Road Trip through Saudi Arabia

Here are some pictures from my Spring Break through Saudi Arabia, specifically my trek to see AlUla.

Driving to AlUla

Old Town in AlUla

In the 12th century, AlUla Old Town became an essential settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Makkah. The city gradually replaced Qurh, to the south of AlUla, and is favourably mentioned by travellers from the 12th to the 20th centuries, when modern AlUla was constructed nearby. The houses were designed to be attached to one another, providing fortification, which hints to defence being a priority for the city’s early inhabitants. 

“AlUla Old Town,” Experience AlUla

Sky Point

Hegra

Once a thriving international trade hub, the archeological site of Hegra (also known as Mada’in Saleh) has been left practically undisturbed for almost 2,000 years. But now for the first time, Saudi Arabia has opened the site to tourists. Astute visitors will notice that the rock-cut constructions at Hegra look similar to its more famous sister site of Petra, a few hundred miles to the north in Jordan. Hegra was the second city of the Nabataean kingdom, but Hegra does much more than simply play second fiddle to Petra: it could hold the key to unlocking the secrets of an almost-forgotten ancient civilization.

“Hegra, an Ancient City in Saudi Arabia Untouched for Millennia, Makes Its Public Debut,” Smithsonian Magazine

Desert X AlUla

Desert X, a series of art exhibitions that explore desert culture, found its ideal home in AlUla in early 2020. As a regional crossroads, a centre of arts and culture, and home to innovative civilisations across the millennia, AlUla was the perfect locale for such a world-class art exhibit.

Established in 2017 in the Coachella Valley of Southern California, Desert X is a series of international contemporary art exhibitions that bring desert locations to life through site-specific installations by acclaimed artists that address ecological, cultural, spiritual and other themes.

“Desert X,” Experience AlUla

Maraya

Maraya is a stunning piece of art set in the desert canyon of Ashar Valley. Designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, it rises from the sand like a mirage. The state-of-the-art structure is covered in 9,740 mirrored panels reflecting AlUla’s beauty […]. Maraya, meaning mirror or reflection in Arabic, celebrates AlUla’s significant role in history as a crossroads of cultures for centuries.

“Maraya,” Experience AlUla