AlUla in 3 days: Old Town, Hegra and the Harrat
AlUla · Saudi Arabia · 3 days
Best time to visit AlUla
November to March; October and April for lower pricesBest from November to March: days of 18–25 °C and cold desert nights, so pack a jacket. Winter at Tantora runs from mid-December to mid-January and hotel prices peak then. From June to August it reaches 42–46 °C and some tours run only in the early morning or pause.
Travelling from the Gulf: Winter at Tantora (mid-December to mid-January) and the Eid weeks are when AlUla’s hotels are fullest and most expensive; the Gulf winter break has the best weather but needs early booking. In summer the heritage sites open only in the early morning and some experiences pause. In Ramadan, Experience AlUla moves many tours to the late afternoon and evening; check the current timetable.
Flights, stay and entry for AlUla
Flight and entry details below are for travellers starting from Saudi Arabia.
Flights
About 1 hour 50 minutes from Riyadh (Saudia and flynas), about 1 hour 15 minutes from Jeddah. Domestic flight, no time difference.
Search RUH → ULH flightsAll flight routesWhere to stay
Al Jadidah or the Old Town edge for mid-range stays and cafés; the Ashar valley resorts for a splurge.
Find a stay in AlUlaStay connected
A travel eSIM gives you mobile data when you land, so maps and ride apps work without waiting for a SIM card or Wi-Fi.
eSIM and travel extrasEntry rules
AlUla is inside Saudi Arabia, so residents fly with their iqama and citizens with their ID. Visitors from abroad need a Saudi tourist eVisa or visit visa before they arrive. Hegra, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah are visited on timed tours booked through Experience AlUla; book before you fly, especially in winter.
Experience AlUla: tours and ticketsWhat 3 days in AlUla cost
| Style | Per person per day (SAR) | Per person per day (USD) | Whole trip (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 350–550 | 93–147 | 1,050–1,650 |
| Mid-range | 800–1,300 | 213–347 | 2,400–3,900 |
| Luxury | 2,500–5,000 | 667–1,333 | 7,500–15,000 |
Per person per day, flights excluded, with a rental car shared between two. AlUla hotels cost more than in Riyadh or Jeddah for the same standard. Tours are the other fixed cost: the Hegra day tour from SAR 95, Dadan with Jabal Ikmah SAR 350. Rough estimate at October 2026 prices; USD 1 = SAR 3.75.
Day 1: Old Town, the oasis and Elephant Rock
- Morning
AlUla Old Town
Some 900 mud-brick houses on the valley floor, lived in until the 1980s. The lanes and the Musa bin Nusayr castle rock are free to walk; guided Old Town tours can be booked through Experience AlUla. Cafés open on the Al Jadidah side.
- Afternoon
AlUla Oasis
The Oasis Heritage Trail runs about 3 km through date farms and old mud walls behind the Old Town. Walk it after 3 pm in winter when the light is low; in summer go first thing or skip it.
- Evening
Elephant Rock
Jabal AlFil, 11 km north-east of town: a 52 m sandstone elephant. Sunset is the time to be there; the sunken seating pods and the café open in the evening, and access is free.
Day 2: Hegra, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah
- Morning
Hegra
Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO site: more than 100 Nabataean tombs cut into outcrops, 25 km north of town. Entry is only by tour. The shared day tour (from SAR 95, 2–3 hours by coach) leaves from the Winter Park bus stop; the private 4x4 tour starts from SAR 1,000 per vehicle at the Hegra visitor centre.
- Afternoon
Dadan
The capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, with the Lion Tombs high in the red cliff. The 2-hour Dadan and Jabal Ikmah tour (SAR 350 adult, departures at 9 am and 3:30 pm) includes the bus between the two sites and the guide.
- Evening
Jabal Ikmah
The “open library”: hundreds of inscriptions in Dadanitic, Aramaic, Nabataean and early Arabic along a short canyon, 10 minutes from Dadan on the same tour. Afterwards, the mirrored Maraya hall in the Ashar valley is worth the detour only if you hold a concert or restaurant booking; the valley is otherwise closed to drive-bys.
Day 3: The Harrat and the arts district
- Morning
Harrat Viewpoint
The black volcanic plateau above the valley, reached by a paved road from the Old Town side. Go at sunrise for the whole oasis and the sandstone cliffs in one view; the lookout is free and there is a café at the top.
- Afternoon
Al Jadidah Arts District
The newer quarter beside the Old Town: murals, design studios, the Arabian leopard mural and the restaurants where most visitors eat. A slow lunch here breaks the heat in the middle of the day.
- Evening
AlUla Old Town market
Return to the Old Town after dark: the lanes are lit, the souq stalls sell dates, moringa and crafts, and in winter Old Town Nights adds music. It is the easiest last evening before an early flight.
Getting around AlUla
Rent a car at the airport, which is 35 km north of town; there is no public transport and ride-hailing is thin. In season, Experience AlUla runs shuttle buses between the Winter Park hub, the Old Town, Elephant Rock and the Hegra visitor centre, so a car is optional if you stay near the hub. Hegra itself is always visited by the tour vehicle.
AlUla questions
Can I visit Hegra on my own?
No. Entry is by booked tour only and self-driving inside the site is not allowed. The shared coach tour starts from SAR 95 per person and the private 4x4 tour from SAR 1,000 per vehicle for up to seven people, both booked through Experience AlUla.
When is Winter at Tantora?
Mid-December to mid-January; the 2025–26 edition ran from 18 December to 10 January. Concerts at Maraya sell out early and hotels charge their highest rates, so book both well ahead.
How hot is AlUla?
Winter days are 18–25 °C with nights near 5 °C. March and November are warm and pleasant; from June to August it reaches 42–46 °C, when outdoor tours run at dawn or not at all.
Can I drive from Riyadh to AlUla?
Yes, about 1,050 km and 11 hours by road via Hail or Madinah, with long empty stretches. Most visitors fly: under 2 hours from Riyadh, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Jeddah.