Hiking around Riyadh

 Riyadh sits at an elevation of around 600 meters above sea level on the gentle eastern slopes of the Tuwaiq Mountains, a limestone plateau at the eastern end of Najd. The plateau gathers water from a large area and drains it to Wadi Hanifah. This long and winding valley used to be the main water source of Riyadh, although today its 7.7 million residents are supplied with desalinated water from the Persian Gulf. While the plateau tilts gently to the eastsoutheast, it comes to a very dramatic end in the west at a long vertical cliff overlooking a vast desert plain. One spot along this rim was dubbed the “Edge of the World”, then another place was named the “Second Edge of the World”, but the truth is, wherever you stand along this long escarpment, it feels the world ends there. A number of ancient camel trails exist that climb these cliffs at different points, and they offer the same stunning views. At the foot of the plateau, you find the historic village of Qasoor al-Maqbil, and the desert plain is intersected with picturesque red sand dunes. 

A bit further from Riyadh but still in Riyadh Province, there is a recently opened trail in the Thahlan Mount near Dawadmi (Dawadimi). 

Tuwaiq Mountains - The Edge of the World

The plateau on which Riyadh sits comes to a very dramatic end in the west at a long vertical cliff overlooking a vast desert plain. There are several dramatic viewpoints along this long escarpment, one dubbed the “Edge of the World” and another the “Second Edge of the World”. The hike featured here leads to the second location. 

Tuwaiq Mountains - Camel Trail


This is another viewpoint at the edge of the Tuwaiq Mountains, at the top of a resored ancient camel trail. It is near the village of Qasoor al-Maqbil (the Moqbel Palaces), and the Red Sand Dunes are also not far, so you could combine your hike with visiting these places as well.

Graffiti Rock (Qaryat al Asba)


It's a short and easy hike that starts at a small rocky hill known as Graffiti Rock or Qaryat al Asba, featuring ancient inscriptions and petroglyphs. The trail leads up to the top of a little plateau where you’ll encounter prehistoric ruins and spectacular vistas.

Go to: Riyadh | Abha | Najran | Bisha | Taif | Medina | Al-Ula | Tabuk 

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 lic...
Read more