AlUla, a haven for natural beauty and ancient civilizations, is undoubtedly a hidden gem of Saudi Arabia. Upon my arrival, I felt as if I had stepped into an open-air museum. The region is brimming with ancient ruins and stunning rock formations dating back 7,000 years. AlUla’s allure extends far beyond its archaeological and geological wonders, encompassing architectural marvels such as Maraya Hall, which I eagerly anticipated visiting, as well as natural wonders like Elephant Rock. I’ll be sharing my experiences and top tips for visiting AlUla to serve as a valuable reference for your own trip.
Places I Visited in Al Ula
Maraya Hall
This architectural masterpiece that reflects the beauty of AlUla is composed of 9,744 mirrored panels. Unfortunately, you can’t see this architectural marvel from the road. You need to have a reservation at the restaurant inside or a ticket to a musical event to be able to see it. So, I made a reservation at a restaurant to be able to see it. The facade of the hall reflects the beauty of the stunning desert terrain and golden sands, which made me take the best amazing photos.
Elephant Rock
The rocky wonder of AlUla. What amazed me most when I saw the rock was how much it resembled an elephant. The amazing thing is that this giant rock was sculpted by natural factors such as rain and wind without a single human intervention. I went to see it before sunset and the view was amazing. There were great floor seating areas around the place and when night fell, a fire was lit for warmth.
Activities I Engaged In
In addition to these amazing places I visited, there were many other things to do in AlUla that I was very excited to try. The most prominent of these activities were
Hiking
I was sure that the beauty of the rock formations in AlUla would be a magical sight while hiking, so I decided to go on a hiking trip in the Hidden Valley in the Sharaan Nature Reserve. I booked through Ootlah’s Website, and the booking was very easy. I enjoyed a wonderful hour-and-a-half hiking trip. While booking, I found hiking trips that lasted up to 8 and 9 hours, but I didn’t book them because my stay wasn’t long enough and I preferred to discover other places and do other activities.
To see more photos during the hiking trip and my trip to AlUla in general, click on this link.
Stargazing
I had heard a lot about the view of the twinkling stars in the sky of the Gharameel area, but I didn’t expect the view to be so magical and impressive. We enjoyed our session on traditional Arabic carpets, listening to amusing tales about constellations, planets, and ancient cultures with our guide, who also told us about the history of the Gharameel area and that these tall, straight columns were part of a huge mountain. The tour didn’t end there, as we had dinner of the most delicious local food under the stars. It was truly a wonderful experience and I was glad to have done it.
