Are you planning your trip to Saudi Arabia? The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula with attractive natural wonders. If you think that KSA is only known for its oil production and exports, then its natural wonders will prove you wrong. There are a lot of places and historical sites that tourists can visit in Saudi Arabia.
Even this is the country which holds Makkah City, where millions of Muslims perform Umrah each year. Planning a spiritual journey with Umrah Travel packages from UK and exploring the natural tourist attractions of Saudi Arabia is nothing short of a wonderful experience.
The land of KSA is not only desert-based; instead, you can enjoy many places such as the Asir Mountains, Farasan Islands, Al Wahbah Crater, Edge of the World, and Red Sea Coral Reefs. Visitors can also explore many other natural wonders in KSA. For visiting any place, there are certain etiquettes and regulations.
Similarly, you should also know the guidelines when visiting natural and historical places. Following that, in this blog post, we will mention the five most insider and helpful tips that you must follow when discovering the natural wonders of Saudi Arabia.
Tip 1: Choose Off-Peak Season (Avoid Summer)
Why does everyone say to avoid summer in Saudi Arabia? Is it really hot there? Yes, scientifically, the climate is extremely hot during summer. Actually, Saudi Arabia stands within the subtropical high-pressure zone from a geographic standpoint, where solar radiation is high and atmospheric moisture is very low. This results in to rise in temperature from 45°C to 52°C during May to September. Also, the human body requires more hydration, and exploring places is unsafe for health. So, summer means avoiding.
Choose off-peak months when tourists are less, the climate is comfortable, and there are the best conditions to explore nature wonders. For Saudi Arabia, off-peak months are from November to March. Many Muslim tourists prefer to make the step forward for Umrah in December to enjoy the mild weather and the spiritual experience of visiting Mecca and Medina. During this period, the temperature is 16°C to 28°C during the day and 8°C to 18°C during the night. Also, direct sunlight while touring is easily tolerable.
During off-peak, you can capture world-class photography of wonders like Al Ula, Edge of the World, and Asir Mountains. This time atmosphere is fog-free and contrasts light balance of the crystal clear sky. Also, Saudi Arabia’s birds, gazelles, and reptiles are more active in winter. Moreover, physical strain is dramatically reduced for trekking and hiking.
Tip 2: Hire Local Guides, Especially in Desert Zones
The natural landscapes of Saudi Arabia, especially in the desert and volcanic zones, are unpredictable and geologically complex. To explore deeply every place, you should hire a local guide or arrange a pre-guide when booking your Saudi travel package. Why exactly is a tour guide necessary to enjoy your trip? They often introduce you to KSA’s insider-level wonders, hidden or unpublished sites. Some of these places include lava tubes, desert oases, cliff viewpoints, petroglyph spots, and old dhow harbours in Farasan.
Saudi Arabia’s land system is tribal-based, and many natural wonders are located in tribal territories or in private lands. So, local guides know how to visit them, in which parts tourists can do photography, and where local customs are strongly followed. These things are totally unknown to foreign tourists.
One of the major benefits of hiring local tour guides is the safety management. In desert zones of KSA, there may be zero mobile signals, so that guides will use offline desert trails or compass-based navigation. Additionally, they will help you to control the heat stress, dehydration, and wildlife encounters. Local guides know the protocols of every place, hence there will be no real risk. Make sure to hire them via a trusted source or use online services to book them early.
Tip 3: Early Morning Exploring = Best Experience
As you know, the weather in Saudi Arabia remains hot, especially in desert areas. The temperature in the early morning, usually between 5-8 AM, becomes comparatively mild and comfortable. If you plan to explore Rub al Khali or any desert zone, then early morning hours protect you from overheating. Since this time is the golden hour when the sun sets from the east with warm light, you can experience the dramatic and photogenic views.
If we talk about the Asir Mountains or the Farasan Islands, many wildlife activities take place at the start of the day. You will get a chance to look at them, such as migratory birds, desert foxes, and coral reef fishes. Let’s tell you the biggest advantage of early natural wonders in Saudi Arabia. Crowds are low on the tourist spots, and you can hike, trek, or beach stroll peacefully.
As a visitor, fatigue keeps us less energetic. You feel fresh in the early morning, which makes it easier to explore tough terrains and saves you from the extreme heat of the day. Hence, no risk of dehydration or anything else.
Tip 4: Always Have Backup Supplies
Backup supplies basically provide you with safety, comfort, and preparedness. The tourist spots or wonders of Saudi Arabia are mostly in remote areas, which are far away from the city centres. It’s easy to face practical challenges there, so you must keep backup supplies.
The network coverage in desert and mountainous areas is very weak or does not exist. This means you won’t be able to use mobile networks for any purpose, including emergencies. For backup of this, use offline maps and GPS devices. Secondly, in remote areas, restaurants and shops are sometimes 50-100 km away. You can’t replenish easily.
Keep 5-10 litres of water with you. This is sufficient if you are going trekking, hiking, or camping, especially for two to three days. Moreover, do not keep a dead battery in your mobile devices; carry power banks or other sources. A basic first aid kit is also a good thing to keep in your luggage in case you get minor cuts, injuries, insect bites, or blisters. Make sure to keep some energy bars as well.
Tip 5: Follow the Cultural Awareness Practices
We discussed previously that the natural and historical places of Saudi Arabia are located in tribal areas or near them. These include Al Ula Rock formations, Harrat Rahat, Wadi Disah, Wadi Al-Rummah, the Asir region, Taif Roses Valleys, Al-Ahsa Oasis, Madain Saleh, and Empty Quarter. These wonders are limited to the sentence; others may come in the line. However, when visiting the tourist places of Saudi Arabia, you should make sure to follow the cultural practices. It’s best to be aware of those practices before going there physically.
Now, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is open-minded and every modest dress code may be acceptable, but this is narrow to their guidelines. Every nation or country has its own cultural practices. If you are European or American, don’t purely opt for your own dress code here in KSA. Instead, follow their local cultural. In public places, clothing modesty is necessary, especially if you are a woman.
- Makkah and Madinah are two holy cities of Saudi Arabia. In Makkah, non-Muslims won’t be allowed inside the city premises, but in Madinah, they can enter.
- You must try to avoid participating in any public displays of affection.
- On Friday, the schedule of timing of public spots or tourist places changes due to Friday prayers.
- Do not say “Hello” or “Hi” to every Saudi. Try to say “Salam”, do a handshake, or nod your head while greeting.
- Give environmental respect and follow sustainable practices in natural wonders. This is also part of cultural awareness.
These five insider tips are important to follow because Saudi Arabia’s remote areas come with extreme environments and limited facilities. If you are prepared with these essentials, you can enjoy safe and stress-free exploration.
