AlUla: An oasis of adventure
In a remote corner of northwest Arabia, the desert sands hold ancient archaeological treasures waiting to be discovered. And among these magnificent monuments, tombs, and towns are countless breathtaking adventures to be experienced.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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The spirit of the desert
The sound of thundering hooves shatters the stillness of the Ashar Valley as a pair of Arabian horses gallop across the sands. It is a sight as timeless as it is majestic: Horses have long been a feature of the region’s desert life, appearing in rock art thousands of years ago. Over time, the nomadic Bedouin refined these horses into the purebred Arabian horse of today—the “prince of the desert.” These majestic animals are famed for their strength, stamina, beauty, and nobility, and riding them through the rocky canyons is one of the most exhilarating and romantic ways to explore AlUla—especially at dawn or dusk.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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Walking streets of history
Nestled beneath the towering sandstone cliffs of AlUla Castle is AlUla’s ancient Old Town. For centuries this was a thriving center of trade and pilgrimage, the oasis city prospered as a crucial watering hole for anyone crossing the unforgiving sands of the desert. Inhabited until the early 1980s, the Old Town is a living museum packed with historical wonders. Exploring the labyrinth of tightly packed lanes lined with centuries’ old mudbrick houses, mosques, and markets, visitors experience a palpable sense of the city’s past and the lives of the people who once dwelt here.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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Dancing rocks
In the Sharaan Nature Reserve, the whistling wind whips sand across the desert floor to create a relentless process that has formed one of AlUla’s most curious features—the Dancing Rocks. Strikingly isolated within the landscape, the abrasions of wind and sand have carved two sandstone towers into a single sculpture that seems to sway in unison as if it were an intimate couple alone on the dance floor. This is the natural art of the desert that can be discovered by going off-road with an expert guide on an extraordinary safari of sandstone rock structures.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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Jar Rock
The cliched image of a featureless desert simply doesn’t apply to AlUla—it is an extraordinary landscape of monolithic natural art. Sitting in the shade of the sandstone arch known as Jar Rock, you can almost feel the forces that have carved such striking sculptures into the desert valleys. Just a few minutes hike away is Elephant Rock, its clearly defined trunk and body climbing three stories into the sky. And there are many more unique formations to explore: Face Rock, Desert Fish, Mushroom Rock, and Rainbow Rock (The Arch), all living up to their names in the most impressive ways.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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Exploring the green desert
From the heat of the desert sun to the cooling shade of a cluster of date palms, travelers have sought sanctuary in the oasis of AlUla for centuries. Here, the quirks of geology bring life-giving water to the surface so that plants and animals can thrive—an island of green in a sea of sand. Today, AlUla’s waters support a prosperous economy nourishing some 2.3 million date palm trees that produce more than 90,000 tons of dates annually. Beneath towering palm trunks, designated trails meander through the remains of mudbrick houses, local farms, and ancient city walls to offer the traveler a wonderfully different desert experience.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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Khaybar: Water, war, and wealth
In AlUla’s neighboring oasis of Khaybar is one of the region’s most impressive strongholds. Six fortified villages encircled by a huge basalt rampart provided protection for the rich caravans stopping here on their journeys across the desert. The people of Khaybar were themselves accomplished traders, metal workers, and silk weavers, bringing wealth to their community. This ancient oasis is a uniquely biodiverse area that played an essential role in the history of humankind for several millennia, nourished by life-giving freshwater and surrounded by towering forts―and layers of history.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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AlUla’s volcanic giant
To really appreciate the epic majesty of the desert, intrepid explorers take to the air. From the sky you can see the landscape in a totally different way that brings a powerful new perspective to features like Jabal Abyad (White Mountain). This is Saudi Arabia’s largest volcano, towering more than 2,000 meters above the wildly beautiful landscape of the Harrat Khaybar lava field. White volcanic ash deposits from the volcano’s silica-rich lava create the illusion of a snow-peaked mountain. Seen from the air, Jabal Abyad’s cavernous crater offers a glimpse into the violent volcanic activity that has helped shape the region.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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A landscape covered in history
From the air, the desert is giving up its secrets. Archaeologists are using drones, helicopters, and satellites to uncover AlUla’s past, including these ancient keyhole tombs on the outskirts of the Khaybar Oasis. Named for their distinctive keyhole shape, these tombs were built around 4,500 years ago and flanked ancient pathways forming funerary avenues. They are just one of the many thousands of archaeological treasures that can be seen from the skies, along with the magnificent ritual structures called mustatils, enigmatic standing stone circles, and distinctive “desert kites,” huge stone traps that were used for hunting gazelles.
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Monumental art at one with the desert
Building on the region’s long tradition of art, Desert X AlUla brought together celebrated international artists to create monumental works in the desert that reflected the region’s landscape, culture, and history. The interlocking patterns of Jim Denevan’s “Angle of Repose” speaks to the shifts in magnitude and scale that so often shape our experience of the desert and our own attempts to position ourselves within the vastness of unbounded space. Some of these works are now distributed across AlUla, with plans underway to create a permanent exhibition at Wadi AlFann (Valley of the Arts).
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Scaling sandstone cliffs
After admiring the rocks from below and above, get up close and personal with AlUla’s unique sandstone formations. The Via Ferrata offers a spectacular aerial experience for adventurers of all abilities―an exhilarating journey of adrenaline-pumping activities as you zigzag suspended across the canyon negotiating floating challenges and obstacles. For stunning views across AlUla’s magnificent landscape, scale a 656-foot cliff to Canyon Hammock and experience the ultimate hangout—a thrill not for the fainthearted and an achievement not to be missed!
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT
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Enjoy art under the stars
The rhythm of live music mingling with the bustle of a lively souk is the signature of an evening spent under the stars of the AlJadidah District. Offering panoramic views of AlUla Old Town and the verdant oasis, this lively cultural hub has five distinct squares, each with their own unique vibe. Art is everywhere, from walking along the world’s largest hand-painted carpet to stopping and admiring the beautiful murals that cover the walls or browsing the many exhibitions and galleries. With meal options ranging from authentic street foods to fine dining, AlJadidah is the perfect place to end your day and start your night.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRYSTLE WRIGHT