Unless you’ve been living under one of its iconic rock formations, you’re unlikely to have missed the reveal of AlUla as a major tourist destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. But why should you go and what is there to see at AlUla? Well, there’s far too much to plan into one trip – in fact, once you visit once you’ll want to come back time and again.
Firstly, let’s get our bearings. AlUla is in the north-west of Saudi Arabia on an ancient incense route. There are direct flights from several Saudi cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Yanbu, plus a non-stop service from Dubai, so its super easy to get to.
Its history dates back thousands of years, to the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, where travellers would stop at the many oases that dotted the landscape.
There are still hidden mysteries underneath the maze-like streets of Old Town AlUla – civilizations simply built on top of one another over time. The walled city consists of the Musa bin Nusayr Castle, which dates back to the 10th century, nearly 900 mud-brick houses, shops, squares and a mosque. It was only in the 1980s that the town was abandoned, leaving it easy to imagine what life would have been like beneath its walls. You can even enjoy a dining experience at Suhail, a fine dining restaurant serving up dishes that evoke old Arabia and its tradition of spices.
Head to Jabal Ikmah and you can see the carvings made by many generations of travellers and pilgrims, engraved into the rocks. These inscriptions have provided important insight into what life would have been like during the period, with writings and art echoing to civilisations long gone.
Some of the oldest sights worth seeing are the Dadan tombs carved from the rockface of the mountains. The Lion Tombs include historic sculptures of lions. Not far north of the walled city of AlUla, lies a UNESCO World Heritage Site – it was actually the first in the Kingdom – called Hegra. This site was the Nabatean capital, and is more than two thousand years old. There are 100 well-preserved tombs to see, hewn from the rock.
Of course, AlUla isn’t just about human civilization, but also the natural heritage. On every visitor’s bucketlist should be the Jabal Alfil ‘Elephant Rock’ – so called because of its distinctive shape, created over millions of years through wind and water erosion.
If you’re in the mood for a drive, head up to Harrat Uwayrid, which offers a vantage point to look out over the majestic vista of the Old Town and oasis.
There are also various tours you can enjoy – to really get a feel for the scale of the site, head to the skies in a helicopter tour, while if you’re in the mood for activity, take a desert hike, cycle through the sand dunes or at night witness the picturesque and uninhibited view of the starts at AlGharameel in true Bedouin fashion. For adrenaline seekers, you can even zipline across the mountains.
It’s not just the magnificent natural scenery that will take your breath away – Maraya, the Guinness World Record holder for world’s largest mirrored building rises from the Ashar Valley and blends like a mirage into the sand. It offers an awe-inspiring space for concerts and performances and at the top is the incredible Maraya Social restaurant, from Michelin-star adorned chef Jason Atherton.
The highlight of the season is Winter at Tantora festival (Dec 21 – Feb 12). Last year, 100 balloons lit up the skies with a Guinness World Record ‘glow show’ – special choreographed flight set to music and the illumination of the balloon burners. This year, there will be six weeks of music and arts to enjoy, from international heroes including Andrea Bocelli, to homegrown Saudi talent like Abdulrahman Mohammed, Egyptian composer Omar Khairat, Lebanese performer Magida El Roumi and many more.
AlUla has been millennia in the making – from its natural outstanding rock outcrops to its manmade buildings and art. It really is one of the world’s must-visit places.
