Mountains of Arabia

📍 Jeddah - Taif (185 km): 2 hrs 30 mins

The program begins early in the morning from Jeddah hotel or airport.

The mountains are calling! Start the engine to begin one of the greatest road trips in Saudi Arabia. Today is a big climb, from sea level via Al Hada at 2,200 metres to the city of Taif.

So liberal is the atmosphere in Jeddah that it can be easy to forget about its proximity to Mecca. The holiest city in Islam is just under 100 kilometres from Jeddah and the millions of pilgrims who flock to Saudi Arabia from around the world to perform the Hajj generally ply this route on their way to the city’s sacred Kaaba. Mecca is off-limits to non-Muslims, but a glimpse of the city, even from a distance, is sure to make an indelible impact on travellers of every creed or religious denomination.
 
From the flat and dry desert landscapes that surround Mecca, the road rises sharply after it passes by the holy city en route to Taif: the final destination for today. This climb marks the transition between the coastal plain and the Sarawat Mountains, which start their higher section here and extend all the way down to the Gulf of Aden in the south. The steep hairpins curve sharply into the mountainside offering some spectacular vistas, while the monkeys that cavort by the roadside provide additional company on the journey. 
 
At 1,800mtr above sea level, Taif itself makes for a satisfying conclusion to the first day of the road trip. Known as the “City of Roses”, it is famous for its cool temperatures and for the fragrant flowers that grow in the city and its surrounding mountain valleys. The countryside has abundant natural beauty and is also known for the cultivation of grapes, figs, pomegranates, and honey.

Discover the local market in the late afternoon. This is a bustling quarter where the sense of a real Arabian souq is on every corner and one finds anything on offer; from ‘oud’  (incense wood burned for its good smell) and ‘shomakh’ (the typical Saudi headscarf for men) to ordinary household goods.

Overnight in Taif.

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

📍 Taif - Al Bahah (220 km): 3 hrs 15 mins Al Bahah - Thee Ain (48km) 1hr each way

Embark on an unforgettable road trip along the Sarawat range, breathing in crisp mountain air. The journey between Taif and Abha, among the most stunning in the Arabian Peninsula, offers breathtaking views of steep cliffs, ancient watchtower ruins, and serene mountain settlements untouched by time. Terraced fields defy the image of Saudi Arabia as barren, and there are ample opportunities to pause and explore these captivating landscapes, particularly around Al Bahah.

Al Bahah itself is another of Saudi Arabia’s surprises. The city, and capital of Al Bahah region, enjoys a pleasant climate at around 2200 metres above sea level and is surrounded by more than forty forests, including Raghdan, Al-Zareeb and Baidan. The views all around the city are spectacular. Some of the best vistas can be enjoyed from Raghadan park, which overlooks a deep wadi gorge. 

Deep down in the wadi, the UNESCO-listed village of Thee Ain — accessed via a curving road that hugs the cliffside — is one the region’s best preserved and hosts a fascinating visitors’ centre which offers insight to local life. Climb the steps in its steep alleyways and enter a house or two. Find the way up the narrow staircases and end up on a rooftop, viewing over the valley. A torchlight often comes in handy.  Get a sense of how life was 400 years ago when Thee Ain protected and supported the caravan roads. At the foot of the village is a little stream where a fresh drink can be enjoyed under the trees.

Overnight in Al Bahah

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Al Bahah - Abha (340 km): 5 hrs

After breakfast, resume the overland journey with a first stop at Baljurashi, a town renowned for its Saturday historical market, where traditional Saudi produce, crafts, and honey are showcased—visible only if visiting on market day. Explore Baljurashi Heritage Village and its small museum followed by lunch before continuing the journey.

Further south the scenery gets more rugged as the mountains get higher, culminating in the peak of Jabal Sawda: the highest summit in Saudi Arabia. Before reaching Abha, adventurers will encounter traditional Asir houses along with an impressive mosque and equally notable views at the village of Olayan and a fort-like ruler’s house that is now a museum in the town of Namas. A picnic lunch can be enjoyed in an airy park with a view into the deep valley outside town. 

End the day by exploring Abha. Stretch the legs at the city’s Art Street, a picturesque street lined with magnificent purple jacaranda trees. The area is decorated with colourful pieces of art and is a place where artists from all over the country catch up to share their creativity. Sunset or early evening is best spent on the Al Dabab walkway on the cliff edge that the city of Abha created for exercising and for social gatherings of its people. Gaze west and dream of more mountain scenery to come!

Overnight in Abha

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Abha - Rijal Alma - Tabab - Abha (230 km): 8 hrs

Abha and the wider Asir region beg for deeper exploration. And the focus is on Asir culture with local traditions, architecture, and heritage to the fore as we uncover the area that surrounds Abha. The final road trip element of the Saudi mountain discovery is perhaps its most impressive. Pass by Jabal Sawda, widely believed to be the highest in Saudi Arabia at 3,000 metres, before descending a hairpin road down the slopes of the mountain to Rijal Alma, a fascinating collection of around 60 multi storey traditional stone houses that hug the slopes. These large, fortress-like houses are designed vertically, which helps heat escape and trap the cool air. The site is UNESCO-listed.

After climbing back up the mountain, find a beautifully restored fortress in Tabab village. Dominating the valley, overlooking the fields with thick walls made of mud and stone. Walls keep the heat out in summer and the warmth in in winter. Cattle also find a place inside, safe from any invaders. Enjoy lunch at the village before going back to Abha. 

Delf more into the heritage of Asir at the Fatima Museum of Aseeri Women—a fascinating overview of traditional design, home decoration and Asir natural painting techniques that has been passed on through the generations by the female line. Each colour and design has a meaning, understanding that brings to life the bright interiors of the houses visited previously.

Overnight in Abha.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Abha city centre - Abha Airport (20 km): 25 mins

The morning is at leisure before the transfer to Abha International Airport for onward flights to Jeddah or Riyadh, with connections to the final destination.

Optional Program: Mt. Sawda Hike (Half Day)

Embark on a hiking adventure on Jabal Sawda, considered Saudi Arabia's highest peak. Follow the guide on a three-hour hike, passing juniper trees and enjoying spectacular mountain views along the way. The descent unveils breathtaking valley scenery that defies expectations in this desert country. After the hike, drive back to Abha. 

Time : 08:00 - 13:00

• Moderate hike on a rocky trail which descends gradually. 
• Walking: up to 3 hours (7 km) (including water breaks and photo time)
• Elevation: + 29 m / - 752 m

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast