“Edge of the World in Riyadh is undoubtedly one of the most incredible natural wonders in Saudi Arabia with full of thrill and Adventure.”
Hey, are you looking for an amazing tourist spot with otherworldly view of nature in Saudi Arabia? Edge of the World in Riyadh is the best place for you to visit. It is one of the most fascinating sites with full of thrill and adventure that you could experience while in Saudi. If you are adventure junkies and love hiking as well as discovering off-beaten paths, I am pretty sure that you will not regret traveling to this famous cliff. Absolutely, one of the places that you should not miss visiting while in Saudi. So, what are you waiting for? Include it now on your travel bucket list. I already write here the complete guide on how to get to Edge of the World for your reference.
About Edge of the World
Edge of the World is an enormous canyon that overlooks a boundless desert scenery, creating a magnificent view when standing on its edge. It was formed from a tectonic movement of the Arabian plate in the Tuwaiq escarpment. The cliff is 100 kilometers away from Riyadh and situated in the northwest desert region near the boundary of the Tuwaiq Mountain range. Today, Edge of the World is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Saudi Arabia and a favorite spot to watch breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset.
How to get to Edge of the World?
Important Note: The Edge of the World is only accessible by 4WD/4X4 or high-level type Car, so don’t try to travel there using a sedan or lower vehicle, as it is a rough road.
Private 4WD Vehicle (DIY): Drive from Riyadh to the Edge of the World for more than an hour. If you are unsure of the location, use Google Maps for a route guide. But take note that traveling to this place is a tricky as there is no street road to follow. As you know, you are traveling through the dry and vast land before reaching the cliff. As advice, at least one of you should be familiar with the area and the road to avoid being lost on the way, especially when traveling at night or early in the morning.
Keep in mind that there are two routes for you to select, which are the Acacia Valley Routes and the Sadus Dam Routes. You can mark it in your Google Maps and drive directly to the Edge of the World. The Gate in Acacia Valley is open on weekends only, while Sadus Dam is open daily.
Tours with transfers: For convenience, join a day trip from Riyadh available at any travel agency tours offering this experience to reduce your cost. The tour cost is around 100 to 250 SAR, depending on the number of people in the group. You also have the option to do a private excursion for about 750 to 1000 SAR with a driver/tour guide. You can also check Viator.com, riyadhtrips.com or riyadhhiking.com for more info on the tour and updated prices.
By the way, we visited here in the month of February, still in the winter. Hence, my friends and I opted to reserve a private tour around 750 SAR, including light snacks and water. I highly recommend this one, especially if you are traveling in three or four people and want to reduce your travel cost. If you are curious, we booked in our fellow Filipino (kababayan) which I searched on Facebook.
How many days required to visit Edge of the World?
A day trip from Riyadh is enough to explore and wander in the Edge of the World. Otherwise, you also have the option to stay overnight and go camping, which some locals are doing.
When is the best time to visit this amazing cliff?
During Winter season (temperature range from 10 to 23 Degree C), around December to February. Avoid the summer months from April to October, as the temperature is mild to extremely hot.
Important Note: The best time to experience Edge of the World is either sunrise or sunset to experience the spectacular view.
My journey going to the Edge of the World from Jubail
Last February 2023 my friends and roommates Ron & Justin planned a three-day tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during Riyadh season. As an adventure seeker and traveler as myself, I searched a unique and interesting tourist spot near Riyadh which is possible to reach, hence, requested them if we can explore Edge of the World. Fortunately, both of them agreed, so I searched and arranged a private service from Riyadh who normally cater tour going to this wonderful place and that’s how we met kuya Dong who happens to be our kababayan (Fellow Filipino).
By the way, we are living in Jubail, Saudi Arabia which is about 465 km away from Riyadh Main City. Anyhow, there are many options to reach Riyadh either by Car (5 hours), Bus (8 Hours), or Train from Dammam (4hrs).
In our case, since it was only planned days before our Trip, we opted to book a Bus 8:00 am going to Dammam then take our early lunch, after that travel to Riyadh around 10:30 am, so just imagine sitting in the Bus for about 8 hours. Anyway, I did not feel bored during the trip because of the dessert view outside which I enjoyed and if you are lucky, you might see Camels as well. (On our way back, we took the train from Riyadh to Dammam).
Upon arriving in Riyadh, our friend Geo who happens to be a colleague of Ron & Justin in their previous company in the Philippines was waiting and dropped us in hotel, at night he also tours us in Boulevard City & Boulevard World which is one of the most popular tourist attraction parks in Riyadh. We were very grateful at that time because we have free service along the city and going to our hotel accommodation. Unfortunately, Geo has a duty the other day, so he was not able to join us in the Edge of the world but instead tour us after at night in Sky Bridge Kingdom Tower & Al Hair Lake Park on our last day, really a good guy.
On our second day, early in the morning, we took our breakfast in Aling Inasal which is a counterpart version of Mang Inasal in the Philippines. I am telling you; you have to try this restaurant; the food is delicious, and I feel like I am just in the Philippines. We also bought snacks and food for lunch since we are planning to stay there until sunset. Around 9 am we met our tour guide kuya Dong and started our travel. Edge of the Word is located around 100 Km from Riyadh Main Center, so more or less 1 hour travel. You will also enjoy the travel as the view outside is beautiful. Going there is tricky and challenging as there is no street road and route option, so you have to rely on and trust with the experience and familiarization of the driver and tour guide. Moreover, the road is also rough so expect bouncy ride experience. Nevertheless, it was a fun and exciting experienced. By the way, kuya dong has been doing this tour for over 15 years so you can never go wrong in choosing kuya dong as your tour guide, highly recommended.
After exploring Bat Cave, we directly drove thru Edge of the world and reached the parking area. If you happened to be in 4X4 Car, your vehicle could go directly to summit near the cliff of Edge of the world. In our case, we had to walk for 10 to 15 minutes going to the summit cliff, nonetheless, it was fun because you can wander in the amazing view of the canyons. Overall the experience is really amazing. The view at the cliff is out of this world. I feel like I am in Mars. And the sunset view is breathtaking.
Sunset Experience in Edge of the World
Travel Tips when planning to visit Edge of the World
Here are some tips you should consider when heading to this iconic site.
- The area is open 24/7 but I suggest come here in the morning before sunrise or afternoon before sunset to experience breathtaking view.
- Remember that Summer in Saudi especially in this location is extremely Hot, so please avoid traveling there in that season.
- Travel in Winter months to enjoy the view.
- By the way, there is Signal and Data Connection in the area, so you can still connect with your friends and family even in the Edge of the world.
- If you love camping and would like to witness stargazing and sunrise in the morning, you also have option to stay there overnight, just bring your own tent. Otherwise, you can join a group tour also offering this option.
- It is cold there during Winter, so make sure you bring jacket. It can even get a bit chilly at night and is perfect for camping!
- Wear proper footwear and mind your step. There’s a lot of loose rock here and people wearing sandals were often slipping (and falling onto other people). So be careful.
- Download Google Translate for communication purposes, in case you are joining a group tour with Local Guide and driver.
- Traveling in the road going to Edge of the World is a tricky as the road is dry land, so be sure to be with a group who knows the place and the road to avoid being lost on the way.
- The road going to the cliff is rough, so don’t attempt to drive here using sedan. Use 4WD Car if you plan to go directly to the cliff, or you can also ride a High-Level Car like Adventure type if until parking area only.
- If you are brave enough and wanted more dramatic and epic solo photo, you can also walk and sit close to the pillar of the cliff.
- Bring bottled water to stay hydrated.
- Be a responsible traveler and help keep Edge of the World clean.
- Take only memories, leave only footprints.
Budget in Edge of the World
The cost of traveling to Edge of the world is considerably budget-friendly, especially if you join a group tour package. Based on my experience, most tourists spend around 250 to 300 SAR per person from Riyadh, some 100 SAR only if large group.
Suggested Itinerary in Winter to Edge of the World from Riyadh- Sunset Viewing
Day 1
9:00 a.m.-Meet the tour Guide and start traveling to the Edge of the World
11:00 am- Explore Bat Cave
11:30 am- Start Traveling again to the parking lot of the Edge of the World or directly to the cliff.
12:00 pm- Arrive at the parking lot, which is 15–30 minutes walking distance from the cliff.
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm- Take your Lunch.
12:30 pm- Start Trekking to the Edge of the World
1:00 pm- Reach the Cliff, roam around and rest while watching the view.
4:30 pm- Sunset viewing; take many photos and videos.
5:00 pm- Start walking back to the parking lot, otherwise if traveling with a 4X4 directly ride back to Riyadh.
5:30 pm- Reach the parking lot, start packing and travel to Riyadh.
7:30 pm- Reach Riyadh
Essential things to bring
- Money in Cash (Saudi Riyal)
- Comfortable shoes, Hiking Shoes or Running shoes will do.
- Sunscreen
- Bottle of water
- Sun glass & scarf
- Light Snacks
- Cap for head & face sun protection
- Jacket applicable for summer or winter
- Camera stand & selfie stick, especially if you are traveling solo.
- Power bank
- Flush light if you opt to pass by the underground Bat Cave
- Bring a packed Lunch in case you are traveling around 9 am from Riyadh to see Sunset View
- Tent in case planning to take overnight.
- Optional-Telescope for Stargazing
Tip: “Be at the moment”. Use this time to enjoy and reconnect with your friends, or if traveling solo, relax your mind and enjoy the thrill and adventure. You can also take this time to reassess your own life. And lastly, You can also bond with new people if you are joining a group tour and build friendships.
So, have you been to the Edge of the World near Riyadh? Please share your thoughts, I would love to know your experience.
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