AlUla, Arabia’s best kept secret stretches around 25,000 square km and is home to some of the best preserved tombs and rock heritage sites of its era including Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic crossroads of The Incense Route welcomed traders and pilgrims for millennia. Home to over 200,000 years of human history and five successive civilisations over 3,000 years including the Nabateans, Dadanites and Lihyanites, today is undergoing a careful and sensitive restoration for its modern day visitors.

Discover incredibly preserved tombs, sandstone outcrops, historic dwellings and monuments both natural and man-made and experience the many immersive experiences in this unique and unspoilt region.

HERITAGE SITES

Hegra - The Nabataean site of Hegra was the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom, dating back to the first century BCE. Today visitors will find that more than 100 well-preserved monumental tombs remain, most with eleborate facades carved from rock formations that are scattered throughout this immense desert landscape.

Dadan - Before the Nabataeans, AlUla was the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, which controlled the caravan trade in the first millennium BCE. Dadan linked southern Arabian kingdoms producing valuable aromatics to the growing markets in the Mediterranean world. See remarkably well-preserved tombs, expertly carved from a towering red-rock mountain face that overlooks the valley oasis. A special highlight is the famed Lion Tombs market by seated lion sculptures.

Jabal Ikmah - What was part of the caravan way station served as a record keeper of sorts with carvings providing information to researchers about the way of life of the Dadanites, Lihyanites and others. Hundreds of inscriptions referring to journeys, pilgrimage, ritual and offerings can be found here. Rock art depicting humans, chariots, harps, camels, bovines, goats, scorpions and ibex can all be spotted.

AlUla Old Town - Look up at the fort above while walking through the labyrinth of streets of AlUla Old Town that was occupied from the 900s  until the 1980s. Nearly 900 two-storey mud brick houses, 400 shops, five squares and a mosque populated the oasis town. It was a key stop along the Islamic pilgrimage route from Damascus to Makkah. Travellers, traders and pilgrims would be met outside the town's walls.

HOLIDAY IDEA - DISCOVER ALULA – 5 NIGHTS

PRICE PER PERSON FROM: £3310 including return flights from the UK to AlUla, via a gateway city, transfers, five nights bed and breakfast accommodation, sightseeing tours with English speaking guides as listed, plus four dinners. Optional experiences can be added and should be booked in advance.

Day 1 - Arrive in AlUla

You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel for your five night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

AlUla is one of the world’s great natural masterpieces. This historically rich oasis at the crossroads of the Incense Route has also been called the world’s largest living museum. Its dramatic rock formations, sand-swept dunes, lush valleys of swaying palm trees are places of extraordinary beauty.

There is a choice of accommodation including: 

Shadan Desert Resort – a collection of deluxe rooms and villas, swimming pool and restaurant, along with spectacular views of the surrounding rock formations.

Habitas AlUla – an eco-friendly resort surrounded by sandstone cliffs and palm trees, with a selection of luxury rooms, a yoga deck, swimming pool, fitness centre and restaurant.

The Banyan Tree - a beautfiul luxury tented resort with two restaurants, a gym and a spa.

Day 2 -  AlUla - Hegra - Dadan - Jabal Ikmah

Today you will join a group tour and visit the rock tombs of Hegra, the ancient capital of Dadan and its Lion Tombs, the “open library” of inscriptions in the rocks at Jabal Ikmah.  

Stone built Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms, was constructed astride the valley’s oasis between the late 9th and early 8th century BCE (Kingdom of Dadan) and 5th–2nd century BCE (Kingdom of Lihyan).

Explore the Oasis Heritage Trail from Dadan South, arriving in AlUla Old Town and passing by Al Wadi area. This 3 km trip takes around 2 hours and offers an extraordinary nature stroll through the AlUla farms.

Day 3 - AlUla

You can choose to spend the day at leisure or discover more of AlUla with an optional experience, such as a thrilling helicopter ride to get a bird’s eye view of the incredible landscape, a guided hike into the Hidden Valley or to the top of Alfath Mountain, or a cycling tour through the rocks and sand dunes. Whatever option you choose, you can be assured that your local guide will provide you with fascinating facts about the heritage, landscape and history of the area.

Day 4  - AlUla Old Town

Join a group tour and visit Old AlUla town, founded before the 12th century and occupied until as recently as the early 1980s. Its mudbrick ruins include over 900 houses, 500 shops, 5 town squares, and a fortified citadel with ruins that are more than a thousand years old. Learn about the Old Town’s settlers and pilgrims, how they constructed the village and how they lived.

You will head to the stunning Elephant Rock and enjoy spectacular views of the desert scenery.

Day 5 - AlUla

Choose again from one of the optional adventure or heritage experiences, or relax at your resort. Perhaps go for a drive in Sharann Nature Reserve to view the stunning scenery and rock formations. The region hosts a variety of wildlife, including red-necked ostriches, Nubian ibex and graceful Idmi gazelles as well as species like the lanky-limbed Cape hare, the rock hyrax and a variety of birds including green bee-eaters, crested larks, eagles and many others.

For your final evening experience a stargazing tour led by local experts.  Far from city lights, in vast open spaces with some of the world’s most enviable dark skies, you will be enchanted by the desert. In this idyllic location you are surrounded by Gharameel’s mystical rock formations with a blanket of stars above you. A traditional grilled dinner alfresco is included and makes this a truly memorable experience to end your stay in AlUla.

Day 6  - Depart from AlUla

You will be transferred from your hotel back to the airport in time for your flight.

Experiences can be done on a private or small group basis.  We can also tailor-make an itinerary to suit individual interests so please contact us today to find out more.

How to get there: AlUla is served by its own international airport, Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz-Mogayla Airport (ULH) located within a short distance to hotels and attractions.

From the UK you can fly non-stop into Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam on Saudia Airlines or British Airways. From your gateway both Saudia Airlines and Flynas offer short connecting flights into AlUla. You can also connect from Dubai directly into AlUla on flynas.

How to get around: Most of your transfers will be provided by Windows on the Wild in our packages, however, getting around is very easy whether you wish to hire a car or take a local taxi. Distances between accommodation and the key sites are roughly a maximum of 30 minutes.

Best time to visit: AlUla is open year round however we would suggest visiting in the shoulder or peaks seasons of October through to April when the weather is more temperate and the festival and events season is in full swing. AlUla has a desert climate so it is not as humid as the big cities.

Read our latest blog on Alula here