are; tell me how much you have traveled." Prophet Mohammed PBUH
3/22/20246 min read
Jonathan and I lived in Saudi Arabia for over 3 years and were fortunate enough to witness a shift towards tourism becoming a highlight for the country. There are numerous great places to explore in the Kingdom, many of which have only recently opened their doors to the world. (At the time of writing this, the country has now introduced E-Visas for tourists.) Al Ula is one such gem.
Located in the Medina Province, the area of AlUla is best known for Hegra, although it may not always be the first site highlighted on tourism platforms. You're likely to hear about Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal Al-Fil, the Maraya concert hall, the old town, and various art exhibits. However, people truly flock to AlUla for Al-Hijr, or Hegra, the first site in Saudi Arabia to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This remarkable site boasts 110 Nabataean tombs, the same people who built the renowned city of Petra in Jordan. AlUla is truly awe-inspiring and definitely worth a visit.
During our stay, we explored Hegra (plan for at least 3 hours here), the Desert X art exhibit (plan for 2-3 hours), took a tour of the old town (allocate half a day and enjoy lunch), admired Elephant Rock (visit around dinner time to see it illuminated at night), and drove around visiting Maraya (just stopped for pictures) and other local sites. If you're into wellness, there are scheduled retreats for yoga, camping, hiking, and rock climbing available in the area.
When we visited in 2022, accommodation options were limited, and the rental car pickup location was about 30 minutes away from the airport. With the help of a Saudi friend, we secured a room at Sahary Resort (saharyalularesort.com). While the room was comfortable, the highlight of our stay was dining at Masar Yafour, a restaurant tucked into the canyon behind the hotel, offering a stunning ambiance.
Here are some restaurants we recommend in the area:
Salt: Enjoy a delicious burger while watching the sunset at Elephant Rock. This food truck is conveniently located in front of Elephant Rock, making it a perfect spot for dinner.
Somewhere: Located close to Old Town in the Oasis of AlUla, Somewhere offers a great atmosphere and serves farm-to-table cuisine.
OKTO at Harrat Viewpoint: Worth the drive for the breathtaking views (arrive before sunset), OKTO also serves delicious food.
Things are evolving rapidly in AlUla, so it's essential to stay updated. Check the www.experiencealula.com website before planning your trip, where you can also book tickets in advance. As tourism grows, certain areas, especially in the Old Town, may shut down after the season ends. We visited in March and noticed some closures, so keep this in mind when planning your visit.
Maraya- words can't describe the beauty or the amount of Windex to keep it clean.
A walking tour of the Old City of Al Ula is a must!
The view of Elephant Rock from Salt.
The restaurant Somewhere....who's on first?
Amazing views from Okto. Don't miss the sunset
On the road to Okto. Our new friend wanted a snack.
Jonathan and I lived in Saudi Arabia for over 3 years and were fortunate enough to witness a shift towards tourism becoming a highlight for the country. There are numerous great places to explore in the Kingdom, many of which have only recently opened their doors to the world. (At the time of writing this, the country has now introduced E-Visas for tourists.) Al Ula is one such gem.
Located in the Medina Province, the area of AlUla is best known for Hegra, although it may not always be the first site highlighted on tourism platforms. You're likely to hear about Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal Al-Fil, the Maraya concert hall, the old town, and various art exhibits. However, people truly flock to AlUla for Al-Hijr, or Hegra, the first site in Saudi Arabia to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This remarkable site boasts 110 Nabataean tombs, the same people who built the renowned city of Petra in Jordan. AlUla is truly awe-inspiring and definitely worth a visit.
During our stay, we explored Hegra (plan for at least 3 hours here), the Desert X art exhibit (plan for 2-3 hours), took a tour of the old town (allocate half a day and enjoy lunch), admired Elephant Rock (visit around dinner time to see it illuminated at night), and drove around visiting Maraya (just stopped for pictures) and other local sites. If you're into wellness, there are scheduled retreats for yoga, camping, hiking, and rock climbing available in the area.
When we visited in 2022, accommodation options were limited, and the rental car pickup location was about 30 minutes away from the airport. With the help of a Saudi friend, we secured a room at Sahary Resort (saharyalularesort.com). While the room was comfortable, the highlight of our stay was dining at Masar Yafour, a restaurant tucked into the canyon behind the hotel, offering a stunning ambiance.
Here are some restaurants we recommend in the area:
Salt: Enjoy a delicious burger while watching the sunset at Elephant Rock. This food truck is conveniently located in front of Elephant Rock, making it a perfect spot for dinner.
Somewhere: Located close to Old Town in the Oasis of AlUla, Somewhere offers a great atmosphere and serves farm-to-table cuisine.
OKTO at Harrat Viewpoint: Worth the drive for the breathtaking views (arrive before sunset), OKTO also serves delicious food.
Things are evolving rapidly in AlUla, so it's essential to stay updated. Check the www.experiencealula.com website before planning your trip, where you can also book tickets in advance. As tourism grows, certain areas, especially in the Old Town, may shut down after the season ends. We visited in March and noticed some closures, so keep this in mind when planning your visit.
