The Heritage Oasis Trail is a beautiful walk through palm trees, date palms, farms, and mud-brick houses: a 3km circuit that highlights the heritage of the Al’Ula oasis.
Walking through this heritage reminds me of how fortunate I am to be discovering this still relatively unknown place. Indeed, Saudi Arabia opened its doors to tourism in 2019, but with the health crisis, few people have ventured there so far. It was my first time exploring beyond the NEOM region, and I was truly impressed by the beauty of Al’Ula. I stopped several times along the way to photograph these amazing landscapes.
Several trails are offered with various entry and exit points. Here, I suggest following the Heritage Oasis Trail. I recommend going in the late afternoon when the light is more beautiful. All trails are freely accessible and open to visitors day and night.
Stroll along the Heritage Oasis Trail
The trail starts from Orange and leads to the ancient capital of Dadan, the former kingdom of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilizations. Due to its proximity to the incense trade routes, Dadan was one of the most developed cities in northern Arabia during the first millennium BC.
I start my visit to the Heritage Oasis Trail in the late afternoon. The air is still very warm, but the sun is less intense. The colors are already beginning to change and take on their orange hues.
During my visit, I encountered no one on the trail. As it was the low season, with temperatures around 45 degrees, there were no tourists. At least, I didn’t come across any.
For now, you can still stroll through the buildings. However, I wouldn’t advise anyone to use the stairs given their structure!
The summer residences of the people of Al’Ula.
Most residents had 2 homes: one in the old town and one in the oasis. The inhabitants would spend the winter in their townhouses to shelter from the cold. During the hotter months, they moved to their summer residences near the oasis. This period coincided with the date harvest and its storage.
There are plenty of places to rest and enjoy tea or coffee. However, since it was the low season, almost everything was closed. I’d like to return during the winter months to experience the place when it’s more lively.
I follow the trail and pass through structures made of fired brick. Gradually, the landscape changes to one of palm trees and farms. Thanks to its fertile soil and abundant water, Al’Ula has rich agriculture. The greenery is a welcome sight after all the time spent in the desert. You can even feel the coolness!
Then, the landscape becomes wilder. The few remaining structures give way to sand, rocks, and palm trees.
Aljadidah Village
Aljadidah Village is a pedestrian area with shops and restaurants. It’s perfect for a stroll after visiting the Heritage Oasis Trail.
Not long ago, few people had heard of Al’Ula. However, since the country opened to tourism in 2019, the spotlight has shifted to Saudi Arabia. Al’Ula’s tourism office has a strong presence on social media, and the new NEOM region frequently appears in the news. This monumental project—a futuristic megacity in northwestern Saudi Arabia—is often discussed. During my work at NEOM, I took the opportunity to visit Al’Ula, which had been on my list for so long.
