Saudi Arabia opened up for tourism in 2019, and while the heritage sites of AlUla have been known by archaeologists for decades, it’s only in the past couple of years that facilities have been in place to welcome international visitors. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra, home to those spectacular Nabataean tombs, is a 20-minute drive away, as is AlUla Old Town with its handful of restaurants, cafés, and small shops.
24 HOURS IN ALULA FULL
It’s a long walk from end to end, but in the early morning before the heat sets in, it’s a spectacular way to appreciate the full majesty of the setting. Currently, getting around requires a buggy, but bicycles for each villa will be arriving soon. There are two main anchors, the North and South Pavilions, connected by a track almost three kilometers in length, twisting and turning between dunes and rock formations. In the early morning, when first light hits their surface, the rocks take on a honey-colored hue that changes throughout the day, blushing a warm pink as the sun sets.Īrrival is by car on a sand road, and at first glance it’s easy to miss the property, the 47 standalone villas blending almost seamlessly into the landscape. The resort sprawls across 10,000 square meters of AlUla’s Ashar Valley, a broad swath of pale desert surrounded by otherworldly rock pinnacles. The Banyan Tree brings a new level of luxury to this desert land that’s home to 200,000 years of human history, an oasis filled with 2.3 million date palms, and sandstone tombs hewn from the rocks by the Nabataeans, the architects who carved the ancient heritage sites at Petra in Jordan. Just say old town of Alula, and your taxi would take you to a certain point where shuttle buses wait to take you to the tourist center for free.Simply put, AlUla is breathtaking. The place looks wonderful at night as well. For more gastronomic delights, come for dinner to get a taste of Middle Eastern food, this is the place to be. If you need a bite, there are restaurants and coffee shops for a cookie, a shawarma or some coffee. Dash the expense! The tour would take about an hour or so. My red-camel coffee mug cost me 58 riyals ( about US S 15.42).
It's tourist area, so the rates can be expensive. They have t-shirts, refrigerator magnets, a coffee mugs and other interesting stuff to take home as gifts or mementos. The area where you find the old city, is also the perfect place to do some shopping which you can do after the tour. You'll see how this town looks from the skies it's simply stunning. Sign up for the 30-minute 50 Riyal helicopter tour (roughly US $200 per person), and you get to fly over this place. From the top you get to see how amazing these box-like dilapidated structures and crevices are in contrast to modern streets and white apartment buildings that stretches in the background. Then there's the citadel or tower outpost which gives you a great panoramic view to the entire town and the city. There's one house that is converted to a small museum.
So you get a feel what it was like during that period, they take you through a small narrow path that leads from one end to the other side of the town. Some building were completed but after completion it will be a great wonder and attractive place to visit.Īl Ula is the old city. The Tourist organization lately surrounded the Remaining part of the town and start restoration project to open the town and the building for tourism. But was not maintained and due to weather and rain the condition is detonating. The good think, the expansion was done out of the old Town so the integrity of the old twon remain. The old town was abounded 60 years back and the new building material was used for new location. So they warked on trading as well and this promoted thier farming business. This twon existance is way back in history and it was part of the Silk Trade Path from China to Europe passing by Egypt and Antakya. So the twon is built on elevated land near the valley where many farms are located.
The major society are farmars for palm tree, orange, vegetables, wheat and others. They are also has palm-tree in some houses outdoor. The buildings are close to each other with small passage in between which give shadow from sun, and to control security of the people. The town was built using the mud and the palm trea waste and they managed to have multi levels housing. This old town of Alula families reflects the many signals for history study.
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