Destinations
Hegra, the old town, sandstone formations and star-filled skies: why AlUla tops the list for many travellers to Saudi Arabia.
Written by Saudi Reiser
AlUla in the north-west is the highlight of a Saudi Arabia trip for many visitors. It is home to Hegra – the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site – set in a dramatic desert landscape of sandstone, oases and valleys.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This information can change. Always check current requirements with the relevant authorities before you travel.
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