Saudi Arabia · ALULA TOURS
AlUla is a valley of sandstone and rock tombs, and most of it is reached on a shuttle or a guided vehicle rather than on your own. These 15 compare Hegra, the old town, the balloon and the desert drives on price and start time.
Visit Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a three-hour guided trip from AlUla. See rock-cut Nabataean tombs, hear the story of the ancient kingdom, and enjoy time at four stops for photos. Hotel pickup may be added, with English and Arabic guides available.
“The experience was really nice ! And the guide was kind and able to answer our questions”
You’ll leave your AlUla hotel before dawn, watch the balloon inflate, then float for about an hour above Hegra’s sandstone canyons and tombs. English-speaking pilots, including Arturas on some flights, explain the area from the air. Coffee is included, but breakfast is not.
“They cancelled the trip one hour before we were supposed to meet up. I had already left my hotel to drive to the location and didn't get the message until I arrived. Thankfully, there was another tour provider who was willing to add me to their group so I was able to see the Edge of the World.”
Travel from Winter Park to Dadan and Jabal Ikmah with an Arabic or English-speaking guide. See the ancient Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, royal tombs, and more than 300 carved inscriptions in an open-air desert canyon. Mohamed has earned praise for clear, engaging guidance.
“There are two tour parts. the logistics was NOT in English, the tour was in Chinese only. once at the sights local guides presented in English. Just understand this tour is mostly in Chinese”
Spend eight hours with a local guide exploring Hegra, AlUla Old Town, Elephant Rock, and Maraya. Guides such as Turki, Fahad, and Abdullah are praised for clear explanations, careful driving, and flexible help. Transportation, tickets, and hotel pickup are included, but meals are not.
“Turki was an amazing guide! Super informative and friendly, always making sure we got to see the best of the tour. He was very flexible with our schedule too. Definitely recommend requesting him!”
Travel from Winter Park to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, then visit Jabal Ithlib, Jabal AlBanat, the Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza, Jabal AlAhmar, Jabal Alkhuraymat, and the Handcraft Pavilion. An English or Arabic guide provides historical context, but tomb interiors are not open.
“The tour was very nice and the guide gave us very useful historical information. The tour starts with the bus taking you to hegra and then from there the bus will take you around with few stops to get information about the main sites and take pictures. It is a bus tour with a group.”
Spend about six hours exploring AlUla with a local guide, visiting UNESCO-listed Hegra, the mud-brick Old Town, the oasis, and Elephant Rock. Pickup is offered, admission to Hegra and Old Town is included, and groups are limited to 15 people.
“Muhammed was friendly and flexible but was not the safest driver or new where he was going. The first hour was spent driving in circles.”
Spend about two hours at Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. An English or Arabic-speaking driver assists you as you see more than 110 Nabataean tombs, Jabal Ithlib, and the Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza. Hotel pickup is available as an upgrade.
“Hola mi reserva 1475954713 fue cancelada por temas de lluvia. Sin embargo, ha sido imposible contactarme para hacer el reembolso del dinero. Éramos dos personas mi padre y yo. Me podrían ayudar por favor. Gracias”
Spend six hours exploring AlUla with an Arabic- or English-speaking guide. Walk through Old Town, see its date-palm oases, visit Hegra’s Nabataean tombs, and finish at Elephant Rock. Guides including Hatim, Rasha, and Mohamed Al Bokhari are praised for flexible pacing and clear explanations.
“La guida Mohamed Al Bokhari era davvero smart, simpatica e preparata, il tour è molto bello, la città antica visitata di mattina è davvero affascinante, per non parlare di Hegra che lascia mozzafiato, chiusura con Elephant rock al tramonto e un omaggio di Mohammed inaspettato!”
Ride through Hegra National Park in an open-top 4x4 with an English or Arabic guide. You’ll look for deer and other wildlife, study native plants and rock formations, and see rock art linked to human life thousands of years ago. This tour does not visit Hegra’s tombs.
“Il tour è stato in linea con le nostre aspettative, la nostra guida molto preparata l’ha reso interessante con i dettagli che ci ha fornito sulla riserva”
Explore Hegra in a vintage Land Rover with a private group of up to seven. Your Arabic or English guide takes you to major Nabataean sites including Al Diwan, the Tomb of Liyah, the Nabataean Tombs, and Jabal AlBanat during a two-hour visit.
“Driving in the open landrover was fun and the Nabataean tombs are amazing! But for the price we expected a private guide, however she gave also explanations to the guests in other cars, sometimes in Arabic. We didn´t feel very valued. In general it is difficult to listen to a female guide with niqab speaking English not perfectly. We were three old ladies (over 70) but the driver did not help us out of or into the car.”
Meet your Arabic or English guide at AlUla Old Town Visitors Center for a walk through adobe lanes, Old Market Street, and selected areas closed to the public. You’ll learn about settlers and pilgrims, see the 10th-century AlUla Fort, and return to the visitor center.
“The tour content and guide were not bad, but it was completely unreasonable for the price.”
Meet at Winter Park for a guided visit to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over about 2.5 hours, you’ll see rock-cut tombs, hear stories of the people who made them, and have time for photos. Hotel pickup is optional.
“Guides and the staff were very patient and answered all the questions. They also help to take pictures, give you enough time to take the pictures and have knowledge of history of the place.”
Explore five AlUla sights in about five to six hours with a licensed guide, air-conditioned transport, drinks, and snacks. Expect Elephant Rock, natural landmarks, AlUla Old Town, ancient carvings, and a stop at Waterfall Cafe. Guide Badar and his team focus on local stories and archaeology.
“AlUla Tour We enjoyed visiting the natural landmarks outside the city of AlUla and then visited the waterfall cafe which was good and finally the old town which was wonderful”
See Jabal AlFil, AlUla’s three-storey sandstone elephant, on a late-afternoon trip from your hotel. An English or Arabic-speaking driver-guide handles the ride and admission. The site is free to enter, so this tour’s value lies mainly in convenient transport, timing, and assistance.
“Great experience, excellent service I would highly recommend to anyone that visits alula to definitely visit elephant rock”
Follow a guide such as Faiz through AlUla’s 3km Oasis Heritage Trail, shaded by date palms and lined with citrus trees, farms, and springs. Expect dates, coffee, and water, small groups, and stories about desert life. Allow extra time for the parking shuttle and meeting point.
“It was very interesting and the guide was excellent. No dates or coffee offered only water and drop-off point unclear. Maybe explain that the taxi has to drop you off in the parking area where you catch a bus to the start of the tour?”
Pick a cliff, a coral lane or a reef.
