National park · Saudi Arabia
Hegraٱلْحِجْر (al-Ḥijr) · Madain Saleh
Go, but only inside a booked tour: Hegra has no independent walking access, so pick the 2-hour core circuit at opening time (08:00–09:00) or the 4-hour Jabal Ikhmal add-on in Nov–Mar; skip it in Jun–Aug, when 40°C (104°F)+ afternoons make the tombs a car-window stop.Go, but only inside a booked tour: Hegra has no independent walking access, so pick the 2-hour core circuit at opening time (8:00 AM–9:00 AM) or the 4-hour Jabal Ikhmal add-on in Nov–Mar; skip it in Jun–Aug, when 40°C (104°F)+ afternoons make the tombs a car-window stop.Go, but only inside a booked tour: Hegra has no independent walking access, so pick the 2-hour core circuit at opening time (08:00–09:00) or the 4-hour Jabal Ikhmal add-on in Nov–Mar; skip it in Jun–Aug, when 104°F (40°C)+ afternoons make the tombs a car-window stop.Go, but only inside a booked tour: Hegra has no independent walking access, so pick the 2-hour core circuit at opening time (8:00 AM–9:00 AM) or the 4-hour Jabal Ikhmal add-on in Nov–Mar; skip it in Jun–Aug, when 104°F (40°C)+ afternoons make the tombs a car-window stop.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
52 km² (20 sq mi)20 sq mi (52 km²)
approximate
Established
2008
Best months
Nov–Mar
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 5
- 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.
- Saudi Arabia ↗Makkah is closed to non-Muslims; checkpoints on the approach roads turn cars back.
At a glance
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Area
- 52 km² (20 sq mi)20 sq mi (52 km²)
- Roughly the core archaeological zone around the tomb outcrops; the wider AlUla heritage area is much larger (check).
- Established
- 2008
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- AlUla
Hegra is Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site (2008) and the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom, cut into sandstone outcrops about 22 km north of AlUla. It is not a walk-in park: entry is by guided tour only, in a convoy of cars or a tour vehicle, with fixed stops. That single rule decides the day — you book a slot, you follow the itinerary, and you see the tombs in the two to four hours the tour allows. Everything else (Elephant Rock, Rainbow Arch, the AlUla oasis) sits outside the fence and can be done on your own time.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2008Inscribed as 'Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā'in Ṣāliḥ)', the first World Heritage listing in Saudi Arabia.
Size and age
52 km² (20 sq mi)20 sq mi (52 km²) · national park since 2008
Roughly the core archaeological zone around the tomb outcrops; the wider AlUla heritage area is much larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: AlUla.
Why go
- 94 monumental Nabataean tombs with carved façades, cut into outcrops across a desert plain — the largest Nabataean site after Petra.
- Qaṣr al-Farīd, the 23 m tomb standing alone east of the site, is the image everyone comes for.
- Nabataean inscriptions with dates and family names still legible on many façades.
- It is a half-day from AlUla, so it pairs with the oasis old town, Dadan and the Hejaz Railway sites.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool days, cold nights; high season
- FebMild and clear
- MarWarming; last comfortable month for a long tour
- AprHot by midday; book the earliest slot
- MayMid-30s°C and rising
- Jun40°C (104°F)+ afternoons; tours shorten104°F (40°C)+ afternoons; tours shorten
- JulPeak heat, often above 40°C (104°F) for weeksPeak heat, often above 104°F (40°C) for weeks
- AugPeak heat; no shade at the tombs
- SepStill hot; mornings only
- OctCooling; pleasant mornings
- NovDry, 20–28°C (68–82°F) days; season opensDry, 68–82°F (20–28°C) days; season opens
- DecCool days, near 10°C (50°F) nightsCool days, near 50°F (10°C) nights
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert birds and lizards around the outcropsNov–Mar · Nothing reliable; this is an archaeological visit, not a wildlife one. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Midday heat and no shadeMay–Sep · The main hazard on site between late morning and 16:00. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From AlUla (Winter Park Visitor Center)
Drive or tour transfer north on the Hegra road to the site entrance; most tours start at the visitor centre or your hotel.
25–35 min
Open the page →
From AlUla airport
Taxi or pre-booked transfer into AlUla, then join a Hegra tour.
35–45 min
Open the page →
From Jeddah
Flight to AlUla, or the Saptco bus (long ride), then a Hegra tour.
8 h by bus
Open the page →
From Riyadh
Flight to AlUla is the practical option; the bus takes most of a day.
13.5 h by bus
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Qaṣr al-Farīd area | The lone 23 m tomb east of the south gate, the site's signature stop. | Guided tour only; photo stop. |
| Jabal al-Khuraymat | The largest necropolis: 48 tombs across outcrops, many façades weathered. | Guided tour only. |
| Jabal al-Banat | Holds Qasr al-Bint and the tallest group of tombs, carved up to 16 m. | Guided tour only. |
| Jabal al-Mahjar | Tombs on both sides of four parallel outcrops; small façade decoration. | Guided tour only. |
| Outside the fence | Elephant Rock, Rainbow Arch, Shalal Café and the AlUla oasis sites. | Open; own car or taxi. |
Sketch map
- 1Hegra south gate / visitor area · Gate≈26.783, 37.942Map ↗
- 2Qaṣr al-Farīd · Cave≈26.792, 37.954Approximate; the lone tomb east of the south gate.Map ↗
- 3Jabal al-Khuraymat · Trail≈26.783, 37.942Map ↗
- 4Jabal al-Banat · Cave≈26.788, 37.960Map ↗
- 5Jabal al-Mahjar · Cave≈26.793, 37.956Map ↗
- 6Elephant Rock (Jabal al-Fil) · Viewpoint≈26.689, 37.982Map ↗
- 7Rainbow Arch · Viewpoint≈27.049, 37.766Map ↗
- 8AlUla old town · Town≈26.617, 37.917Map ↗
Take the points offline
8 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Tomb-outcrop positions are approximate, taken from published site coordinates for orientation only; the tour route is fixed by the operator.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hegra entry (tour ticket) | SAR 95–150 | person | 2026 estimate; varies by tour length and operator, and residents/children usually pay less — check the official booking page before you pay. |
| Longer day tour including Dadan and Jabal Ikhmal | SAR 150–300 | person | 2026 estimate; the rock-carving workshop is normally bundled into the Jabal Ikhmal day tour. |
| Elephant Rock café entry (to reach the base of the rock) | SAR 10–30 | person | The rock itself is free to view from the surrounding ground; the café encloses the bottom — check current terms. |
| Rainbow Arch | Free | car | Free; last 6 km are unpaved but passable without 4x4 in dry weather. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Hegra site entry permit or guide
Own vehicle in the convoy no permit
Khaybar and the Hejaz Railway train wreck permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- SAR 95–150
- SAR 150–300
- SAR 10–30
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā'in Ṣāliḥ) before you go.
Park rules
- Guided access only
- You cannot walk into the fenced archaeological area on your own; entry is with a booked tour and a guide, following a set itinerary.
- Overnight stays
- Camping and sleeping inside the Hegra site are not allowed; sleep in AlUla or at the informal spot near Elephant Rock.
- Touching the tombs
- Do not climb, sit on or chalk the façades or inscriptions; sandstone surfaces erode quickly.
- Drones and tripods
- Drone use needs permission from the heritage authorities; check before packing one (check).
- Alcohol and dress
- Alcohol is illegal in Saudi Arabia; dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered is the safe standard.
Where to stay
Near the park
AlUla old town and new town
The main choice: hotels, resorts and a small number of simpler stays, 22 km (14 mi) from the site.The main choice: hotels, resorts and a small number of simpler stays, 14 mi (22 km) from the site.
Near the park
Resorts around AlUla
Higher-end desert resorts with transfers arranged; prices are high even by Saudi standards.
Near the park
Camping near Elephant Rock
Informal free overnight spot about 500 m south of the rock, recommended by visitor-centre staff for self-drive campers; no facilities.
Safety
Heat and dehydration high
Driving to outlying sites medium
Straying off the tour medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The core tour is largely car-based with short gravel walks, so limited-mobility visitors can see most stops from the vehicle — confirm with the operator when booking.
- Some tomb stops involve uneven rock and sand; a wheelchair user will need assistance and a tour that allows extra time.
Visiting lightly
- Book through official operators; unofficial 'guides' at the gate are not permitted inside the site.
- Keep to the marked paths at each stop — the sandstone façades and inscriptions are the thing you came to see.
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins on site.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Hegra?
Expect roughly 95–150 SAR per person for the standard guided tour and 150–300 SAR for a longer day tour that adds Dadan and Jabal Ikhmal (2026 estimate). There is no cheaper walk-in option: entry is by booked tour only, and prices change by season and operator, so confirm on the official booking page before you pay.
What are the best hikes in Hegra?
There are no free hiking trails inside Hegra — you move between tomb outcrops by vehicle with short gravel walks of a few hundred metres. The walking you can do independently is outside the fence: the ground around Elephant Rock and the short approach to Rainbow Arch, whose last 6 km are unpaved.
When is the best time to visit Hegra?
November to March. Days run about 20–28°C with cold nights near 10°C, and the site is at roughly 600 m elevation in the Hejaz mountains. June to August is often above 40°C and should be avoided; April, May and October work if you take the earliest tour slot.
Can I visit Hegra without a tour?
No. The archaeological area is fenced and entered only with a booked guided tour on a set itinerary. You can drive yourself to the entrance and, on some tours, follow the guide in your own car — ask when booking.
How do I get to Hegra from AlUla?
It is about 22 km north of AlUla, roughly 25–35 minutes by car. Most visitors join a tour from the Winter Park Visitor Center or their hotel; independent drivers use the large parking areas at the site entrance.
Can I stay overnight at Hegra?
No. Overnight stays inside the site are not allowed. Sleep in AlUla town or at one of the surrounding resorts; self-drive campers often use the informal spot about 500 m south of Elephant Rock, which has no facilities.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go