 everywhere. Engage the services of a rawi and visit Jabal Ikmah. Thousands of pre-Arabic and more than 450 early Arabic inscriptions are engraved onto steep cliffs here. Often referred to as an open library, they tell the stories of the several civilisations that thrived in AlUla. Outdoor library: spend some time admiring the ancient inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah Arguably the most iconic of all of AlUla's astonishing sites is Hegra. Here, more than 100 facades of tombs from the Nabataean period are spread across the desert. Take a vintage jeep tour to see the majestic Tomb of Lihyan, son of Kuza, the Diwan (a large meeting place cut deep into a rock) and the Siq (a natural passageway between two rocks). Hegra exploration: include the Siq passageway on your tour Have your binoculars at the ready and visit the mountain city of Dadan. View the square tombs cut into the rock face 50m above the valley floor. It is believed that the tombs belonged to influential people of the Dadanite Kingdom. The most famous are the Lion Tombs. They sit next to each other with the entrance guarded by a lion on each side. Ancient kingdom: on a trip to Dadan, don't miss the lions guarding the entrance to the eponymous Lion Tombs Climb the steps of AlUla's castle, which sits in the centre of the Old Town. The view across the mud brick buildings of the historic Old Town from the look-out point at the top is spectacular. Old town: don't miss AlUla's castle where you can climb the steps around the preserved walls The oasis in AlUla predates the Dadanite Kingdom and was a place of respite for pilgrims. You can take a self-guided tour through it; the walk from the Old Town to Dadan takes around two hours. You will encounter endemic species of birds, farmers pollinating flowers by hand and open courtyards used for resting. Don't miss lunch in the oasis at Pink Camel serving delicious coffee and pa){kind=link}
AlUla is a place of wonder and surprise awaits at every step – plan your trip with our selection of the best places to visit and when
Storytelling is embedded deeply in Saudi Arabian culture. In AlUla, you will find rawis (storytellers) everywhere. Engage the services of a rawi and visit Jabal Ikmah. Thousands of pre-Arabic and more than 450 early Arabic inscriptions are engraved onto steep cliffs here. Often referred to as an open library, they tell the stories of the several civilisations that thrived in AlUla.
Arguably the most iconic of all of AlUla’s astonishing sites is Hegra. Here, more than 100 facades of tombs from the Nabataean period are spread across the desert. Take a vintage jeep tour to see the majestic Tomb of Lihyan, son of Kuza, the Diwan (a large meeting place cut deep into a rock) and the Siq (a natural passageway between two rocks).
Have your binoculars at the ready and visit the mountain city of Dadan. View the square tombs cut into the rock face 50m above the valley floor. It is believed that the tombs belonged to influential people of the Dadanite Kingdom. The most famous are the Lion Tombs. They sit next to each other with the entrance guarded by a lion on each side.
Climb the steps of AlUla’s castle, which sits in the centre of the Old Town. The view across the mud brick buildings of the historic Old Town from the look-out point at the top is spectacular.