About

 The main goal of this website and accompanying guidebook is to spotlight the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a world class hiking destination and to kindle a passion for this exhilarating outdoor pursuit. By shedding light on the country’s diverse natural beauty, we aim to change prevailing perceptions and inspire hikers to explore Saudi Arabia’s scenic wonders.  

Presently 20 hikes from 8 distinct regions are featured, a good number to show how diverse this country is. More hikes are planned to be added in the future on an ongoing long-term basis. This is an open project, and we invite the public and organizations to participate. If you are interested in cooperating, please reach out to us at hikingsaudiarabia@gmail.com. Suggestions, criticism, or any sort of feedback are also welcome. 

We are not a tour operator and do not organize hikes. You can see a list of licensed hiking guides eligible to work in Saudi Arabia here. 

Discover our other projects: Discover Sinai, promoting outdoor activities in South Sinai, Egypt, and Spectacular Mountains, featuring hikes and scrambles in the Canadian Rockies and around the world. 

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome / مرحباً

Image
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently opened its doors to Western visitors and began developing its tourism industry in every field. One of these is hiking, and several new trails have been established, few of which are described in our guidebook . The potential is enormous, as the country is huge and the landscapes are surprisingly diverse. Most people think of Saudi Arabia as merely a land of endless deserts of sand and rock. While there certainly is plenty of that, the kingdom boasts a wealth of diverse terrains and climates beyond these stereotypical images, ranging from stunning desert landscapes to thick Juniper tree forests and wadis that you can swim in. The country's historic landscape is also varied. Saudi Arabia is, of course, the birthplace of Islam, but earlier cultures, as well as the Ottomans in later times, also left their mark. This is a new beginning for the KSA, for the international hiking community, and for this project that aims to present some of the best avai
Read more

Saudi hospitality

Image
The Saudis are welcoming and friendly in general, and then sometimes you meet people who go out their way to show their true tradition of hospitality. Mohamed Abu Khaled from the Bin Attiya tribe in Wadi al-Deesah is such a man. He was heading home with family members and friends after a day out when I met him. He invited me for dinner and said I can stay overnight at his nearby farm. I was hesitant briefly, for logistical reasons, as I planned to visit the wadi early the next day, but then accepted the invitation. It turned out to be one of my most beautiful evenings in Saudi Arabia, with the familiar sense of a Bedouin dinner in the majlis , the communal area. Thank you Mohamed, and thanks to all the nice people I met during my Saudi trip! As for those who are considering a visit; just go, you will have a wonderful time and meet great people. 
Read more

Renting a car in Saudi Arabia

Image
  The most convenient and cheapest way, and often the only way, to visit places outside of the cities is to rent a car. However, it is not always that easy. Many car rental companies demand that you have a Saudi driver's license, others want you to have a credit card. But you can rent a car without a Saudi license or credit card, you just have to find the right place. Here, I present such car rental offices in 5 cities.  Riyadh: Abu Diyab Rent A Car  Located opposite the King Fahad National Library on Olaya Street, the Abu Diyab office is one of several rent a car companies next to each other. But only they rent a car without asking for a Saudi license and/or a credit card. The cost of a small car with insurance starts at around SAR 140. See location on Google Maps .  Abha: Abu Diyab Rent A Car  You find several car rental companies at the airport. Since I rented from Abu Diyab before, I went to them. The first person I talked to asked for a Saudi license, and I had to insist that
Read more