8 epic outdoor adventures to have in AlUla

AlUla’s scenery catches even the most seasoned traveller quite by surprise. Hypnotic sandstone mountains, dense oases heavy with date palms and orange trees, underground streams, volcanic activity and towering desert rocks shaped by wind and rain has created a landscape that is unrivalled. From wildlife encounters on long hikes to celestial night skies, the region’s history is inextricably linked to its outdoors. With that in mind, here are eight ways you can enjoy this magical encounter with nature.

Elephant Rock (Shutterstock)

Elephant Rock (Jabal Alfil) stands 52m tall against the cerulean sky that spans the horizon. This giant sandstone, eroded by water and sculpted by the wind over millions of years, derives its name from the unmistakable shape of a standing elephant with its trunk sinking to the ground. Although surrounded by other equally immense rock formations, Elephant Rock has captured the imagination of the world with its endearing shape.

As the sun moves across the desert through the day, its surface reflects the hues of the light, changing colour from soft shimmering pastel ochre, through deep amber to glistening gold by sunset. The golden hour of dusk is a particularly good time to see Elephant Rock. Arrive here from 4pm onwards and enjoy the setting sun from seating dug into the sand around Elephant Rock. Parking is free and two cafés serve snacks and drinks for visitors who often stay here late into the night.

AlUla valley from Harrat Viewpoint (Shutterstock)

Within moments of arriving in AlUla visitors realise that this is a land of astonishing scenery. Everything you see will take your breath away. Shimmering light dances in the air all around, the desert infuses itself in everything around you and sound remains absent. Whilst jaw-dropping scenery is all around, Harrat Viewpoint’s high vantage point is the place to appreciate a panoramic view of AlUla. The drive here across the desert to a public seating area and telescopes designed to make you stay longer than you ever intended. From here, spot the Old Town, Dadan, the Oasis and the valley. If you feel peckish, gorgeous hilltop restaurant Okto serves delicious food and drink here. Stay for the sunset. The telescopes provided will allow you explore constellations in AlUla’s sky after dark.

AlUla’s Giant Swing (Experience AlUla)

If reaching speeds of up to 120 km an hour while enjoying the view of desert canyons below you is your thing, then make your way to AlUla’s Adventure Hub. Here, experienced staff will take you through safety procedures and then harness you to the 1.5km double zipline that is the first of its kind in the KSA. The line will carry you high across the canyon valley, offering a fresh and unique perspective of AlUla’s natural landscape. It is often said that, due to the vastness of the landscape, AlUla is best appreciated by air. For the adventure-lover in you, ziplining is an exciting way to gain a bird’s eye view of the otherworldly scenery. Enjoy your adventure with a group of friends and tick off this bucket list experience from your list. Want more? You can ascend to the zipline via the 45m-long, knee-knocking AlUla Stairway, take on the 85m-high Giant Swing or traverse AlUla’s mountainscapes on a via ferrata route. In AlUla’s, it’s a case of who dares, wins.

Exploring the Arabian desert on horseback connects visitors back in time to the region’s nomadic history. The Heritage on Horseback tour offers adventurers of all ages and abilities an alternative way to see the land. The tour takes riders, led by individual guides, around farmland, the oasis and also introduces them to feeding and grooming the horse. The guides will offer you insights into local culture, people and history as you begin to understand the conditions that gave rise to the culture; a historic crossroad for weary travellers, traders and pilgrims. Create your own modern day story on horseback. Alternatively guests of the Banyan Tree hotel can also enjoy the hotel’s own horse riding experience across the Ashar Valley. Both the Heritage on Horseback and the Banyan Tree riding experiences are seasonal and it is advisable to check availability before booking.

Sharaan Nature Reserve (Shutterstock)

Sharaan Nature Reserve is the greatest reminder that Arabia was a lush, fertile land that supported multiple civilizations to flourish. The Reserve, located in the Eastern Canyons of AlUla, is a desert wilderness of acacia woodlands and a place of important natural history. Take an open-top jeep tour of The Reserve and learn about the immense tasks undertaken to protect endemic flora and fauna, reintroduce native vegetation, rebalance the ecosystem and protect the natural environment of the desert. It’s one of the most ambitious rewilding projects towards environmental conservation in AlUla. Use the time in The Reserve to understand the many phases of the project as you tour the red rock canyons and precipitous ravines that mark this terrain.

Wherever people go, we have stories to tell. And those who came before us were no different. All the people who passed through these crossroads or lived in its valleys left their stories for us to discover millennia later. Whether it’s the depiction of a caravan of camels, stories of trading goods or details of their daily life, those who called AlUla their home, even for a while, left their stories etched on AlUla’s immense rocks, turning it into an open air library. Let a rawi take you on a journey of discovery as you unravel the mysteries of AlUla’s rock art and a large concentration of inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah. Discover wildlife such as ostrich and camels, names of people carved on tombs and epic narratives of life in AlUla etched into ancient rocks spread across the desert.

Hikes through AlUla will have you treading through otherworldly scenery (Shutterstock)

Whether it’s the Acacia Trail within the Sharaan Nature Reserve, the 6km Ridge Walk, the Adventure Trail hike through volcanic rock or a simple self-guided hike through the date farms of the oasis, hiking is a part of AlUla’s tapestry. The variety of options available means almost anyone can explore AlUla on foot. Choose the hike you prefer and set the mood for your time in AlUla. The Ridge Walk is a simple hike suitable for families whilst the Adventure Trail will carry you across sand dunes, rainwater pools and rock formations with its own rock art. Both an early hike or one at sunset will ensure magical views and etch the breathtaking beauty of AlUla in your memory for a lifetime. On a more gentle walk through the oasis you will encounter local farms, orchards and farm workers. Take rests along the way in the shady spots where chirping birds and butterflies will keep you company.

Gharameel after dark, AlUla’s skies are star-studded (Experience AlUla)

Amateur astronomers and would-be stargazers alike will enjoy the night sky of AlUla’s deserts. Being far from urban life means that AlUla enjoys the darkest of skies. The Acacia Trail at night offers a wonderful immersion in nature within Sharaan Nature Reserve. The Hidden Valley night hike is an altogether different experience where moonlight and the shadows it creates moves through the desert to offer a more mystical experience. Gharameel is perhaps the ultimate stargazing experience, where there is zero light pollution. An expert stargazing guide will take you through the constellations in the night sky at a fireside dinner under the stars. On a full moon, the guide will take you on a walk across the desert to admire the the landscape by moonlight. Whichever experience you choose your time in AlUla will not be complete without stargazing.