Al Ula, Saudi Arabia
Introduction:
As the state of global tourism starts to reestablish itself, the available options for travel destinations are once again filling up. If you are thinking about visiting Saudi Arabia this year, then make sure to include AlUla in your trip. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a country located in western Asia, which is rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty, and the county of AlUla captures all of it perfectly. It offers an experience that is in great contrast to the general city life that you are habituated with. If you want to disconnect from your hectic lifestyle and immerse yourself in nature and historical excellence, then AlUla in Saudi Arabia should suit your travel needs perfectly.
AlUla is a city that is located within the northwest of Saudi Arabia. The magnitude of its historical and natural importance is unprecedented. The city lies on the historic Incense Trade Route, which was a major network of sea and land trading routes in ancient times, that connected the Mediterranean region with India, northeastern Africa, Arabia, and beyond. This city is located about 1,100 km away from Riyadh and was previously the capital of the highly powerful and organised ancient Arab kingdom of Lihyan. AlUla houses various points of major historical importance, including the Nabatean city of Hegra, the ancient ruins of the AlUla Old Town, the tombs of Dadan, and much more. Apart from this, AlUla is also home to incredible scenic beauties, including sandstone mountains, lush oasis valleys, local wildlife, vegetation, and much more.
AlUla is a place surrounded by untapped natural and human heritage and is believed to hold more than 200,000 years of human history. The story it captures grows beyond just a desert region, with its array of significant historic treasures. As a travel destination, AlUla offers everything you would expect from a trip amidst the desert and beyond. This means, apart from its natural and human heritage, you will also be able to enjoy a series of exciting adventures that awaits you there. Here are some reasons to include AlUla as your next travel destination in Saudi Arabia.
You will find peak forms of natural and man-made art coexist across the AlUla region. You will find Saudi Arabia’s first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Site called Hegra, located just 22 km from AlUla, which holds the ancient evidence of the Nabataean civilisation. It houses around 111 well-preserved monumental tombs, among which 94 have been decorated, and water wells. This illustrates the ancient expertise in hydraulics and architectural skills of the Nabataeans population. You can also catch the beautiful glimpse of sun rays lighting up the Siq path at Jabal Ithlib, which is the Holy Mountain at Hegra, within a short time window of only half an hour. Apart from this, you will find the marvels of human creation with the Hegra Fort and Hijaz Railway. The Hijaz Railway (Hejaz Railway) was a massive project that started in 1900 following the historic pilgrimage route that passed through AlUla. Its construction came into force under the ruler Sultan Abdulhameed II of the Ottoman Empire and was able to reach Makkah in 1908 and Damascus in 1913. However, the final 1,300 km planned route to Medinah was not finished due to the events of the first World War. The foundation of Hegra Fort dates back to the 18th century CE and is currently located at the southern end of the Hijaz Railway. This fort acted as a shelter for pilgrims who followed this route and used the water towers of the railway as their reservoirs to help quench the thirst of innumerable travellers.
AlUla also puts its historic culture under the modern light with the AlUla Old Town. It is situated within the narrow part of the AlUla valley and was initially a massive settlement back in the 12th century. As the AlUla Old Town lies amidst the Damascus-Makkah pilgrimage route, its fame and importance grew at a rapid speed. In this location, you will be able to witness a maze of 900 mud-brick houses, that were designed to offer overall fortification by being attached to one another. Previously, it used to welcome pilgrims and other travellers, who could access the city through its 14 gates, between morning and evening, every day. If you walk amidst this labyrinth of a settlement, you will be able to experience the beauty of the past. This “ghost town” was inhabited till the 20th century and has all the old houses preserved as a part of the tourist attraction, along with 400 shops and 5 town squares.
Another major reason to add AlUla, Saudi Arabia as your next travel destination is the series of adventures, activities, and thrilling experiences that it offers for tourists. To begin with, the region of AlUla is a living museum with its famous and historic remains of civilisations, architecture, natural beauty, and wildlife. And you can explore them with a unique aerial vantage via a helicopter, hot air balloon, or a vintage aircraft. AlUla’s open-air living museum is really a must-have experience and very few other locations can compete with its aerial beauty. Apart from this aerial adventure, there are loads of other exciting outdoor activities that you can participate in during your visit. For starters, you can go camping or opt for a beautiful night of stargazing amidst the mesmerising desert landscape. Other than that, there are various trails and paths along the region that offer camelback riding, horseback riding, ATV riding, 4×4 safari, and other types of guided tour experiences. You can also consider the activity of rock climbing where you will be taught the basics of climbing a steep slope and move towards conquering the steep heights in a full-on adrenaline-pumping experience. Another popular activity that you can do in AlUla is bike riding along the vivid paths of the Jameel Buthainah Trail and the Train Path. However, if you are in search of a more calming experience that lets you soak in the surrounding beauty of nature and let you hit your cardio goals, then you can choose hiking. Some popular hiking trails in AlUla include the Arabian Leopard Trail, the Lost Knight Trail, and the Rock Art Trail.
Skipping past rich human heritage and adventure offerings, AlUla is also a great place site for having experiences with nature. The region covers a massive 29,261 square kilometres of area, filled with stunning natural phenomena and landscapes all around. If you love the majestic views that come with sunrise and sunset, you can enjoy such iconic experiences from the famous viewpoints, which include Face Rock, Elephant Rock, Pyramid Mountain, Hand Rock, and Rainbow Rock. Make sure to explore the local vegetation there, which includes palm groves, citrus fruits, etc. A great site where you can enjoy the natural beauty of AlUla is within the Sharaan Nature Reserve. This region covers an area of 1,500 square kilometres and is surrounded by massive red-rock canyons, valleys of wildflowers, and sunbaked desert landscapes. Apart from this, the Sharaan Nature Reserve also houses a captivating amount of wildlife and flora. Some examples of wildlife that you will be seeing in this nature reserve of AlUla include red-necked ostriches, rock hyrax, cape hare, larks, eagles, green bee-eaters, endangered species of Arabian wolves, large-eared red foxes, gazelles, Arabian leopards and much more. In terms of flora, you can expect to see acacia trees, leafless thickets with light pink blossoms, Pulicaria incisa, and much more.
As a travel destination, AlUla sure stands out to be an “all-in-one” package with its variety of offerings. In terms of arts and culture, you must visit Maraya, which is a marvellous piece of art within the Ashar Valley’s desert canyon. It is a multi-purpose concert hall that blends in with the surroundings and creates a magical and unique experience through reflections of 9740 mirrored panels. Also, make sure to check out the art of pottery and handicraft that are developed with the intricate skills of the locals. For an evocative cultural experience, make sure to visit the arts hub of Madrasat Aldrirah.
Even though words can hardly do any justice in illustrating the real beauty of a place like AlUla, we hope that these details were able to provide some insights into what the place holds for tourists. From natural beauty, and cultural heritage to adventure activities and local art and craft, AlUla is truly a place that can offer you an all-in-one travel experience you have never witnessed before. All of these together make the land of AlUla truly phenomenal, which is why you should add it as your next travel destination, be that solo or with friends and family.
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