One of the most beautiful canyons in Saudi Arabia is Wadi Lajab in Jazan province. We drove there from Dhahran Al Janub on dangerous roads #2002 and #158 with very steep ascents and hazardous descents. Since the roads copy the Yemen border, we passed many army checkpoints.
It is part of the Saudi Tihamah valleys in the Sarawat Mountains. The canyon is infiltrated by streams, which have carved a narrow path between two large mountains. It is about 5 kilometers long and 3 to 30 kilometers wide, with steep sides as high as 300 meters. The narrow and incredibly deep valley offers some quite dramatic viewpoints.
But the most incredible feature of Wadi Lajab is that it delivers fresh water more regularly than any other wadi in Saudi Arabia. The stream at the canyon’s bottom creates mid-sized waterfalls and numerous ponds with fish.
Some people have described Wadi Lajab as “heaven in the desert” because it is situated between two high rocky mountains with steep sides covered by a thick green moss that can resemble a hanging garden.
Road to Wadi Lajab
Wadi Lajab
Parking location – Wadi Lajab: 17.591723N 42.928029E (🚻)