My Saudi Arabia

Russian version

Al Ula is probably the most famous tourist destination in Saudi Arabia for foreigners. There are currently many efforts underway to transform it into the Kingdom’s cultural hub, and no expense is being spared in this endeavor.

To be honest, though, Al Ula isn’t at the top of my list of places to visit in the country 🙂

Why so?

• Very expensive (everything!) — flights, hotels, food…
• It’s practically impossible to get around without a car
• Too pretentious
• Lots of tourists (compared to other cities)
• The attractions are mostly new, and a lot is currently under construction
• Contradictory and often inaccurate information on Google Maps
• Few attractions and activities compared to other cities
• Almost everything starts up after 5:00 PM, so the day isn’t planned very efficiently

I highly recommend the official website to plan your trip: Experience Al Ula. There, you can purchase tickets for the main tours, hot-air balloon and helicopter rides, as well as find information about seasonal events.

Some tips before you start:

• Book everything in advance! And by “everything,” I really mean everything — the hotel, a car, tickets for popular activities (hot air balloon and helicopter rides, if you’d like), as well as restaurant reservations. My husband and I made exactly that mistake, and as a result, a couple of weeks before the trip, the selection of hotels was pretty limited, and we couldn’t get helicopter tickets at all.
• Before buying souvenirs, find out how much they might cost elsewhere. In some shops, prices are inflated… by a factor of 10.
  I’m not exaggerating. They tried to sell us a pencil with an “Al Ula” label for exactly 150 riyals (while at Riyadh Airport, similar pencils with the Kingdom’s symbols cost 15 riyals — which, by the way, isn’t exactly cheap either).
• Check the official calendar right before the trip! It’s quite possible that a couple of new events will pop up there at the last minute — ones you’d really hate to miss.
• Don’t turn your nose up at “local” festivals. At these events, you can experience authentic Saudi culture, learn more about the country, and pick up inexpensive, unique souvenirs. For example, during our trip to Al-Ula, we stumbled upon a citrus festival where local producers showcased their natural cosmetics and food products.
• Bring cash! At local festivals, most farmers won’t have card terminals. I still regret not being able to buy that cream because I didn’t have any cash on me.
• Plan your route so that you can visit nearby towns you’re unlikely to travel to specifically. Check the official Al Ula website to see what’s on offer in places like Hegra. We didn’t think of this, and we were just lucky that the wind carried us in that direction during our hot-air balloon ride.

So, what would I definitely recommend visiting?

№1 — the hot-air balloon ride. It was the most memorable part of our trip. The wind carried our balloon so that we flew right over the biblical tombs of Mada’in Salih. Just imagine: early morning, the sun is just rising. Herds of gazelles are racing past below us… and suddenly, literally just a few meters away, we see gigantic structures carved right into the rocks. Amazing!

Yes, it’s expensive, but I’d book the tickets again in a heartbeat (keep in mind that wind direction changes, and no one can guarantee in advance which way you’ll be flying!).
Book the tickets on the official website, but check the timing — the ride is only available during the winter season (approximately October — March).
You can see Mada’in Salih from the ground during a tour of Hegra, which can also be booked on the official website (though I can’t recommend it, since we didn’t take it).

№2 — Elephant Rock (Jabal al-Fil) – Al-Ula’s most famous landmark. You can drive there, but there’s a catch. In 2023, direct access was restricted, and a security guard tried to charge us an entrance fee (unofficially). We didn’t pay; we just took a photo with it in the background, without going past the fence. I don’t know what the access conditions are now.

In addition to the Elephant Rock, there are plenty of other fantastically shaped and colored rocks within walking distance. Take a stroll around the area. You’re guaranteed to get some surreal “Martian”-like photos!
Location on Google Maps

№3 — The Old Town – a free attraction. It’s quite pleasant to stroll through and admire the traditional architecture. Some of the huts have been turned into souvenir shops (be careful! I warned you about the prices above).
Location on Google Maps

You can also take a walk along the Oasis Heritage Trail in roughly the same area.
There’s now a nominal fee to use it, but in 2023, when it was still under construction, we were allowed in for free.

Most of the other events are seasonal, so I won’t list them here. Many take place in the Old Town area. So just head over there in the evening, or check the Al-Ula website before your trip and pick something nearby.

Enjoy your trip! Below are some photos.