AlUla, Saudi Arabia: travel guide
Sandstone canyons, Nabataean tombs and a desert oasis in the northwest
An ancient Nabataean and Lihyanite kingdom in northwestern Saudi Arabia — home to Hegra (Mada'in Salih), Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 100 monumental rock-cut tombs carved from rose-red sa…
About AlUla
AlUla is a desert region of sandstone canyons and green oasis valleys in northwest Saudi Arabia, rich in ancient history rather than a single town. Hegra, also called Mada'in Salih, was a Nabataean city with monumental tombs carved into rose-coloured rock, and it became the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dadan, once the capital of the Lihyanite kingdom, and the inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah add earlier layers.
The landscape is part of the draw, from Elephant Rock, a wind-sculpted sandstone formation, to AlUla Old Town, a former mud-brick settlement, and the mirrored Maraya concert hall set in the desert.
AlUla suits history lovers, photographers and anyone happy to take things slowly. The cooler months from October to March are the most comfortable for exploring; the evenings can be cold in winter.
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Currency
- SAR
- Time zone
- Asia/Riyadh
- Nearest airport
- ULH
- Typical trip
- 2-3 days
Last updated
Top places to visit in AlUla
Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil)
Natural Rock Formation · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A natural sandstone monolith eroded into the unmistakable shape of an elephant — 52 m tall with a natural arch forming the "trunk". One of the most photographed natural wonders in Saudi Arabia. Located 11 km northwest of AlUla town, the…
Hegra Archaeological Site (Mada'in Saleh)
UNESCO Archaeological Site · 4.9 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site (2008) — 111 remarkably preserved Nabataean rock-cut tombs dating from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE, carved into rose-coloured Hegaz sandstone outcrops. Hegra was the second city…
Maraya Concert Hall
Concert Venue/Architecture · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's largest mirrored building — 9,740 m² of steel and mirrors that perfectly reflect the surrounding sandstone landscape, making it appear invisible. Built for AlUla's MDL Beast Soundstorm and Winter at Tantora festivals, Maraya…
AlUla Old Town
Historic Old Town · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · free entry
A 2,000-year-old abandoned mud-brick city in the AlUla oasis, once home to 900 houses and 400 shops linked by covered alleyways. The town was inhabited until the 1980s when residents relocated. Now being sensitively restored, the…
Jabal Ikmah Open-Air Library
Archaeological Site · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A dramatic sandstone canyon containing hundreds of ancient inscriptions in Dadanitic, Minaic, Nabataean, Aramaic, and Greek scripts — making it one of the largest open-air libraries of ancient inscriptions in the world. The 2-km trail…
Qasr Al-Farid (The Lonely Castle)
Heritage · 4.9 rating · about 1 h · entry SAR 95 (≈ ₹2,410)
Iconic single, unfinished Nabataean tomb at Hegra — the most photographed monument in AlUla, carved into a freestanding rock.
AlUla Welcome Centre
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Visitor centre and starting point for all AlUla site visits — orientation, ticketing, transport hub.
AlUla Oasis (Date Palm Walk)
Nature · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · free entry
Lush 9 km date palm oasis with 2.3 million trees — fresh dates, citrus orchards, ancient irrigation canals.
Jabal Al-Banat (Mountain of the Maidens)
Heritage · 4.9 rating · about 1.3 h · entry SAR 95 (≈ ₹2,410)
Cluster of 29 Nabataean tombs at Hegra carved into a single rock face — the largest concentration on the site.
Dadan Ancient City (Khuraybah)
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h · entry SAR 60 (≈ ₹1,530)
Capital of the ancient Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms (6th–2nd century BCE) — rock-cut tombs with stone lion sculptures.
Jabal Al-Ahmar (Red Mountain)
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · entry SAR 95 (≈ ₹2,410)
Red sandstone mountain at Hegra with 18 monumental Nabataean tombs along its southern face.
AlJadidah Arts District
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · free entry
Vision 2030 arts and culture district — galleries, restaurants, artisanal workshops in renovated heritage buildings.
Things to do
- Hegra Sunrise Guided Tour Heritage · 4 h · from SAR 140 per person
- Elephant Rock Sunset and Stargazing Activity · 3 h · from SAR 71 per person
- Maraya Mirror Cube Dinner Experience Activity · 3 h · from SAR 350 per person
- Hegra (Mada'in Salih) UNESCO Guided Tour Heritage · 4 h · from SAR 95 per person
- Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil) Sunset Visit Viewpoint · 1.5 h
- AlUla Old Town Walking Tour Heritage · 1.5 h · from SAR 50 per person
- Hot Air Balloon Ride over AlUla Activity · 3 h · from SAR 950 per person
- Sharaan Nature Reserve 4x4 Safari Activity · 3 h · from SAR 300 per person
Where to stay in AlUla
- AlUla Old Town and Valley about SAR 13,500 per night
Resort hotels and eco-lodges in the valley near Old Town. Central for all AlUla sights.
- Hegra Countryside Camps about SAR 6,750 per night
Desert camps and glamping near the archaeological zone. Immersive for adventurous travellers.
Hotels
- Shaden Resort AlUla 5-star · INR 13,500 to INR 36,000 per night
- Habitas AlUla 4-star · INR 9,000 to INR 22,500 per night
- Shaden Resort AlUla 4-star
- Dar Tantora The House Hotel AlUla 5-star
- Habitas AlUla 5-star
Where to eat
- Elephant Rock Restaurant Modern Arabic, Mezze · about SAR 131 per person
- Suhail at Habitas AlUla Modern Arabic, International · about SAR 225 per person
- Somewhere AlUla arabic, fusion · about SAR 84 per person
- Fann AlUla Cafe cafe, international · about SAR 84 per person
Getting to AlUla
Airport: AlUla (ULH)
How visitors arrive in AlUla
- Domestic flights into AlUla International Airport (ULH) By air from Riyadh / Jeddah / Dammam · common
Visit AlUla's RCU page says ULH has domestic flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam and international flights from Dubai and Doha. Source: rcu.gov.sa
- Drive from Medina or Tabuk By road · common
Fly into Tabuk or Madinah and continue by road or rental car. Source: rcu.gov.sa
From the airport to the centre
- Taxi or rental car from the airport unconfirmed
The RCU page does not detail transfers; taxis and car rental are the usual options. Source: rcu.gov.sa
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial AlUla Guides
AlUla Old Town
Unofficial guides claim official tours are full and offer private access at high prices.
How to avoid it: All AlUla site access must be pre-booked via experiencealula.com. No walk-in access.
Best time to visit AlUla
- Jan 20°C
- Feb 24°C
- Mar 29°C
- Apr 33°C
- May 39°C
- Jun 41°C
- Jul 43°C
- Aug 42°C
- Sep 42°C
- Oct 37°C
- Nov 28°C
- Dec 24°C
More in Saudi Arabia
Frequently asked questions about AlUla
- How many days do you need in AlUla?
- A typical trip to AlUla is 2-3 days.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in AlUla?
- The highest-rated places in our AlUla guide are Hegra Archaeological Site (Mada'in Saleh), Qasr Al-Farid (The Lonely Castle), Jabal Al-Banat (Mountain of the Maidens), Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil), Jabal Ikmah Open-Air Library.
- Where should I stay in AlUla?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in AlUla: AlUla Old Town and Valley, Hegra Countryside Camps.
- How do I get around AlUla?
- Ways to get around AlUla covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in AlUla?
- Scams reported to us for AlUla include Unofficial AlUla Guides. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in AlUla?
- Average daytime highs in AlUla run from 20°C in Jan to 43°C in Jul.
- Which airport is nearest to AlUla?
- The nearest airport to AlUla has the code ULH.