NATURE & OUTDOORS
Discover the highlights of the Asir region
Immerse yourself in the verdant highlands and historic architecture in the mountains of the Asir province. Prepare to fall in love with its scenic beauty and discover the charms of its capital city Abha, one of the best-preserved cities in south-west Saudi...
Words by Sarah Assefa
Unlike most of the Kingdom, Asir is known for its tropical weather, where it’s a little cooler than the rest of the country. If you’re looking for historic sites with an authentic experience in Saudi, here’s where you want to be. Here are our nine highlights…
1
Summit Green Mountain in a cable car
Green Mountain, also known asJebel Thera is one of the most popular destinations in Abha. It’s located in the heart of the city at an altitude of over 2,270m above sea level. It’s famous for the green lights encircling the peak, which can be seen from anywhere in Abha. The mountain was mainly used as a strategic military command centre thanks to its location, but it is now open to tourists from 2pm for a fee of 20 riyals per person (4.20 pounds). The best way to get to the top is to ride the cable car from Abha’s Al Jadidah cable car station (it’s SAR100, or around £20, per adult per ride). Once you get there, you can camp all night at the mountain or enjoy the sunset.
2
Wander the Habala Hanging Village
3
Unravel ancient tales in Rijal Almaa village
Rijal Almaa is a village where travellers from Yemen, Makkah, and Madina met and traded goods for hundreds of years. This village was once a hotspot for selling all types of commodities, including honey, coffee, perfumes and more. Yemenis also used to pass by this village when travelling to Mecca and Madinah for pilgrimage. Rijal Almaa is known for its 60 unique houses made of stone, clay, and wood that date back 900 years. Its colourful houses are adorned with Al Qatt Al Asiri, an artform pioneered by Asiri women. Homes can be up to three stories high and are built of stone with white quartz stone patterns, giving them the nickname of gingerbread homes. Inside, the rooms are painted with bright primary colours with repeating lines in the shape of squares and triangles. This is a skill of the female members of the families that live in them, one that is passed on from generation to generation. Besides a few renovations to preserve the buildings and improve the tourist experience, this village has barely been touched. The UN World Tourism Organisation also named Rijal Almaa as one of the best tourist villages on the planet recently and it’s also been put forward become a UNESCO World Heritage site.
While you visit, remember to check out the castle-turned-museum called the Men of the Brightest Heritage Museum to learn more about the history of this mesmerising village and the Wadi Hali dam located north of the village. Keep an eye out for Asir’s famous ‘flowermen’, who wear floral garlands in their hair.
4
Go wild in Asir National Park
Aseer National Park is a place to be for hikers and families too. It s home to the highest mountain in Saudi, Jebel al Souda or the black mountain. You can either hike to the park (on foot ) or order a shuttle/cable car (suitable while travelling with children). Along with the city’s breathtaking scenery from up there, the park is also home to wildlife animals like deer and ibex and more than 300 bird species. You can visit the park and camp in one of the many campsites offered or enjoy a day tour, preferably with a tour guide. Tourists can enter this park free of charge and only have to pay for the amenities they use inside. It also has plenty of parks and activities for children and many food and hot drinks stalls to refresh you and your family throughout the day.
5
Channel your artistic side in Al Muftaha Art Village
6
Enjoy a coffee farm tour with a local
Abha is home to some of the biggest Saudi coffee farms, thanks to its relatively tropical weather and highlands, allowing coffee to grow without human intervention. Some dedicated tour companies offer full coffee plantation tours to tourists, where they can visit coffee plantations dating back to the 16th century. You’ll also get to experience the traditional Arab coffee (Qahwa). Saudi coffee is made from beans that are only lightly roasted, giving them a golden colour. The beans are then ground up, or bashed, in a pestle and mortar in a rhythmic fashion that often creates a tune. Spices like cardamom, cinnamon and saffron are often added, with the type and quantity unique to each family (so we encourage you try coffee in the different regions of Saudi you visit as it will always taste different!). The mixture is then boiled with water until it’s ready to drink. The Saudis usually don’t add sugar to their coffee but enjoy it with dates or Ma’amoul; a local delicacy consisting of baked pastry filled with dates paste.
7
Explore ancient Abha on foot
Walking around Abha and visiting the ancient castles is a must-do for any tourist. The most famous ancient sites are in two districts conveniently located in the middle of Abha; Al Nasb and Al-Basta. Al Basta is home to the biggest and most popular castles in the Abha region. These castles stand out because they were built following the Alragab building method. This has kept the castles standing for 100s of years, defying bad weather, war and more. The Al-Abo Sarrah Palaces are a pair of historic stone towers that offer widescreen views of the village of Al-Aziza from their summit, as well as housing a café and local arts exhibition inside.
While strolling, stop by Al-Hosn Al-Turathi restaurant and enjoy traditional Saudi meals sitting in the Majlees, an Arab sitting room. You can always stop for a small bite to eat at Abu Nuqtah Palace in Tabab, a beautifully removated café bedecked in a vibrant shade of turquoise. If you want something authentic to take home with you, the confusingly named Tuesday Market in Abha (as it actually runs every day) is a must-visit spot to pick up local products like honey, woven baskets, spices, jambiya knives, herbs and more. Al Nasb District is known for its prehistoric architectural sites, mainly the Al Nasb historical mosque built in the 1800s. These districts are less than 20 minutes walk from the centre of Abha, making it a low-effort yet super rewarding destination.
8
Be mesmerised along the Al-Dabab Walkway
The Al-Dabab Walkway is located in south-east Abha and stretches out for 7km and stands at 2800m above sea level. For most of the year, during the right conditions following rain, you’ll be able to see fog and clouds covering parts of the city, making it the perfect destination for a picnic and to soak up the views. It’s also very family friendly, with plenty of local places to stop for a bite to eat. If you want to witness the gushing waterfalls, visit during the rainy season (from October to February).
9
Embark on a honey tour of Abha
Abha is known to produce the silkiest honey in the region thanks to the centuries-long practice of beekeeping and honey extraction among locals. Honey has been a vital trade commodity in this region for centuries, thanks to the wide variety of plants and flowers available for the bees. Although some people still produce honey in their houses on a small scale, most honey companies in Abha have become very well established because of the strong government support they’re receiving. Don’t leave Abha without visiting, going on a honey tour in Abha, and grabbing some honey for family and friends back home from Sharafiyah Street.
If you plan on visiting an authentic part of the Middle East with abundant culture, natural beauty, greenery, architecture and heritage, Abha is the place to be. You’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time, and now is the perfect time to travel before it starts grabbing the attention of more tourists.
Practical information
Visas
It’s surprisingly simple and easy to get an e-Visa for Saudi and the process is very similar to applying for an ESTA for the USA. Over 50 nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa, including people from the UK and USA, with it costing (at the time of writing) 535 Saudi riyals (about £115 or US$143). Applications are swift and nearly all applicants will receive a response within three working days – most within 24 hours. To apply for your Saudi e-Visa, visit the official Saudi Tourism Authority website. If you’re from the USA, UK or the Schengen Area, you can also apply for a visa on arrival into Saudi. It’s slightly cheaper than an e-Visa, too, at SAR480 (about £102 or US$128).
Getting there & around
It’s really simple to get to Abha, the capital of the Asir region, from the UK or USA. It’s a 1 hr 20 min direct domestic flight from Jeddah and a 1 hr 40 min flight from Riyadh, both of which are with SAUDIA. To get around Abha and the wider Asir province, we’d recommend hiring a car. There are plenty of direct flights from both the UK and USA to Saudi. Saudi’s national airline SAUDIA flies to Riyadh three times daily from London Heathrow, while British Airways also offers a regular service from Heathrow with daily flights to the capital. SAUDIA also operates twice daily flights to Jeddah from London Heathrow and daily flights from London Gatwick. If you’re travelling from the US, SAUDIA offers direct flights to Riyadh from both New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as direct flights to Jeddah from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.
Local customs
To really embrace Saudi life and pay respect towards its traditions, there are a few local customs you should abide when travelling around the country. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their elbows and below their knees when out in public. If you’re heading to the coast, it’s still expected you dress modestly. When meeting and greeting locals, whether it’s a market stallholder or a private guide, say hello with ‘salam alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you’, as well as offering a handshake.
Weather
You might think it’s hot all year round in Saudi but it’s a little more nuanced than that. The best time to visit the country is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime, depending on where in the country you are, and rarely exceed 30°C. The summer months between June and September can get extremely hot, with temperatures often north of 40°C. But, do as the locals do and head out after dusk when it’s much cooler!
Is English spoken in Saudi?
Arabic is the official national language but English is widely spoken.
What is the currency of Saudi?
The currency of Saudi is the riyal, with the current rate (at the time of writing), around SAR4.76 to the UK£. You’ll need to pre-order money before you travel, as in the UK it’s not usually stocked in currency exchange booths.
What’s it like travelling in Saudi as a female?
We think you’d be surprised! To find out more, read our first-hand account on what it’s like to travel in Saudi.
What’s the time difference in Saudi?
Saudi follows Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3) all year round.
