On the morning of December 28 we among 6 families grabbed the chance to go on a road trip across the Arabian desert. One of the camping buddies organized this trip to explore the scenic beauty, the untouched landscapes, that the Arabian desert beholds.
Wadi Lith was our first stop on the map.
As it was a Thursday we were accompanied by two other families for the trip to Wadi Al Lith.
Wadi Lith is 270 kms south east of Jeddah. It is a little oasis filled with hot water streams flowing across the landscape. We happened to visit this place right after a very heavy storm the week before, which had devastated the pristine landscape. We drove through the village 40 km upstream and found a camping spot. We camped overnight and woke up to the surreal sounds of the birds chirping and the crickets creating a racket.
Uruq Bani Ma‘arid covering an area (12787 square kilometers) is situated along the western edge of Rub‘ al-Khali, the Empty Quarter, which is widely considered the largest sand desert on Earth. With the world’s largest longitudinal sand dunes, overlying a dissected limestone plateau, and the southern end of the Tuwayq Escarpment.
Rub Al Khali, this protected area contains greater biological diversity than any other part of the Empty Quarter, with vegetated wadis, gravel plains, and inter-dune corridors. It is the last place that the Arabian Oryx is reliably reported to have been observed in the wild
Rub Al Khali, the famed Empty Quarter
Serene Oasis: Discovering tranquility amid the rugged beauty of Wadi Lajab.
Textures of Time: Every grain of sand tells a story in Wadi Lajab's ancient embrace.
The road to Wadi Al Lujab, we were literally at death’s edge. The long mountainous winding narrow roads were torturous to the weak of heart. On the way, we arrived at a beautiful valley, filled with rocks, and waters so blue and that took our breath away and this is Wadi Al Lajaab.
Serene Oasis: Discovering tranquility amid the rugged beauty of Wadi Lajab.
Waterfalls at Wadi Lajab where time stands still
Pristine waters flow down the mountains of Asir province into the wadi
Landscapes of Najran bordering Yemen
Visit to Najraan souq to see the mud castle of Emaara. This historical palace is located in the central ancient city in Najran
(Aba Alsaud Historical Area). With an area of about 625 square meters it is one of the famous heritage buildings.
It is a model based on the traditional architecture in the region. It was constructed in 1363H.
The next destination on the list that was the edge of the world. We wound our way through the heavy traffic of Riyadh and reached the outpost of the sandy section to head to the escarpment. Tuwaiq as it is popularly known to the Saudis is a huge mountain overlooking a vast open desert valley. Plans are in place to construct a Wonderland theme park in the valley.
Edge of the world
Nomadic Dreams: Following the footsteps of travelers through the sands of Jabal Tuwaiq.
A night-sky view of the Nafud Desert
