AlUla Trip Planner

How to get to AlUla and getting around

The region is easily accessed through AlUla’s International Airport (ULH) with short travelling distances to all the key attractions.From the UK visitors can now fly directly into Riyadh or Jeddah with Saudi Airlines, with British Airways or Virgin into Riyadh and take a short domestic connection to AlUla. Alternitively, visitors can fly one stop from the UK using the code share partnership with Emirates and flydubai changing aircraft in Dubai, with Qatar Airways over Doha, or Royal Jordanian over Amman, providing the opportunity to combine a visit to AlUla with Jordan, Qatar and the UAE.

When you touch down, getting around is easy using the transfer services provided by your tour operator or travel agent, or take a taxi. Rent a car with or without a driver, or make use of the popular ride-share service Careem.

Three must-visit heritage experiences in AlUla

Hegra is Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit here allows you to be among the first to see AlUla’s natural and man-made works of art, from rock formations sculpted by nature to the preserved Nabataean tombs. Don’t miss the chance to take a Hegra Vintage Land Rover tour with a local Rawi (storyteller) to hear secrets of this ancient wonder. A tour takes approximately two hours. Highlights include the iconic Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza, Hegra’s largest tomb at 21m tall. The Diwan and The Siq in the natural mountain outcrop of Jabal Ithlib are also must-sees, where you can peek through the narrow rock chambers. Admire the red hue of the recently excavated 18 tombs of Jabal AlAhmar and gaze upon Face Rock, which is shaped like a human head and makes for a glorious sight at sunrise or sunset.

In ancient Dadan, look out for carved lions high above the tombs of the Dadanite royal family and uncover stories about the legends of the Dadanite and Lihyanite civilisations. Considered one of the most developed 1st Millennium BCE cities in the Arabian Peninsula, this city displays a dozen tombs cut into the red-rock cliff and you can view a series of on going excavations demonstrating these fascinating civilisations. A visit to Jabal Ikmah offers a glimpse into the past through its rock inscriptions, an area with one of the highest concentration of scripts and rock art in Saudi Arabia. Elevate the experience with a Rawi to learn the stories behind this open-air library and the precursors to Arabic and other languages. The combined Dadan and Jabal Ikmah tour provides the opportunity to explore both sites.

For thousands of years, the oasis provided safety, water, shade and natural produce and today is a modern agricultural epicentre, particularly known for its production of dates, fruits, aromatic herbs and perfumed oils. Stretching for over 14km and with over 3 million palm trees, it also produces 29 types of citrus fruit as well as numerous varieties of dates, with the sweet and sticky barni variety being the local favourite. A great way to experience the oasis is to embark on the Oasis Heritage Trail, starting close to AlUla Old Town. You’ll stroll between farms, the wadi (valley) and the Orange Path with its citrus trees. Alternatively take the Oasis Heritage Tour, a 3km walking tour along AlUla’s Oasis Heritage Trail with an expert Rawi guide, immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the Oasis while learning about its important role in AlUla’s history.

Elephant Rock has captured the imagination of keen photographers the world over. This rock formation is shaped, as its name suggests, like an elephant with a distinctive ‘trunk’ and ‘body’. Shaped by millions of years of wind and water erosion, this awe-inspiring natural wonder is a non-ticketed experience with optimal viewings as sunset to watch the colours change across this iconic natural monument. As the sun sets and the landscape glows with desert light, Elephant Rock transforms into a vibrant social space. Gather with friends and locals under the stars, savour bites from the SALT food truck, warm up by a fire pit, and take in the spectacle of nature with music, good company, and unforgettable views.

AlUla’s skies have long been a source of knowledge, navigation, and reflection. From ancient caravans crossing the Incense Route to present-day astronomers and stargazers, AlUla’s relationship with the cosmos is enduring – and now formally protected with Dark Sky designation.

Drive just over 90 minutes north from AlUla’s main hotel to the desert landscape and incredible rock formations of Gharameel. Sitting on a traditional woven carpet, a Rawi will share stories of years gone by alongside this spectacle with its naturally formed rock pillars stretching up to the sky in the desert. Devoid of light pollution, the sky here is as dark as they come, and you will easily be able to see the Milky Way twinkling above. The tour includes dinner under the stars, but guests should arrive early to see the hues of oranges, pinks and gold paint the evening sky before the true beauty of the stark black sky is lit up with stars as far as the eyes can see.

Three thrilling adventures to have in AlUla

Explore the Sharaan National Park on a 4WD tour. Located to the north of AlUla, and covering 1,500 square kilometres, the stunning protected National Park has been named as one of the World’s Greatest Places 2024, according to TIME Magazine, with continued restoration of its sensitive ecosystem allowing the preservation and protection of endangered animals such as Arabian wolves, gazelles and large-eared red foxes.  It’s hoped that the Critically Endangered Arabian Leopard will be reintroduced to Sharaan National Park in the future. There are a number of touring options, lunch or dinner safaris, 4WD tours, small group guided walking tours and stargazing experiences.

Maraya Social by Jason Atherton

Michelin-star chef, Britains’ Jason Atherton opened Maraya Social on the rooftop of the award-winning Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, in 2021. Open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday, serving local seasonal produce, with a mix of Mediterranean, Arabian and British cuisine.