5 BEST Things to See in Saudi Arabia
It was only recently that Saudi Arabia opened its borders for travelers with its new visa scheme. The country also made some relaxations in their strict dress requirements for women visiting. They also made it legal for women to travel solo across the country without a male companion.
So, what does this all mean for us adventurers?! Pack your backpack and get ready to explore a whole new land of adventures. From its coral seas to vast escarpment of lush oases, remote mountain villages and ancient cities swallowed up by the sands, Saudi Arabia has so much to be explored.
If you are worried about getting an affordable fight, then there are plenty of Saudi Arabian Airlines available round the year. Catch the next one that suits your schedule and don’t forget to explore these 5 impressive locations.
Table of contents
The edge of the world (literally!)
Saudi Arabia’s Jebel Fihrayn is popularly known as the ‘The Edge of the World’. This 300m-high escarpment offers one of the most dramatic views of the rocky plains, the valley floor riddled with 150 million years old coral fossils, and many more. It takes only about 30 minutes to hike to the top. Many visitors camp there overnight just to see the breathtaking stary skies.
The oasis of Al-Ahsa
Filled with spanning cities, teeming souks, beautiful springs, rocky mountains, and almost three million date palms, the oasis of Al-Ahsa is the ideal spot to discover and experience the rich history, heritage, and culture of Arabia. The region is incredibly diverse and is believed to be one of the oldest settlements of the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Ahasa also has more than 150 natural springs.
Mada’in Saleh- the ‘Petra’ of Saudi Arabia
The best of all the Things to See in Saudi Arabia. We all know Petra, the famous archaeological site in Jordan. Saudi has a similar site with the majority of its remaining dating back from the Nabatean kingdom. Similar to Petra, this region also got absorbed into the Roman Empire. What is left now are mostly 131 rock-carved tombs scattered across the deserts and covered with Aramaic scripts. South to Mada’in Saleh, there is also a ghost town called the ‘old Al-Ula’. It was first built around 2000 years ago and was abandoned under the desert sun for ‘new Al-Ula’.
Ancient rock carvings of Ha’il
Outside the city of Ha’il, ancient rock carving dating almost 10,000 years old can be found. The region may look parched and barren at the moment. However, it was once home to a large lake and Arabia’s earliest inhabitants. The dense collection of petroglyphs details the legacy of the region and the lifestyle that existed years ago.
The old city of Jeddah
Jeddah is both significant for its religious as well as commercial importance. It is the ‘gate to Mecca’ and also a busy commercial center. The ancient streets of this town are filled with many tall, Hijazi-style houses built from coral stones. Nothing much has changed here since it was first built in the seventh century. Museums may have the oldest artifacts, but this region is a living example of the ancient lifestyle.
Remember, never travel without travel insurance! And never overpay for travel insurance!
I use HeyMondo. You get INSTANT quotes. Super cheap, they actually pay out, AND they cover almost everywhere, where most insurance companies don't (even places like Central African Republic etc!). You can sign-up here. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool.
Also, if you want to start a blog...I CAN HELP YOU!
Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! Email me on johnny@onestep4ward.com. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me.
Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $699 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started.
Do you work remotely? Are you a digital nomad/blogger etc? You need to be insured too.
I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. It covers me while I live overseas. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! No upfront fees, you just pay week by week, and you can sign up just for a week if you want, then switch it off and on whenever. You can read my review here, and you can sign-up here!
As you know, blogging changed my life. I left Ireland broke, with no plan, with just a one-way ticket to Thailand and no money. Since then, I started a blog, then a digital media company, I’ve made more than $1,500,000 USD, bought 4 properties and visited (almost) every country in the world. And I did it all from my laptop as I travel the world and live my dream.