Elephant Rock
Jabal Alfil— better known as Elephant Rock— is one of AlUla’ s quintessential highlights. This three-story-building-sized rock formation has taken shape over thousands of years of wind and water erosion, leaving behind a naturally made sculpture. Impressive any time of day, prime time is at sunset— you’ ll swear it’ s glowing crimson. Stick around into the night for the combination of food trucks, table service and shisha.
Alternatively, after dinner by Elephant Rock, head to Gharameel with a quick trek into the desert for the chance to enjoy some absolutely out-of-this-world stargazing.
Lion Tombs of Dadan
Deep in AlUla’ s oasis are the remains of another once-flourishing ancient Arab kingdom: Dadan and Lihyan. The former capital city was once one of the most developed ancient cities in Northern Arabia, mostly due to its proximity to trading routes. Today, it’ s one of the most important archaeological discoveries in AlUla; you can see the still-preserved tomb carved into the sandstone.
Heritage Oasis Trail
AlUla is a true oasis— 2 million date palm trees attest to that. Besides producing 90,000 tons of dates each year, it also serves as the setting for a surreal hike. The Heritage Oasis Trail stretches through 2 miles of towering date palms between the Orange Path and the Dadan Visitor Center, making for a cool stroll in a one-of-a-kind forest.
The Old Town Experience
AlUla’ s tourism roots run deep: It’ s been a crossroads of civilizations and reststop oasis on incense-trading routes for thousands of years. As such, rich heritage is baked into the essence of the built environment, with the labyrinthine Old Town serving as a perfectly preserved relic of long-bygone eras. The historic marketplace still hums with banter and barter, showcasing local handicrafts and elegant antiques— the perfect place to pick a souvenir. •
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