Major city
AlUlaالعلا
Go to AlUla for two to three nights for Hegra's rock tombs and the desert scenery, best from October to March.
Rules in force · 4
- Saudi Arabia ↗Apply for the tourist eVisa only on the official visa portal (visa.visitsaudi.com); lookalike sites charge extra.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Dress modestly in public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees; women are not required to wear an abaya but should cover up.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Alcohol is banned: do not bring it in, and do not buy it from anyone.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Shops close for about 20–30 minutes at prayer times; plan around them.
AlUla is an oasis region in north-west Saudi Arabia with Hegra, the country's first UNESCO World Heritage site. It also has the old town, sandstone canyons and rock art. Many sites require pre-booked tours.
At a glance
- Known for
- Hegra (Madain Salih) tombs · Old Town · Elephant Rock · Jabal Ikmah inscriptions
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (very hot)
- Nights
- 2–3
- Airports
- ULH AlUla International (Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz) (Small airport; flights from Riyadh and Jeddah)
Where to sleep
AlUla Old Town area
Walkable restaurants and the heritage quarter.
Desert resorts
Remote luxury stays; a vehicle or tour is needed for everything.
Getting around
Sights are spread across the valley, so book tours or hire a car with driver; check the official operator for current site access.
Watch out
- Book Hegra and most experiences ahead through the official platform.
- Desert nights are cold in winter and days hot in summer.
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for AlUla. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
Sources
Sources
- Experience AlUla (official)
- Wikivoyage — AlUla (secondary)