Trip highlights
- 1Hegra — Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO site, with 111 Nabataean rock-cut tombs
- 2Elephant Rock lit at sunset — one of nature's great geological formations
- 3Hot air balloon over the ancient ruins at dawn
- 4Stargazing in the desert: Milky Way visible to the naked eye
- 5Maraya concert hall — the world's largest mirrored building
Daily spend
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Elephant Rock at Sunset
Friday, January 15
Est. spend
$330
per person
🌅 Morning
Fly into Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport
Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport, AlUla
AlUla's regional airport (ULH) has direct connections from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dubai. The drive from the airport to the resort area takes 20 minutes through stunning escarpment scenery. The landscape immediately signals that you are somewhere extraordinary.
Book a resort transfer in advance — taxis are limited. Habitas and Ashar both offer complimentary airport transfers for guests.
Check In: Ashar Resort
Ashar Resort, Wadi Ashar, AlUla
Ashar Resort is set into the AlUla valley floor between sandstone cliffs, with tented suites that blend seamlessly into the rock landscape. The design is extraordinary — a Wadi Ashar canyon backdrop, an infinity pool looking up at the escarpment, and interiors that use local materials and textiles. Allow time to explore the property on arrival.
The pool-facing tent suites sell out months ahead in winter — book the cliff-view category if the pool tents are gone. All rates include breakfast.
☀️ Afternoon
Old Town AlUla Souq Walk
Old Town AlUla, AlUla City Centre
AlUla's 900-year-old mud-brick old town is a labyrinth of 900 houses, 400 shops and five mosques stacked along a narrow hilltop. It was abandoned in 1983 but is now beautifully partially restored. Walk the main market street, climb the watchtower for panoramic valley views, and browse the small artisan stalls selling local frankincense, date products and Hejaz silver jewellery.
Friday afternoon the souq fills with locals — the most atmospheric time to visit. Hire a local guide (SAR 100 for 90 minutes) to unlock the history of individual buildings.
Dadan Archaeological Site
Dadan Archaeological Site, AlUla
Dadan was the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms from the 9th to 4th centuries BCE — pre-dating even the Nabataeans. The site contains extraordinary carved lion tombs cut into the cliff face at height, with a short cable-car lift (recently installed) providing access. The setting is dramatic and the site is rarely crowded.
Combine Dadan with the nearby Jabal Ikmah open library — a short drive — where thousands of ancient inscriptions are carved into the canyon walls in Dadanite, Lihyanite, Nabataean and Greek.
🌙 Evening
Elephant Rock at Sunset
Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil), 10km north of AlUla city
Jabal AlFil — Elephant Rock — is a 52-metre natural sandstone formation so perfectly shaped like a walking elephant that it seems sculptural. The rock glows deep amber and red at sunset, and the surrounding desert is completely silent. Most visitors stay for the colour change as the sun drops below the escarpment — one of the great natural spectacles of the Arab world.
The Al Baik outdoor café at Elephant Rock serves excellent Arabic coffee and dates at sunset. Arrive 45 minutes before local sunset time to get a good position.
Resort Dinner: Ashar Restaurant
Ashar Resort, Wadi Ashar, AlUla
Dinner at Ashar's signature restaurant uses produce from the AlUla valley — dates, olives, honey and local herbs — combined with contemporary Arabic cooking techniques. The outdoor terrace under the cliff is lit by lanterns and the stars are already emerging. A beautifully quiet introduction to AlUla evenings.
The AlUla date tasting menu (presented as an amuse-bouche) is complimentary and worth lingering over — AlUla produces some of Saudi Arabia's finest Medjool dates.
🍽️ Meals
Ashar Resort Restaurant
Contemporary Arabic · $120 · Valley-to-table ingredients sourced from AlUla's ancient farming terraces — a strong culinary start
Hegra — Saudi Arabia's Petra
Saturday, January 16
Est. spend
$750
per person
🌅 Morning
Hot Air Balloon Over AlUla Ruins
Hot Air Balloon Launch Site, AlUla (coordinates provided on booking)
AlUla's balloon programme launches at dawn and floats over the ancient landscape for approximately one hour. From altitude you see the full scale of the escarpment, the Hegra tombs, the oasis farmland and the valley's intricate geology in a way no road journey can replicate. Sunrise over sandstone is genuinely one of the most beautiful views in the world.
Book at least one month ahead through the Experience AlUla platform (experiencealula.com). Flights are weather-dependent — book early in your trip so you have a backup date.
☀️ Afternoon
Hegra (Mada'in Saleh) — UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hegra Archaeological Site, 22km north of AlUla
Hegra is Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site and the southernmost major city of the Nabataean civilisation — the same culture that built Petra in Jordan. There are 111 well-preserved rock-cut tombs, many with elaborate carved facades of eagles, snakes and floral motifs, and the largest tomb — Qasr AlFarid — stands 22 metres tall and was never completed, giving it an otherworldly, half-formed quality. Entry is by guided tour only.
The site is explored by golf buggy on a set circuit — the Northern Tomb area has the most impressive facades. Request a guide who specialises in Nabataean history rather than a general tour guide.
Hegra Visitor Centre & Lunch
Hegra Visitor Centre, Hegra Archaeological Site
The Hegra Visitor Centre has an excellent museum explaining Nabataean trade routes, inscriptions and burial practices, plus a restaurant with terrace views of the site. It is one of the best-designed heritage visitor centres in the Arab world and well worth 45 minutes after the site tour.
The museum's reproduction of the Hegra water system — an underground cistern network that supported 1,000 inhabitants in the desert — is one of the most fascinating exhibits.
🌙 Evening
Maraya Concert Hall at Dusk
Maraya, Ashar Valley, AlUla
Maraya is a 9,740-square-metre building clad entirely in mirrors that reflect the surrounding desert, mountains and sky — the world's largest mirrored building according to Guinness. At golden hour the structure seems to dissolve into the landscape entirely. Walk around the full perimeter as the light shifts from gold to pink to deep red.
Check the Experience AlUla events calendar — Maraya hosts concerts, gala dinners and film screenings throughout the winter season. Tickets are often available to hotel guests through the concierge.
Stargazing in the Desert
Desert stargazing site, AlUla (resort coordinates provided)
AlUla has some of the darkest skies in the Northern Hemisphere — no light pollution within 300 kilometres. Guided stargazing sessions are offered by specialist operators who provide high-powered telescopes, warm blankets, Bedouin coffee and a full narrated tour of the constellations. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye from October to March.
Book through the resort — operators are vetted and transport is included. Bring a warm layer — the desert drops to 5°C in January after dark.
🍽️ Meals
Hegra Visitor Centre Restaurant
Arabic · $30 · Modest but reliable — local flatbread, hummus, grilled meat and cold drinks in a terrace setting with site views
Habitas AlUla Dinner
Contemporary fusion · $120 · Even if not staying at Habitas, the restaurant is open to non-guests and is among AlUla's most creative dining experiences
Jabal Ikmah, Camel Racing & Desert Camp
Sunday, January 17
Est. spend
$670
per person
🌅 Morning
Jabal Ikmah Open Library
Jabal Ikmah, AlUla
A narrow canyon 15 minutes from AlUla city where the sandstone walls are covered in thousands of ancient inscriptions — the largest collection of pre-Islamic inscriptions in Saudi Arabia. Scripts from five civilisations are visible on the same rock face: Dadanite, Lihyanite, Nabataean, Thamudic and Greek, spanning a 2,500-year period of human thought and communication.
The inscriptions include hunting scenes, dedications to gods, and traveller graffiti from ancient caravan routes — a guide's interpretation transforms the visit from interesting to extraordinary.
AlUla Camel Racing Track
AlUla Camel Racing Track, AlUla
Saudi Arabia's camel racing culture is one of the region's great living traditions. The AlUla track hosts races during the winter season (January–February) using robotic jockeys — a remarkable and surreal sight. Even without a race scheduled, the training sessions in the early morning are fascinating to watch and the camel handlers are usually delighted to show visitors their animals.
Ask the resort concierge to check the race schedule — competition days are significantly more exciting than training days and entry is free.
☀️ Afternoon
AlUla Oasis Farm Walk
AlUla Heritage Oasis, AlUla valley floor
The AlUla valley contains one of the oldest continuously cultivated oases in Arabia — a 2,000-year-old network of palm groves, citrus trees, olive terraces and underground falaj irrigation channels. Guided farm walks take visitors through working date palm plots, with tastings of fresh dates, olive oil and the region's distinctive honey.
January is peak date-harvesting season — a walk through the palm groves in harvest is a sensory highlight of any visit.
Rock Climbing & Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata AlUla, Harrat Uwayrid escarpment
AlUla's sandstone escarpment has been rigged with a via ferrata (iron-rung climbing route) that ascends to 450 metres above the valley floor. No technical climbing experience is needed — guides provide all equipment and safety systems. The panoramic view from the summit is an unforgettable perspective on the ancient landscape below.
Book through Experience AlUla (experiencealula.com). Minimum fitness level required — the route includes sustained vertical sections of 5-10 metres. Not suitable for those with significant fear of heights.
🌙 Evening
Private Desert Dinner Under Canvas
Open desert, AlUla (location varies by operator)
Several AlUla operators offer private candlelit dinners set up in the open desert — a table for two under a marquee, surrounded by lanterns, with a three-course Arabic meal, live oud music, and the stars overhead. It is the kind of theatrical gesture that feels completely organic in this landscape.
Book through the resort at least 48 hours ahead — setup requires advance logistics. Specify dietary requirements when booking.
🍽️ Meals
Shams AlUla
Arabic / International · $50 · AlUla's best casual restaurant — a rooftop space with valley views, excellent mezze and strong Arabic coffee
Private Desert Dinner
Arabic · $200 · The quintessential AlUla experience — a private dinner in the open desert under an ocean of stars
Golden Hour Photography & Departure
Monday, January 18
Est. spend
$85
per person
🌅 Morning
Sunrise Photography Walk: Wadi Ashar
Wadi Ashar, AlUla — accessible directly from Ashar Resort
Wake before dawn and walk into the Wadi Ashar canyon directly from the resort — the sandstone walls turn gold, then orange, then white as the sun rises. Early morning is the most beautiful light in AlUla and the canyon is completely quiet. No guide required; the resort provides a walking map.
Bring a wide-angle lens or use portrait mode on a smartphone — the narrow canyon walls create a natural frame for dramatic compositions.
Resort Breakfast & Checkout
Ashar Resort, Wadi Ashar, AlUla
Enjoy a final breakfast in AlUla — most resorts serve a lavish spread of local dates, fresh bread, labneh, honey, eggs and regional specialties. Pack carefully; airport security in Saudi Arabia has strict rules about liquids, and large bottles of AlUla olive oil or honey should go in checked luggage.
The resort gift shop stocks AlUla honey, Medjool dates and frankincense resin — the most authentic and appreciated gifts to bring home.
☀️ Afternoon
Nabataean Graffiti Trail (final visit)
Nabataean Graffiti Trail, near Hegra, AlUla
A short, final visit to the lesser-known Nabataean graffiti trail — a 3km walking loop between rock formations decorated with carved camels, horses and ibex. This trail is far less visited than Hegra or Dadan and the intimate scale of the carvings, at eye level and touchable, is genuinely moving. A quiet final connection with AlUla's ancient story.
Pick up a self-guided trail map from the Hegra Visitor Centre — no guide is needed and the route is well-marked.
Departure: Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport
Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport (ULH), AlUla
The small airport has a lounge and a coffee shop but limited food options — eat before departing from the resort or old town. Flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dubai take 1–2.5 hours.
Arrive 2 hours before departure — the airport is small but security can be slow during busy winter season. Saudi airports enforce strict hand-luggage liquid rules.
🍽️ Meals
Ashar Resort Breakfast
Arabic/International · $0 · Included in room rate — locally sourced dates, labneh, regional honeys and fresh bread
Shams AlUla
Arabic · $45 · A farewell lunch in AlUla old town — order the lamb ouzi if it's on the specials board
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
October to March — temperatures between 15°C and 25°C, ideal for outdoor exploration. April–September is extremely hot (40°C+) and many outdoor sites have reduced hours. The Winter at Tantora festival (December–March) adds concerts, camel racing and cultural events.
🛂 Visas
Saudi Arabia issues e-visas instantly online at visitsaudi.com for citizens of 60+ countries including UK, US, EU, Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The tourist visa costs approximately USD 130 and is valid for 90 days with multiple entries. Women no longer require a male guardian for travel. Dress codes apply in public — women should cover shoulders and knees; abayas are no longer required for non-Muslim visitors but modest dress is respected.
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal (SAR) — approximately SAR 3.75 to USD 1. Credit cards are accepted at all resorts, restaurants and Experience AlUla bookings. Cash is useful at the old town souq and smaller vendors. ATMs are available in AlUla city centre.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 999
ambulance: 911
tourist helpline: 920010010
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Download the Experience AlUla app (experiencealula.com) before arrival — all official site bookings, permits and guided tours are managed through this platform
- Hegra entry requires pre-booking online — walk-in is not permitted. Book at least two weeks ahead in peak season (December–February)
- Photography is unrestricted at most sites — a notable shift from earlier Saudi tourism policy. Only Masjid (mosque) interiors require permission
- Alcohol is strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia — resorts serve premium non-alcoholic beverages including mocktails, fresh juices and specialty coffee that are genuinely excellent
- AlUla is relatively small and extremely safe — walking the old town and valley at night is comfortable and many visitors find the night atmosphere the most magical time
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to AlUla, Medina Region, Saudi Arabia without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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