AlUla – history, nature and unique experiences

Hegra – the Nabataean legacy

Hegra was the southernmost city of the Nabataeans and holds more than a hundred tombs carved directly into the sandstone. The site is visited on guided tours, and you move between monuments in a landscape that has changed little in two thousand years.

The old town and the oasis

AlUla's old town is a maze of mudbrick houses along an ancient caravan route. Around it, the oasis stretches out with date palms and shaded walking paths that cool the middle of the day.

Nature and landscape

• Elephant Rock – a free-standing sandstone formation, most photogenic at sunset.
• Dadan and Jabal Ikmah – historic settlements and an open-air library of inscriptions.
• Desert tours with experienced guides, on foot, by bike or in a 4x4.
• Night skies with minimal light pollution.

When to go

October to April offers the most comfortable temperatures. The winter months have the most events but also the most visitors – book accommodation and guided experiences well in advance.

Practical details

AlUla has its own airport with domestic connections, and many travellers combine the visit with Riyadh or Jeddah. Accommodation ranges from simple desert camps to high-end stays.