Al Baha's lavishly green mountain landscape is characterized by forested slopes, fertile valleys and ancient qasbah, eye-catching stone watchtowers. Al Baha is also home to one of the most beautiful villages in Saudi Arabia: Tea Ain.
Southwestern Al Baha is more like the Pyrenees or Caucasus than the Middle East. The lavishly green mountain landscape is characterized by forested slopes and fertile valleys with apricot and pomegranate orchards.
Within driving distance of Al-Baha City, no less than forty high-altitude nature reserves vie for your attention. The wilderness of the Raghadan Forest Park has been curbed and made accessible to the public. At the top, a plateau awaits with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the winding King Fahd road, with its many hairpin turns. If you are lucky you will spot baboons on the slopes below.
Worn out? Then venture onto the landscaped grassy strip for the Saudi's number one leisure activity: an outdoor picnic or barbecue. Perhaps Raghadan Forest Park is a little too raked for you. In that case, drive on to Khairah Forest Park or Dhaher Ghadaa Park.
The mountain range that dominates Al Baha is covered with forest and dotted with ancient qasbah. Whether there are actually a thousand and one, as ancient and proud villagers claim, is debatable. But one thing is certain: the eye-catching stone structures are an important part of the cultural landscape. Some qasbah have survived the test of time. Most, however, are in dilapidated condition.
The qasbah were raised by the Ghamid and Zahran - traditionally the two dominant tribes in Al Baha - and used as grain stores and watchtowers. Many centuries ago, such a tower stood on every ridge and above every valley. They enabled mountain dwellers to keep watch over their villages, plantations and access roads. Indeed, in a land that is predominantly dry and flat, elevation offers a tremendous strategic advantage over rivals.
The impressive topography of Mount Shada Al-Asfal (1,700 meters above sea level) in Baha's Al-Makhwah Governorate tells the story of a region that dates back millions of years. The area's unusual rock formations are the result of continuous erosion.
According to a geological study, Mount Shada is about 763 million years old. Wind and rain have thus had ample time, resulting in magnificent formations that you can admire today. Its smooth rocks give it a pale blue color.
Many rock surfaces are etched with Talmudic writings, inscriptions and drawings, some up to 4,000 years old, and several caves have been turned into popular tourist attractions. The area is also known for growing Shadwi coffee.
The Ghamid and Zahran also expressed their stone carving skills in other places. High in the mountains, atop a marble outcrop, lies one of Saudi Arabia's most beautiful villages. From a distance, Tea Ain is reminiscent of a Tuscan citadel. The cube-shaped houses are made of slate and stacked on top of each other like LEGO blocks. Narrow alleys run between them. In Europe, such a historic village would be bulging with tourists. Here you are one of the few.
Dhee Ain has known how to sustain itself for centuries with the water from a local spring. Banana plants, date palms and other tropical surprises grow at the bottom of the hillside. Ain means both "spring" and "eye" in Arabic. Most likely, the village gets its name from the aforementioned spring. Residents, however, hold a different theory. According to them, the village was founded on the spot where, hundreds of years ago, an ancient Yemenite searched for water with a golden divining rod. When he hit target, the rod flew out of his hand and into his eye, resulting in the loss of one ain, or eye. Whatever the story, everyone can see that Dhee Ain is a jewel. During the golden hour, the sun drenches the place in a magical glow.
Further south, in the shadow of the mighty Jebel Mussala Ibrahim peaks, lies Sheda. The ancient ruins and terraces, green slopes and dry riverbeds surrounding this back-in-the-age village are a dream for adventure-seeking travelers.
A visit to Tea Ain can be perfectly combined with your stay in Djedda and/or Mecca.
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