The desert treasures of AlUla

Where the Silk Road, the Incense Road and the Spice Road meet you will find one of Saudi Arabia's pearls: AlUla. Wander through the desert among jagged rock formations, discover ancient rock tombs and unwind under endless starry skies.

Ask Saudis about the pearls of their country and they will enthusiastically tell you about the beauty of AlUla. The Biblical city grew into one of the most important sites of the Nabatean kingdom, where the Silk Road, the Incense Road and the Spice Road meet. The desert around AlUla is full of jagged, wind-sculpted rock formations and the spectacular ruins of Hegra, but AlUla is also the place to unwind under endless starry skies or in a luxurious canyon villa.

Discover Hegra, the new Petra

For two thousand years, the local Bedouin tribes paid little attention to the 111 rock tombs of Hegra, until this archaeological playground from the Nabataean kingdom recently regained interest. Sparingly, because while you are far from being the only visitor in that other Nabataean city – Petra in Jordan – you will still find more desert animals than human visitors in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra. Hegra is located about half an hour's drive from AlUla.

Get lost in the Old City - AlUla

The old town of AlUla is a labyrinth of nearly nine hundred mud houses. Wandering around the alleys of AlUla is like traveling back in time, when the merchants of the Incense Road offered their wares to pilgrims en route from Damascus to the holy city of Makkah. In the shadow of the Rock Mosque and the tenth-century Musa bin Nusayr Castle, travelers sought coolness and regained strength in the eateries of ancient AlUla, where the scent of spices still recalls days gone by.

AlUla Moments is AlUla's new home for events. Launched at the end of 2021, the brand introduced four new festivals to celebrate AlUla's stories, reveal its secrets and celebrate local and international cultures. With 7,000 years of human civilizations and home to some of the most advanced ancient kingdoms of antiquity, AlUla is no stranger to social gatherings and cultural celebrations.

See the sun set behind the Elephant Rock

Anyone who has seen the rock tombs of Hegra knows the craftsmanship of the Nabataeans, but the absolute champion of sculpture is nature. The Siamese Twin Rock, the Face Rock and especially the Elephant Rock are frenzied rock formations eroded by wind and water that you can spend a full day looking at, marveling at the ever-changing colors. Lean back and watch as the golden light of the setting sun seems to bring the fifty-meter-high sandstone beast to life.

Unwind at Habitas

Hidden among the palms of a millennia-old oasis in the Ashar Valley are the 96 villas of Habitas AlUla. Ancient tribes like the Nabataeans already knew how to find the desert canyons where this five-star resort is built. You might too, but the stresses of everyday life don't stand a chance. As soon as you step inside the canyon villa lobby that looks like a khaima, the traditional tent of the Bedouins, you come to rest amid Saduta carpets, Arabic coffee and fresh dates. Habitas' themes that you will see reflected in everything are: music, wellness, adventure, culture, learning and culinary.

Marvel at the mirage of Maraya

No, your brain is not fooling you because you have been wandering the desert for too long. AlUla may be known for its fascinating history, but it is a brand-new building that amazes the most. Between sand dunes and mountain gorges shimmers the cube-shaped Maraya concert hall, at 9,740 square meters the largest mirror building in the world. Reflecting the surrounding natural beauty of the Ashar Valley, the 10,000-square-meter concert hall is a stunning example of how modern Arab architecture blends seamlessly with its surroundings. Leading international artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Alice Keys have already performed in the five hundred-seat concert hall.

Spot gazelles and ostriches

Saudi Arabia may not be the most obvious safari destination, but its unforgiving desert landscape is home to a surprising array of wildlife. The Sharaan Nature Reserve aims to protect this rich biodiversity and is the scene of an ambitious project to reintroduce the critically endangered Arabian leopard in the Hijaz Mountains. Book a tour and venture into the area by 4WD—with a little luck, you'll come face to face with a mountain gazelle or ostrich.

Learn about the night sky like the Bedouins

Bring out your inner nomad and trek deep into the desert on your way to one of the Dark Sky Discovery Sites. At these sites, it is still truly dark and you will stare at the starry sky as the Bedouins did generations ago. And there are more star attractions, such as a moonlight camel ride, listening to stories by the campfire and sleeping in a Bedouin tent.

Interesting fact: AlUla was recently awarded the prestigious International Dark Sky Park certification, recognizing its pristine night sky as among the top 5% of locations worldwide with the highest quality dark skies, ideal for stargazing and astro-tourism.

Hike the Oasis Trail

It is also possible to escape the summer heat in the Saudi interior. After exploring the wonders of the desert around AlUla, the swaying greenery and cooling shade of palm trees are especially enticing. On a walk along the simple and soothing Oasis Trail, you will be treated to the sweet smell of dates and citrus fruits in this green sanctuary that has made life possible for thousands of years in a cork dry environment.

Explore the desert from a bird's eye view

For the undisputed highlight in this region choose the skies over the desert landscape around AlUla. From a bird's eye view, you can see millennia of history and a landscape formed over millions of years of mysterious rock formations, rolling desert dunes and black, extinct volcanoes. In a silence befitting the desolate surroundings, you will soar above the rock tombs of Hegra, the Hijaz Railway train stranded in the desert sand and the mirror walls of Maraya.