“AlUla is undoubtebly one of the best places to visit and wander in Saudi Arabia offering incredible natural wonders and often tagged as Mars on Earth”
Be amazed and get ready for a full of thrill and excitement journey as we discover the ancient city of AlUla. The place where few people in the world have yet to see and explored. One of the historical landmarks in Saudi Arabia. And home for the most stunning natural wonders like the Elephant Rock, Rainbow Rock and Archeological sites of Hegra, which is comparable to Petra in Jordan. I am absolutely sure that you will not regret traveling to this wonderful land.
In this article, I’ve written down the complete guide on how to get there and the best places to visit in AlUla.
About AlUla
AlUla is an ancient Arabic oasis city located in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia. It is home to Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, which is comparable to Petra in Jordan. AlUla is surrounded by beautiful valleys, deserts and the Granite Mountains of north-western Saudi Arabia’s Hijaz region. It was only in 2019 that AlUla began to be open to tourists who wanted to discover and wander in this unexplored land.
How to get to AlUla?
By Air: Currently, there are 6 airports around the world that have direct flights to AlUla. These are Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Doha in Qatar, Dubai in UAE and Amman in Jordan.
So, if you are coming from other part of the world, you might have one stop in this mentioned airport.
By Land: (From Riyadh or Jeddah)
Public Transportation: Unfortunately, there is no direct bus going to AlUla either from Riyadh or Jeddah. So, your option is to stop first on Madinah, and from there you can take a bus heading to AlUla. Note that there’s only one bus daily from Madinah to AlUla. This bus leaves every day at 5:30 pm and arrives in Al Ula at 10:51 pm.
For more details, you can check Northwest Bus Company or SAPTCO for travel schedule going to Madinah, this normally cost around 55 to 60 USD from Riyadh and 20 to 30 USD from Jeddah.
Alternatively, if you are from Jeddah, the second option is to take a train going to Madinah. You can check in Haramain High Speed Railway website for your preferred schedule. But again, consider the bus schedule from Madinah to AlUla, you should be in Madinah Bus station before 5 pm at least.
Private Vehicle: If you have your own car, you can drive directly from Riyadh going to AlUla for about 10 to 11 hours. You can stop along the way like Taif if you want to eat lunch.
From Jeddah, the travel hours are about 9 hours. Best time to travel is early in the morning. If unsure with the location, use Google Maps for accurate route guide.
Renting a Car in Saudi Arabia: Cars for rent are available in Saudi either in Riyadh, Jeddah, and even when you are in AlUla. The vehicle rent is around 40-60 USD per day depending on the type of vehicle and your location. This option is great if you are planning to explore many places in AlUla or even in Saudi and would like to travel at your own pace and time. This is also an excellent option for a group, just ensure that at least one or two of you have international driver license that is accredited in Saudi.
Tours with transfer: For convenience, join a group tour from Riyadh or Jeddah available in any travel agency tours offering this experience to reduce your cost. Mostly, they book for your reservation to Hegra. It is by far the easiest way to travel to AlUla. The cost is around 186 to 240 USD good for 2 days and 1 night stay including accomodation. Highly recommend especially for someone who is traveling alone and would like to join a group tour.
If you are curious, I book my AlUla tour in KSA Pinoy Tour from Riyadh. Since we are three in the group, I paid 240 USD. This includes my Hegra tour which they booked prior to our journey. With this, I was able to visit other tourist spot in AlUla.
Other options: Check trip advisor for more tours offered in AlUla.
When is the best time to visit AlUla
The best time to visit AlUla is during the winter, from Mid-November to Early March, when temperatures range from 10°C to 23°C. In this month’s edition, you can enjoy all festivals and events and marvel in all tourist spots with chilly temperatures. Cons: Expect more tourists during this peak season.
Avoid the summer months from April to October, as the temperature is mild to extremely hot. Although, in my case, I visited here in June, only because I am relying on holidays in Saudi Arabia, where I can take a short vacation. The only advantage of summer is that there are fewer crowds, so you can take as many photos & videos without people in the background, which is good for my side as a content creator.
Where to book tours in AlUla
There are a lot of tour packages available in AlUla. You can book directly on the Experience AlUla Website, Viator or you can request your hotel accommodation arranged for you. For Hegra Tours, only AlUla Tourism is providing this tour, so make sure that you booked on the Experience AlUla website before traveling here. For Maraya, you need to book at least one of the luxury hotels inside Ashar Valley, as this is a private place, otherwise you can reserve a lunch cost 150 SAR. If you are a Filipino expat living in Riyadh or a nearby area, I suggest joining a group tour that caters every weekends or holiday, depending on the season. The more participants, the lower the price of a tour. In my case, we were 3 in a group, so I paid 900 SAR. The travel journey is long, though, however, you will enjoy the ride as the view is stunning. If you are wondering which group I joined, it is the Pinoy KSA tour based in Riyadh. You can check their Facebook page for tour schedules.
How I traveled to AlUla from Jubail
Initially, my friends in Jubail dropped me in Dammam Train Station, after that I book a taxi going to our meeting place in Riyadh which was Sulaymaniyah area near Jollibee.
From Riyadh, we travelled by car (sedan) for about 11 hours. By the way, we stopped over in Hail and took our lunch. ( Photo above is our group in the tour, from left Sir Mer (Our tour guide & driver ), Mam MJ, myself and Sir Dan. Additional info, download Kaiian or Taxa if you will use taxi in Alula, this application is common and utilize by locals in the town. In my case I use Kaiian for booking a taxi going to Alula international Airport on my last day.
Where to stay in Alula
Resorts in AlUla are everywhere, so you have a numerous selection of accommodations, from standard to medium up to luxury hotels. I usually reserve my hotel accommodation on Booking.com. otherwise you can directly to hotel’s website.
If you want to experience more of AlULa, I recommend staying at least one day in one of the Luxury Hotel in AlUla like Habitas or Banyan. These hotels are situated inside the Arshar Valley, where most of the luxury experiences are exclusive to people who booked in this hotel. You will also have access to the famous Maraya outside for free, which is the largest Mirror Building in the world.
By the way, since I joined a tour from Riyadh, my first night in Alula was in a Hotel near Shalal Al Café & Orange Farm, which was included in the tour package. After that I stayed another day in AlUla, since I wanted to experience the luxury, I booked one night in Caravan by Habitas which is medium price ranging from 330 USD to 500 USD depends on season. It shares amenities with Our Habitas, subsequently, I was able to experience swimming in their amazing infinity pool and eat fine dine at Tama Restaurant as well as do all activities like trampoline. After experiencing Habitas, I transfer to Airbnb Hotel cost 55 USD near the city since my flight the next day is early in the morning.
Places to Visit in AlUla
Hegra
Also known as Mada in Salih, it is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, and is comparable to Petra in Jordan. The people who carve this ancient structure & archeological sites are the Nabatean Tribes, the same as Petra. This is the largest conserved site of the civilization, covering about 52 hectares of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan. I was really amazed to visit this site, it felt like I was traveling back in time. The way the rocks are carved, making them into historical tombs, is fantastically engineered. How magnificent, isn’t it? Even back in time, we already had engineers and architects. Definitely, a site to behold and should never be missed when traveling to AlUla.
You must book a ticket to Experience AlUla days before visiting here in order to reserve your slot, which costs 90 SAR. The waiting area once you are in AlUla is in Winter Park. I suggest you book the afternoon schedule around 4 pm to have better photos and a better look at the Site as the sun shines in front of the tomb’s architectural structure.
For more details, you can also check my article for a complte guide to visit Hegra
Elephant Rock
One of the most iconic rock formations you will ever see in Saudi Arabia, or probably in the world, is the stunning Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal AlFil. This elephant rock stands at a height of 52 meters, surrounded by golden sands and mountains in the background. What an incredible natural wonders indeed! Just imagine how it was naturally carved through the erosion of water and sand millions of years ago.
By the way, this site is free to visit, and café are also available. Best time to come here is in the afternoon during sunset for comfortable weather and breathtaking view.
Harrat Viewpoint
One of the best locations to see the magnificent landscape of AlUla from a bird’s eye is the Harrat Viewpoint. This site is set at the top of the mountain with an overlooking view of the town, valleys & mountains. This is 30 minutes’ drive from the old town, and once you reach this destination, you will be pleased with a fantastic view and amazed by the stunning landscape of AlUla.
The best time to visit is during sunset or sunrise to have a great, magical view.
Maraya
One of the most popular tourist attractions everyone is talking about on their social media when traveling to AlUla is the “Maraya”. This stunning structure holds the record for the largest mirror-clad building in the World. It is situated in the captivating landscape of Arshar Valley, thus creating a magnificent illusion of golden valleys and mountains reflecting on the mirror. What an enchanting place to take your selfie! Inside Maraya is a concert hall and events center, as well as a restaurant.
Visiting here requires booking a hotel inside the private Ashar Valley, like Habitas, Caravan or Banyan Tree. Otherwise, if you are on a budget, reserve a lunch inside Maraya (40 USD) or a day tour in Our Habitas & Tama Restaurant (93 USD) including lunch to have access inside.
Old Town in AlUla
Another popular tourist spot in Alula that you should not missed to visit is the Old Town. This town is inhabited from before the 12th century up until the early 1980’s. After visiting Elephant Rock we visited this place during night time, although I wanted to see this in day time, still the town is gorgeous at night.
Rainbow Rock
Another incredible rock formation you will see in AlUla is “The Arch”, famously known as Rainbow Rock. Similar to the Jabal AlFil this rock formation was carved by natural forces through the erosion of water and wind a million years ago. Although this location is Almost 2 hours away from AlUla town, the journey here is satisfying and worth visiting.
Shalal Al Cafe
If you are looking for an Instagrammable café hidden in the middle of a beautiful rock mountain, then you must visit Shalal Al Café. The entrance to the Café is fantastic, as you will cross the path in between two cliff mountains. It gave me the same vibes when I visited Al Qarah Mountain in Al Ahsa, the temperature inside is also cooler than outside.
Orange Farm
As a farming enthusiast, I was amazed to know that orange farms also exist in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Once you roam around the land, you will notice that there are actually lots of orange trees in AlUla, mostly planted under date trees, and some areas are planted separately near mountains. Harvesting oranges is an integral part of the agricultural life in AlUla.
For picking season, I suggest coming here in the month of January during the winter season, when the production of oranges is high. Since I visited here in the month of June, I was really surprised that the trees are still fruiting orange even in the summer months. I was able to pick one, and it really tastes sweet.
Face Rock
If you crave more rock formations, then check out this face rock formation. There are two face rock formations you can see in AlUla, one near Al Shalal Al Café Road and the other inside the archeological sites of Hegra. I preferred the second one, though, since it bears more resemblance to a human face.
How many Days to stay in AlUla
In order to experience more of Alula, I recommend roaming around AlUla for 3 days/2 nights. However, if you are on a budget, you can opt to join a tour in Riyadh with 2 days/1 night tour back and forth.
Suggested Itinerary from Riyadh to AlUla
2 Days & 1 Night tour in AlUla from Riyadh
Day 1
3:00 am -Travel by land from Riyadh
11:00 am – Take Lunch in Hail
11:30 am- Start traveling to AlUla
2:00 pm – Arrive at AlUla
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm- Take a rest
3:00 pm- Orange Fam viewing, photo ops
4:00 pm- Travel going to Elephant Rock
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm- Enjoy the view in Elephant Rock, take a coffee in their Café
6:30 pm- Start Travelling going to Old Town
7:00 pm- Roam around Old Town
8:00 pm- Take your Dinner on the way back to your hotel
9:00 pm- Take a rest and sleep
Day 2
5:00 am- Wake Up, Breakfast & prepare for the tour
6:00 am- Start traveling going to Harrat Viewpoint
6:30 am to 7:15 am –Sunrise Viewing at Harrat Viewpoint, Photo & Video Ops
7:15 am-9:15 am- Travel going to Rainbow Rock
9:15 to 10:00- Enjoy the view of Rainbow Rock, Take many photos and videos
10:00 am-12:00 pm- Travel back to AlUla main city with stop over to buy food for lunch & take light meal on the road
12:00 pm-12:30 pm- Visit Al Shalal Café
12:30 pm-1:30 pm- Take your lunch in your hotel accomodation
2:00 pm- Pack up and check out in hotel
2:30 pm- Travel to Maraya
3:00 pm- Enjoy Maraya View, Take many photos and videos
3:30 pm- Going to Winter Park
4:00 pm- Be on the Winter Park 10 minutes before Hegra Tour, Note: It is organize by local tourism, be sure to bring your reserve ticket
4:00 pm-7:00 pm- Hegra Tour
7:30 pm- Travel back to Riyadh
Budget: Since this is a join tour, Cost depends on the number of travelers in the group, in our case since we are only 3, I paid 900 SAR from Riyadh. If you are coming from Jubail like me and will still take train and bus. Expect around 1350 SAR including food. Please see below for reference.
| Normal Solo Budget from Jubail with no Luxury Hotel & Flight | |
| Description | Cost (SAR) |
| Tour Package from Riyadh including 1 night Stay in Hotel | 900 |
| Transportation from Jubail to Dammam (Taxi + Bus Back & Forth) | 100 |
| Dammam to Riyadh Train (Back & Forth Ticket) | 180 |
| Foods & extra Transpo from Sulamaniyah to Train Station | 170 |
| Total | 1350 |
My Actual Itinerary from Jubail to AlUla
Day 1
5:00 pm to 12:00 midnight- Travel from Jubail to Riyadh
Day 2
3:00 am to 2:00 pm-Travel from Riyadh to AlUla (with lunch in Hail around 11 am)
4:00 pm to 9:00 pm- Orange Farm, Elephant Rock & Old Town
Day 3
5:00 am- Wake Up, Breakfast & prepare for the tour
6:00 am- Start traveling going to Harrat Viewpoint
6:30 am to 7:15 am –Sunrise Viewing at Harrat Viewpoint, Photo & Video Ops
7:15 am-9:15 am- Travel going to Rainbow Rock
9:15 to 10:00- Enjoy the view of Rainbow Rock, Take many photos and videos
10:00 am-12:00 pm- Travel back to AlUla main city with stop over to buy food for lunch & take light meal on the road
12:00 pm-12:30 pm- Visit Al Shalal Café
12:30 pm-1:30 pm- Take your lunch in your hotel accomodation
2:00 pm- Pack up and check out in hotel
2:30 pm- Travel to Maraya
3:00 pm- Enjoy Maraya View, Take many photos and videos
3:30 pm- Going to Winter Park
4:00 pm- Be on the Winter Park 10 minutes before Hegra Tour, Note: It is organize by local tourism, be sure to bring your reserve ticket
4:00 pm-7:00 pm- Hegra Tour
7:30 pm- Travel back to caravan by Habitas Hotel
9:00 pm- Dinner at Tama Restaurant
10:00 pm- Sleep time
Day 4
5:30 am-Wake up and prepare
6:00 am- Start roaming around Caravan and take many photos and videos
6:30 am- Go to Habitas Infinity pool and Tama Restaurant
7:00 am to 7:30 am- Swim and enjoy in the infinity Pool
8:00 am- Visit and Trampoline
8:30 am- Return to caravan by Habitas and take breakfast
9:00 am- Take Breakfast
10:00 am- Take a rest
11:45 pm- Pack up and check out in Caravan
1:00 pm-Transfer to AirBnb Hotel near AlUla center
2:00 pm-take a rest
Day 5
7:00 am- Travel from AirBNB Hotel to AlUla International Airport
8:30 am- Flight back to Dammam
10:00 am- Arrived at Dammam international Airport then travel going to Jubail by Taxi
11:30 am- Arrived at Jubail
My Actual Cost with Luxury Hotel Experience in Caravan By Habitas & Flight from AlUla to Dammam
| Description | Cost (SAR) |
| Tour Package from Riyadh including 1 night Stay in Hotel | 900 |
| Caravan by Habitas | 1176 |
| AirBnb Hotel | 209 |
| Transportation from Jubail to Dammam (Taxi Back & Forth) | 280 |
| Dammam to Riyadh Train | 90 |
| Flight from AlUla to Dammam | 450 |
| Taxi Airport from AirBnb Hotel to AlUla | 40 |
| Taxi from Riyadh Train to Sulamaniyah meeting Place | 22 |
| Tama Restaurant Dinner | 200 |
| Other Foods | 100 |
| Total | 3467 |
So, have you been to AlUla? Please tell me your thoughts, kindly share your experience.
ALULA TRAVEL VIDEO
RELATED POST
Leave a Comment