From Ha’il to Al’Ula …

…it’s a good 400 km, mostly boring kilometers. But this gradually changes before Al’Ula.

Al’Ula

First we drive to the “West” parking lot, where we happily meet our French colleagues Muriel and Gilles again.
The parking lot is close to several sights and shopping facilities, but is relatively quiet at night. Eating out with the four of us is nicer.
That’s why we make the most of being together and choose a Yemeni restaurant where the food is freshly cooked.
The kitchen gives off all its heat into the dining room, including the smoke, which is why the air conditioning runs at full blast and makes a lot of noise. But the food is all the better and the experience pleases both our palates and our minds.

Old town

One of the highlights of Al’Ula is the partially renovated old town with its mud architecture.
Al’Ula lies in a huge oasis in the middle of the Hijaz mountains.
Many magnificent rock formations and sand dunes characterize the landscape around Al’Ula.

Fantastic surrounding area

Al’Ula is located in a huge oasis in the middle of the Hijaz mountains.
Many magnificent rock formations and sand dunes characterize the landscape around Al’Ula.
You can hardly get enough of it here.
New views again and again.
Only for rock and desert lovers, of course.
On the other hand, the lush green of the coconut palms and plantations contrasts beautifully with the red of the rocks and the yellow of the sand.
The drive to the viewpoint above Al’Ula is not an easy one, as it is certainly 20% steep and has some narrow and tight hairpin bends.
But the sweat is definitely worth it. The view is breathtaking.

Elephant rocks

One of the famous rock formations of Al’Ula is the Elephant Rock.
You can also camp nearby, but during the day it is disturbed by frequent helicopter flights as they fly low.

Mada’in Saleh – Hejaz Railway

Mada’in Saleh was founded by the Nabataeans and still has a station of the famous Hejaz Railway, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century under the Ottoman Empire.
Unfortunately, this area is currently not accessible due to restoration work.
The Hejaz Railway ran from Damascus in Syria through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to Medina.
There are feeder lines to the ports of Haifa, Acre and Aqaba. During the First World War, the Hejaz Railway was partially destroyed by Lawrence of Arabia and his army.
Only parts of it can still be used today.

Mada’in Saleh – HEGRA Tomb City

The burial city was founded by the Nabataeans, who lived here from around 100 BC to around 100 AD and built a trading metropolis at its southernmost extent.
The burial sites were a symbol of the wealth and fortune of the individual families.
Women also had the right to have their own burial cave built.
The burial sites were often protected by curses to prevent strangers from clearing the burial cave or using it for themselves, We take the slightly more expensive shuttle bus, which you can get on and off at your own convenience.
This gives us flexibility and allows us to take breaks when the hordes of visitors from another bus have left.

Tomb of Lihyan, son of Kuza

In Hegra, an extra approaches me and asks for a picture.
She is employed by the authorities for precisely this purpose and is keeping the excavation going.

Marayah Palace of Mirrors

The Palace of Mirrors lies amidst the rocks in a side valley. It is only accessible with a booking. As the free exhibitions are fully booked, the only option is to book the expensive restaurant. But from a photographic and visual point of view, the effort is well worth it; and we are allowed to spend the night in the parking lot, which gives us the opportunity to experience the morning light here too.

The starters in the restaurant are excellent. For the main course we order veal entrecote from Angus beef. However, they are so tough that we can only eat them with difficulty. I’m tearing my hair out that I didn’t complain and ask for new, tender pieces of meat, because for around 50 USD per piece you’d think you’d get something fine. Once again, there is nothing wrong with the dessert. During the meal, night falls with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.