--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in AlUla, Saudi Arabia | Wimup" description: "The ten best things to do in AlUla, Saudi Arabia: the Nabataean tombs of Hegra, Elephant Rock, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, the mud-brick Old Town, Harrat Viewpoint and Maraya, ranked and mapped." url: https://wimup.com/city/alula type: City guide updated: 2026-10-20 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in AlUla AlUla, Saudi Arabia · Asia · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read AlUla is a palm oasis in a sandstone valley in north-west Saudi Arabia, on the old incense road. The Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms ruled from here, the Nabataeans carved Hegra's tombs a short drive north, and a mud-brick town stood on the oasis until the 1980s. ## Quick answer Give AlUla three days. Spend the first morning on a Hegra tour, then Elephant Rock at dusk. On the second, tour Dadan and the inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah, walk the Old Town and the Oasis Heritage Trail, and eat in a mud-brick house. On the third, see Maraya in the Ashar Valley and drive up to Harrat Viewpoint for sunset. Book every site tour ahead: private cars cannot enter Hegra or Dadan. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Nov to Mar - **Ideal length:** 3 days, 4 with a Khaybar or Tayma day trip - **Budget per day:** $120–300 - **Language:** Arabic, English at hotels and sites - **Getting around:** A hire car or transfers; site shuttles at Hegra and Dadan - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in AlUla ### 1. Tour the Nabataean tombs of Hegra Heritage · Hegra (Al-Hijr), north of AlUla Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site holds 111 monumental tombs, 94 of them decorated, cut by the Nabataeans in the 1st centuries BC and AD. It is their largest site south of Petra, and Qasr al-Farid, carved from a lone outcrop, is the one to photograph. - **Time:** 3 hours - **Cost:** Tours from SAR 95 - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Tours leave from Winter Park; book ahead on Experience AlUla, as same-day changes are not allowed Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. See Elephant Rock after dark Nature · Jabal AlFil, off Highway 70 A 52-metre sandstone outcrop worn by wind and water into an elephant with its trunk on the ground. It needs no ticket and has free parking, and it is at its best as the sandstone turns red at sunset. - **Time:** 1 to 2 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Sunset - **Tip:** It opens in the late afternoon, so arrive an hour before sunset Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/elephant-rock?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. Read the rock at Dadan and Jabal Ikmah Heritage · Dadan, north of the Old Town Dadan was the capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, centuries before Hegra, and its Lion Tombs sit high in the cliff face. Jabal Ikmah, a canyon nearby, carries inscriptions in Dadanitic, Thamudic, Minaic, Nabataean and Aramaic. - **Time:** 2 to 3 hours - **Cost:** Tours from SAR 60 - **Best at:** Morning - **Tip:** Take the combined tour: it covers both sites, with a guide or an audio guide Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/things-to-do/experiences/dadan-and-jabal-ikmah-tour?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 4. Walk the lanes of AlUla Old Town Heritage · Old Town (Ad-Deerah), AlUla About 900 mud-brick houses packed below a hilltop fort, lived in from around the 12th century until the 1980s. The restored lanes now hold cafes, restaurants and Dar Tantora, a hotel lit by candlelight. - **Time:** 2 hours - **Cost:** Varies - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** Climb to the fort at the top for the view across the roofs to the oasis Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Watch sunset from Harrat Viewpoint Nature · Harrat Uwayrid, about 30 minutes from the Old Town The lookout sits at 1,219 metres on the volcanic plateau of Harrat Uwayrid, above the whole valley and its palm groves. It is free, with parking at the top, and OKTO, a Greek restaurant, serves dinner on the rim. - **Time:** 1 to 2 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Sunset - **Tip:** Bring a jacket: evenings at the top are far colder than in the valley Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/harrat-viewpoint?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 6. See Maraya in the Ashar Valley Art and architecture · Ashar Valley, AlUla Guinness lists it as the largest mirrored building in the world: a 500-seat concert hall clad in 9,740 square metres of mirror that reflects the canyon around it. Designed by Giò Forma, it hosts concerts and exhibitions. - **Time:** 1 hour - **Cost:** Event tickets vary - **Best at:** Golden hour - **Tip:** Book Maraya Social, Jason Atherton's restaurant on the roof, for a table above the canyon Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 7. Fly over the valleys in a hot air balloon Adventure · Take-off sites vary by season Balloon flights run through the cooler months and last 45 to 60 minutes, over sandstone outcrops and the oasis at dawn. The AlUla Skies festival in November sends up 30 balloons at once. - **Time:** Half a morning - **Cost:** From about SAR 1,000 - **Best at:** Dawn - **Tip:** Pick-ups run from about 04:30, so book a night close to the take-off site Links: [Hero Balloon Flights](https://ksa.heroballoonflights.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 8. Walk the Oasis Heritage Trail Heritage · AlUla Oasis, beside the Old Town A 3-kilometre path through the farms below the Old Town, past mud-brick houses, old city walls and the palm and citrus groves that still feed the valley. It is open day and night. - **Time:** 1.5 hours - **Cost:** Guided tours ticketed - **Best at:** Early morning - **Tip:** Walk it with a guide once to learn which farm grows what, then return alone at dusk Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/things-to-do/experiences/oasis-heritage-trail-tour?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 9. Stargaze among the rocks of Gharameel Nature · Gharameel, outside AlUla A field of sandstone pillars far from any town light, and the place AlUla's night-sky tours go. Most pair a desert walk and a campfire dinner with a guide who reads the constellations. - **Time:** An evening - **Cost:** Tours about SAR 300 to 380 - **Best at:** Moonless nights - **Tip:** Check the moon before booking: near a full moon tours switch to moonlit walks Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 10. Browse the AlJadidah Arts District Art · AlJadidah, beside the Old Town AlUla's art quarter: murals on the walls, ATHR Gallery, a public library, a music hub, shops and restaurants. It hosts exhibitions for the AlUla Arts Festival each winter and is free to walk. - **Time:** 1 to 2 hours - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Evening - **Tip:** Visit during the Arts Festival, when the galleries open their largest shows Links: [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/aljadidah-arts-district?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best heritage sites in AlUla Five sites from four civilisations, all within an hour of the Old Town. 1. **Hegra** (Nabataean · North of AlUla): 111 Nabataean tombs, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO site. Tours only. 2. **Dadan** (Kingdom of Dadan · AlUla valley): Capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, with the Lion Tombs in the cliff. 3. **Jabal Ikmah** (Inscriptions · Near Dadan): A canyon of pre-Islamic inscriptions in five scripts. 4. **AlUla Old Town** (Mud-brick town · Old Town): About 900 mud-brick houses under a hilltop fort, lived in until the 1980s. 5. **AlUla Hijaz Railway station** (Ottoman railway · AlManshiyah): A stop on the Damascus to Medina line, completed in 1907, now in AlManshiyah Plaza. ## Best rock formations in AlUla Four outcrops worth the drive, two of them a long way out. 1. **Elephant Rock** (Jabal AlFil · Off Highway 70): 52 metres of sandstone with a trunk to the ground. Free, best at dusk. 2. **Rainbow Rock** (The Arch · Remote): A thin sandstone arch, about 90 minutes' drive from the centre. 3. **Face Rock** (Inside Hegra · Hegra): A profile of a human head, among the Hegra tombs beside Jabal AlAhmar. 4. **Fish Rock** (Wadi AlFann · Wadi AlFann): A sandstone ridge nearly 200 metres long, shaped like a stranded sea creature. ## Best restaurants in AlUla Five tables, four of them in the Michelin Guide's Saudi selection. 1. **Joontos** (Saudi · Old Town): Shared plates from old Saudi family recipes, at Dar Tantora. Bib Gourmand. 2. **Tofareya** (Saudi · Old Town): Saudi cooking with AlUla oranges and dates, in a village house below the fort. Bib Gourmand. 3. **Maraya Social** (European · Ashar Valley): Jason Atherton's sharing menu on the roof of the mirrored concert hall. 4. **Somewhere** (Fusion · AlUla Oasis): Arabic-Mediterranean plates among the palms. Michelin selected. 5. **Harrat** (Pan-Arabic · Ashar Valley): Pan-Arabic cooking at Banyan Tree AlUla. Michelin selected. ## Best cafes in AlUla Three cafes in the Old Town, each in a mud-brick house. 1. **Minzal** (Cafe · Old Town): Speciality coffee and gelato made with AlUla oranges and dates. [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/things-to-do/food-and-drink/minzal-cafe?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **70's Café** (Retro cafe · Old Town): A two-storey mud house filled with 1970s televisions, cameras and games. 3. **Maqha Café** (Rooftop · Old Town): The Dar Tantora rooftop, with views across the oasis. Seasonal hours. ## Best adventures in AlUla Five ways to see the valley from above, below or after dark. 1. **Hot air balloon** (From about SAR 1,000 · Seasonal): Dawn flights of 45 to 60 minutes over the outcrops. [Hero Balloon Flights](https://ksa.heroballoonflights.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Via ferrata** (Ages 7 and up · AlUla Adventure Centre): A guided climb of about two and a half hours on iron rungs and cables. 3. **Harrat zipline** (Zipline · Harrat): A dual cable down the flank of the volcanic plateau. 4. **Gharameel stargazing** (Night tour · Gharameel): Campfire dinner and a guide to the night sky among sandstone pillars. 5. **Hegra Geology Hike** (SAR 150 · Hegra): A guided walk of under two hours through the rock that the tombs are cut from. ## Best neighbourhoods in AlUla Three districts within a short drive of each other. 1. **Old Town** (Heritage · Centre): Mud-brick lanes, the fort, Dar Tantora and most of the cafes. 2. **AlJadidah** (Arts · Centre): The arts district: murals, galleries and restaurants. 3. **Ashar Valley** (Resorts · South): Canyon resorts, Maraya and the valley's most expensive tables. ## Best day trips in AlUla Three full days out beyond the valley. 1. **Khaybar** (About 2 hours 15 minutes · South-east): An oasis under AlNizar Fort, in the basalt fields of Harrat Khaybar, about 200 km south-east. [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/khaybar?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Tayma** (About 2 to 3 hours · North-east): An ancient oasis around Bir Haddaj, a well about 65 metres across. [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/tayma?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Sharaan Nature Reserve** (Nature reserve · Outside AlUla): 1,500 square kilometres of red canyons and valleys, with a mushroom-shaped rock. ## Festivals & annual events in AlUla (2026) - **AlUla Dates Season** (Late September (18 to 26 September 2026)): The date harvest, with growers' markets selling the oasis's Barni and Helwa dates. - **AZIMUTH** (Late September, around Saudi National Day): A desert music festival in AlUla over the National Day weekend. - **AlUla Wellness Festival** (Late October (23 to 31 October 2026)): Running and endurance events in the valley, from a half marathon to a 24-hour race. - **AlUla Skies Festival** (Early November (6 to 15 November 2026)): Mass balloon flights, plus glow shows at Hegra and Elephant Rock. - **Ancient Kingdoms Festival** (Late November to December (26 November to 12 December 2026)): Events across AlUla's ancient sites, with activations in Khaybar and Tayma. - **Winter at Tantora** (December to January (17 December 2026 to 9 January 2027)): The Old Town's winter festival, held over the turn of the year. - **AlUla Arts Festival** (Mid-January to mid-February (16 January to 14 February 2026)): Exhibitions and installations across AlJadidah and the desert. Many are free. - **AlUla Tour** (Late January (27 to 31 January 2026)): A five-stage UCI ProSeries cycle race through the valley and up to Harrat Uwayrid. ## Must-try dishes in AlUla, Saudi Arabia - **Barni dates**: AlUla's signature date, grown on most of the oasis's two million palms. - **Kabsa**: The national rice dish, with lamb or chicken. Tofareya flavours its version with AlUla oranges. - **Qahwa and dates**: Pale Saudi coffee with cardamom, poured from a dallah and drunk with dates. - **Jareesh**: Cracked wheat cooked for hours with meat until it collapses, finished with fried onion. - **Matazeez**: Discs of hand-rolled dough simmered in a spiced meat and vegetable broth. - **Mutabbaq**: Thin dough folded around minced meat, egg and leek, fried flat until crisp. - **Luqaimat**: Small fried dough balls soaked in date syrup, sold hot at festivals. - **AlUla citrus**: Oranges and lemons from more than 200,000 trees in the oasis, pressed into juice. ## AlUla transport & airports - **AlUla International Airport** (ULH): Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport, about 25 km from the town. Saudia flies from Riyadh and Jeddah; flydubai launched flights from Dubai in 2022, so check the season's schedule. [Saudia](https://www.saudia.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Driving and car hire** (Car): The sites spread across a wide valley, so most visitors hire a car. Medina and Tabuk are each about three hours away by road. Carry an international driving permit. [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/plan-your-trip/flying-to-alula?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Site shuttles and tours** (Tours): Private cars cannot enter Hegra, Dadan or other protected sites. Park at the visitor centre and continue by tour bus; Hegra tours leave from Winter Park. [Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Taxis and transfers** (Taxi): Taxis wait outside the airport around the clock, and hotels run transfers if booked ahead. There is little public transport, so book a return pickup from remote sites. ## AlUla at a glance - **Country:** Saudi Arabia - **Region:** The Hijaz, in the north-west, Madinah Province - **Population:** About 40,800 in the town and 60,100 in the governorate (2022 census) - **Founded:** Dadan, the oasis's first capital, in the 1st millennium BC; the Old Town from about the 12th century - **Nickname:** Hegra is also known as Al-Hijr and Mada'in Salih - **Language:** Arabic, with English at hotels, tours and the main sites - **Currency:** Saudi riyal (SR, SAR), pegged to the US dollar - **Time zone:** UTC+3, no daylight saving - **Calling code:** +966 14 - **Airports:** Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz (ULH), about 25 km from the town - **Power:** 230V, 60Hz, plug type G - **Emergency:** 911 ## Interesting facts - Hegra became Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. - Maraya holds the Guinness record for the largest mirrored building, clad in 9,740 square metres of mirror. - More than two million date palms grow in AlUla, most of them the Barni variety. - Jabal Ikmah carries inscriptions in at least five ancient scripts, from Dadanitic to Aramaic. - AlUla Old Town was lived in from about the 12th century until the 1980s. ## AlUla travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in AlUla? Three days covers Hegra, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, the Old Town, Elephant Rock, Maraya and Harrat Viewpoint without rushing. Add a fourth for a day trip to Khaybar or Tayma, or for a balloon flight and an evening of stargazing. ### When is the best time to visit AlUla? November to March. Days are warm and nights cool, and the AlUla Moments festivals run through those months. Summer highs pass 40°C, and several cafes and tours close for the season. ### Do you need a tour to visit Hegra? Yes. Private cars cannot enter Hegra, so every visit is a ticketed tour booked through Experience AlUla. The standard tour starts at SAR 95, leaves from Winter Park and runs two to three hours with transfers. Dadan and Jabal Ikmah work the same way. ### How do you get to AlUla? Fly into AlUla's airport (ULH), about 25 km from the town, on Saudia from Riyadh or Jeddah; flydubai has also flown from Dubai. By road, Medina and Tabuk are each about three hours away. ### Where should you stay in AlUla? The Old Town puts you in walking distance of the cafes and the Oasis Heritage Trail; Dar Tantora occupies 30 restored mud-brick houses there. The Ashar Valley holds the canyon resorts, Banyan Tree AlUla and Our Habitas among them, close to Maraya. ## Nearby guides - [Hurghada](https://wimup.com/city/hurghada.md): Egypt · 10 picks - [Aqaba](https://wimup.com/city/aqaba.md): Jordan · 10 picks - [Luxor](https://wimup.com/city/luxor.md): Egypt · 10 picks - [All of Asia →](https://wimup.com/asia): 93 cities Part of the [Saudi Arabia guide](https://wimup.com/country/saudi-arabia.md) · [Asia](https://wimup.com/asia.md) ## Sources - [AlUla tourism board](https://www.experiencealula.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [See Elephant Rock after dark: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/elephant-rock?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Read the rock at Dadan and Jabal Ikmah: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/things-to-do/experiences/dadan-and-jabal-ikmah-tour?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Watch sunset from Harrat Viewpoint: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/harrat-viewpoint?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Fly over the valleys in a hot air balloon: Hero Balloon Flights](https://ksa.heroballoonflights.com/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Walk the Oasis Heritage Trail: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/things-to-do/experiences/oasis-heritage-trail-tour?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Browse the AlJadidah Arts District: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/aljadidah-arts-district?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Minzal: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/things-to-do/food-and-drink/minzal-cafe?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Khaybar: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/khaybar?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Tayma: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/places-to-go/tayma?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [AlUla International Airport: Saudia](https://www.saudia.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Driving and car hire: Experience AlUla](https://www.experiencealula.com/en/plan-your-trip/flying-to-alula?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.