The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country on the Arabian Peninsula, hides its secrets in vast deserts and ancient cities and is waiting to be explored. Travel the places that haven’t seen many visitors and discover the diverse landscape. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia is the largest country without a permanent river.
Saudi Arabia has been opening up to tourism in the last couple of years. Most tourists come here to take part in pilgrimages, but other types of tourism have also been slowly growing, especially since obtaining visas was made a bit easier in 2013. Some visitors can apply for visa online or upon arrival, others must file an application in one of the Saudi Arabian diplomatic embassies. There are 13 international airports serving as gateways into the country. Just like in other countries, it’s also important to comply with the local religion, traditions and laws. A useful piece of advice is that entering the country is impossible if your passport has an Israeli stamp. And don’t forget that in most of the country, the locals rarely see strangers, so being careful when communicating with them is a good way to go.
Some helpful advice for travellers is that full access to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina is only available to Muslims. The Islamic prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca and buried in Medina. Religious tourism is very strong in the two cities. Mecca’s major attraction is al-Masjid al-Ḥarām or the Great Mosque of Mecca. During Hajj, the great pilgrimage that last for almost a week each year, millions of Muslims set out for the mosque to visit the Kaaba, or the House of God, which worshippers must circle seven times. Mecca is also home to one of the tallest buildings, which is part of the modern 120-storey Abraj Al-Bait complex. Medina, on the other hand, is the world’s largest pilgrimage site. The main landmark is Al-Masjid an-Nabawi or the Prophetic Mosque and it is thought to have once been Muhammad’s home and now said to be his final resting place. Non-Muslims aren’t allowed to visit the area where the mosque is located, but they can glimpse it from afar. I recommend taking the tour with the Hop-On Hop-Off bus that will take you to the eleven most important historical, cultural and social points in the city.
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh, which demonstrates the country’s wealthy heart. One of the city’s biggest landmarks is the Masmak Fortress, the name of which means strong. It was built using clay and mud brick and is now a museum. When you’re done learning about history, head to Deerah Souq and explore this traditional marketplace. It’s the best place to buy souvenirs. If you want to look at the numerous skyscrapers from the best possible spot, then the bridge on the 99th floor connecting two Kingdom Center skyscrapers will be the right choice. In the desert, outside the city, is the world’s largest dairy farm. The Al-Safi in Al Kharj has more than 50,000 cows. Interestingly, cows and bulls are separated. North from the city lie breath-taking and high precipitous cliffs. Standing on top of these cliffs is quite an experience for travellers as it makes one feel as if standing at the edge of the world. My tip for sleeping is the Riyadh Area HI Hostel, located in the very centre of the city. The hostel offers a wide range of sports activities. It has a gym, tennis and basketball courts, and a swimming pool. If you’re looking for some relaxation, you can also use the library and the theatre.
One of Saudi Arabia’s major historical landmarks is Mada’in Saleh in the north-western part of the country. The city was built by the Nabateans and is the second largest Nabatean city, right after Jordanian Petra. It offers travellers 131 rock-cut monumental tombs with elaborately ornamented façades to explore. These tombs were cut into boulders of sandstone and there’s quite a distance between each one. There are 130 wells and rainwater collectors that provide water. The desert is also home to Al ‘Ula, a deserted settlement that tells of ancient history. What was once a lively civilisation has left behind 800 mud and stone houses that are more than 2,000 years old.
On the Red Sea coast lies the country’s second largest city, Jeddah. The city’s a mixture of all cultures, cuisines and people, who share the coastline of the Red Sea. The spices and herbs market is especially interesting for travellers. The old town in Ballad, where traditional houses are hidden among the cobbled streets, is just waiting to be explored. Of course, there are also lots of options for exploring the beauty of the Red Sea, especially its coral reefs.
The Asir Mountains in the south-western part of the country are very interesting to explore and can reach almost 3,000 metres high. It rains more than in other parts of the country here, which is the reason behind the men wearing fragrant blossoms in their hair. The mountains are ragged, steep, at places covered in forest, and comprises numerous plateaus and valleys. Take the cable car from the village of Al Souda to get to Mt. Jabal Sawda, the highest peak. The landscape is dotted with basalt rock columns, a legacy of the battles that raged here a century ago. The Wadi Habala canyon is where an astounding panorama unfolds, namely that of the misty mountain peaks reaching downwards towards the Red Sea.
In the east lies the city of Al-Hofuf that is known for the world’s largest productions of dates. That’s why you should explore one of the oases, which are lush green worlds of streams and gardens. There are many old palaces and traditional souqs in the old part of the city where you can try out your haggling skills. A truly spectacular attraction, however, is the enormous underground complex in Al-Qarah Mountain that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018. It’s pleasantly cool in the caves, even during the greatest heat. The best place to stay is the Al-Hasa Youth Hostel. The hostel has a swimming pool, tennis tables, a playground and a garden. It’s suitable for people with disabilities.
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Enjoy while exploring Saudi Arabia and don’t forget to send postcards with MyPostcard. New users can send their first postcard for free with the HIGlobetrotter promo code through the Globetrotter profile. You can read more about it here.
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