Must-see attractions in Northern Saudi Arabia

  • Madain Saleh

    Madain Saleh

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Often dubbed the 'second Petra', Madain Saleh, for many, is on a par with – if not more impressive than – its famous cousin across the border in Jordan…

  • Al Ula Viewpoint

    Al Ula

    The views as you wind your way up to this gem of a spot offer glimpses of what's to come. At the top, the road plateaus through a windswept, lunar…

  • Al Ula Heritage Village

    Al Ula

    There are plans to make this a formal tourist venue in the near future, but for now you can enjoy freely wandering among the beautiful mud ruins where…

  • Al Balad

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    The melancholy of Al Wajh's beautiful old Hejazi houses, as they stare wistfully out to sea, is apparent in every corner of the town's near-abandoned Al…

  • Hejaz Locomotive & Ruins

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    A lone rusting locomotive sits in the sun on its side, its funnel pointing downwards. Derailed and useless, this relic really evokes the impact TE…

  • Ottoman Hejaz Railway Bridge

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    This is one of the only surviving bridges of the Hejaz Railway left in Saudi Arabia. The beautiful 150m long red-and-grey-brick arches, stretching over a…

  • Jebel Al Lawz

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Jebel Al Lawz, rising 2580m above sea level, is one of the only accessible mountains in the Kingdom to experience snowfall in winter. This is what many…

  • Bir Al Mashy Beach

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    The haunting wreck of cargo ship Georgios G – ambitiously dubbed the 'Saudi Titanic' – sits half-submerged, rusting in the sun after becoming stranded on…

  • Al Buwayr Hejaz Railway Station & Fort

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Sitting off the old Medina–Al Ula road is this refurbished black Hejaz Railway locomotive, almost complete with wagons in tow. There's also a crumbling…

  • Elephant Rock

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Arabia's only 'elephant' is a huge red rock three storeys in height. The enormous 'body' connects to a slimmer 'trunk' that bulges in just the right areas…

  • Haddaj Well

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    The Haddaj Well is an outstanding example of ancient engineering. It reportedly dates back to the Babylonian presence during the 6th century BC, and at…

  • Jebel Khuraibah

    Al Ula

    The fortress and three peaks of Jebel Khuraibah once formed part of the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lihyan. Rock-cut tombs squat at the foot of the…

  • Hejaz Substation & Fort

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    This is one of the substations located just before the Hejaz Railway terminated at the holy city of Medina. Today this tiny station block and its fort –…

  • Al Sharim Beach

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Al Sharim Beach feels delightfully remote. The beach is literally the desert arriving at the sea, complete with camels who wander freely in the area. The…

  • Jadaah Substation

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Tucked away in a sandy valley between a series of rocky, black mountains, this Hejaz Railway substation sits abandoned and alone in a barren and desolate…

  • King Abdul Aziz Heritage Castle

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    This little fort was built by the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz, early in the 20th century. It's square-shaped, with a central courtyard and a…

  • Al Wajh Castle

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    Built in 1875 towards the end of the Ottoman period as the headquarters of the municipality, this rectangular fort with its surveillance tower and small…

  • Umm Al Daraj

    Al Ula

    A few kilometres north of old Al Ula, Umm Al Daraj (Mother of Steps) is worth a detour. Climbing the hill reveals three red-sandstone religious structures…

  • Mt Almejder

    Al Ula

    This 300m-high mountain east of Al Ula features stone settlements and caves with pre-Islamic inscriptions and drawings, but there was no access to it at…

  • Hawaz Beach

    Northern Saudi Arabia

    The 6km-long Hawaz Beach is dotted with shelters and barbecue pits, and has crystal-clear water that's ideal for swimming and snorkelling. It's popular…

  • Al Ula Fort

    Al Ula

    To protect the ancient village, inhabitants in the 6th century used red-sandstone blocks to build this castle on a promontory that gives a 360-degree view…

  • Al Ula Antiquities & Heritage Museum

    Al Ula

    This small museum is attractively designed, with some intriguing and informative displays on the history, culture, flora and fauna of the area, as well as…

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