Today, our friend Sultan arranged to visit a “Camel Camp” in the desert. So his friend took his luxurious Range Rover and drove three of us, Sultan and a secret police officer, around 100 kilometers east of Najran. We had a great afternoon in the desert playing with camels...
Najrān is a town oasis in the southern Asir region in the desert along the Yemen frontier next to al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”) desert. It is the capital of Najran province and is one of the country’s fastest-growing cities (pop. 600,000). In earlier times, it was called...
From Al Habala, we drove road #15 toward Najran. It’s actually a highway going through a mountainous area distinguished by granite rocks. We took a few photos around the road and reached Najran in the late afternoon.
The small mountain village is located in the Asir Region beneath a cliff about 300 meters from the edge of the majestic Sarwat Mountains. The village is accessible solely through a cable car (🎫 70 SAR/return, 🅿️ 40 SAR), which only runs during the summer and only from Thursday to Saturday...
Abha, the capital of the Asir Region, is situated 2,270 meters above sea level in the fertile Asir Mountains. Abha’s mild climate makes it a popular tourist destination for Saudis. Abha was the capital city for the Prince of Asir Ibn Ayde under the authority of the Ottoman Empire...
On the way to Abha, we made a few stops. Again, we saw baboons, but this time they were not shy but aggressive, trying to steal anything from the cars or people around. We also met two young male members of the Qahtan tribe known as “Flower Men” for their intricately-made...
The Village of Rijal Alma is located 45 km west of the city of Abha, a mountainous area in the Assir Region. The village was a natural corridor linking those from Yemen and the Levant to Makkah and Madinah, making it an important regional commercial center. The ancient remains (🎫 20 SAR)...
Bordered by Soudah Mountain (3015 m), Saudi Arabia’s highest peak, reaching Rijal Alma, was a considerable challenge. This zigzag road (also called the obstacle of death or the snake) is listed amongst the most dangerous roads in the world – stiff, curvy, and narrow with the...
Today we drove from Al-Namas toward Rijal Alma, we lost some time by taking pictures of baboons, so we didn’t make it. Instead, we parked overnight near A’al Emsudami in the mountains and went to sleep with the hope that there would be no problem with the police (like in...
We again hit the baboons and spent some time taking photos. Hamadryas baboons are native to the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia and parts of Yemen. Their typical habitat is in mountainous areas, but they have been known to stay in urban areas in search of food, often attacking humans...