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Expedition to Saudi Arabia 2022
Expedition to Saudi Arabia 2022
Saudi Arabia is a large and not easy country to travel. That’s why I recommend Saudia only to experienced travellers and I suggest to take it seriously. I spent 1.5 months in Saudi Arabia traveling all over the country and I have a lot to say. For that reason I decided to divide my travel report from the trip around Saudi into tourist regions.
Introduction to traveling Saudi
I would like my travel reports about Saudi Arabia to be not only interesting and revealing, but also not tiring. In the case of Saudi I will divide my expedition around this country into several tourist regions, which I separated myself. No one has done it before because I doubt that anyone has travelled Saudia as thoroughly as I did. Earlier, I also shared my travel reports in the case of Thailand because I spent 2 months there and I didn’t want to include the whole trip in one very long article. One could write about Hong Kong or Singapore in one article. I think it that diving Saudia that way it will be easier to read.
Tourist division of Saudi Arabia
From the perspective of tourism, I distinguish the following regions of Saudi Arabia:
1. Southwest Saudia; Jeddah to Jazan. I consider this route a must because there are many culturally interesting and naturally beautiful places along the way. This region includes Jeddah Old City, The Rock Fortress of Thee Ain, Aris Mountains, city of Abha, Rijal Alma Cultural Village and other villages of Saudi heritage. It’s really worth it. (In preperation).
The time I spent with people of Saudi Arabia was very precious to me. I was in a coffee plantation surrounded by rocks and desert, near the Wadi Lajab canyon.
2. Northwest Saudia; Medina to Tabuk. I also consider this region to be very important. On this stretch there are such important places as the holy city of Islam: Medina. The real pearl of Saudi tourism however are primarily the ancient tombs of Hegra, in the desert near Al Ula. It is a very picturesque and historically rich corner of Saudia. It is there that one can feel the beauty of the desert and see the impressive large rock formations, and the way people try to cultivate the land in the desert. I spent many nights under date palms on warm sand, near orange trees. Anyone who has been to Saudi Arabia and hasn’t crossed the desert around Al Ula … should return. (In preperation).
Hegra; Mada’in Salih’s tomb. Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.
3. Riyadh and around. The capital of Saudi Arabia has several interesting places, such as the Masmak Fortress and the symbol of Saudi Arabia: the characteristic skyscraper Kingdom Tower. I also took interesting trips from Riyadh, such as the trip to the Edge of the World and to the red sand dunes, where I rode four-wheeled vehicles and I hugged camels. Riyadh was very interesting and trips outside the city cost me a lot of effort but were rewarding. (In preperation).
Wyprawa na Krawędź Świata z Riyadh. Arabia Saudyjska.
4. Northeast Saudia; Dammam to Khafji. I consider this region optional due to the itinerary. This route suited me because it is a section from Bahrain to Kuwait, where I also went. I have very fond memories of this part of Saudi Arabia. I really liked Khobar and Dammam, and Khafji had an exceptionally beautiful and wide beach. This region also enriches a traveller with Tarout Castle near Dammam and even more old bazaars, Arabic coffee and dates. There are nice views of the Persian Gulf at every point along this route. (In preperation).
In Saudi Arabia you cannot miss a nice mosque, preferably near the beach and palm trees. The city of Khobar near Dammam.
In Saudi Arabia, as in any other country, the same things keep on repeating themselves. In Saudi I saw a lot of old but well-kept fortresses in the desert, I saw a lot f mosques, many nice beaches and date palm trees. There were also picturesque canyons, cultural villages, mountains, wild camels and even baboons. I mean that in order to get to know well the culture, art, the natural beauty of Saudi Arabia, as well as its people and the character of the country, one should spend at least one month in Saudia. I spent 1.5 months and I don’t regret a single day.
Rub’ al Khali (Pusty Kwartał)
Finally, I would like to describe one more region of Saudi, which is the least visited. Please take a look at the southeastern areas of the Arabian Peninsula. There is ‘Empty Quarter’. It is Rub’ al Khali, a sandy desert covering a larger area of the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. This desert covers about 650,000 km², including parts of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen. This hot, empty, sandy territory is part of the larger Arabian Desert. Despite this, today this very climatically unfriendly area is inhabited by several local Bedouin tribes that have developed their own special identity. I just call them ‘people of the desert who live in a sea of sand’. Although the ‘Empty Quarter’ covers a territory 15 times smaller than the Sahara, it contains about 50% of the same sand volume. This results in one of the most amazing arid landscapes on Earth. The temperature in summer reaches up to 51 ° C.
How does ‘Empty Quarter’ relate to tourism? First of all, I think that a solo trip to this desert is a death wish. You should go there only with an organized trip, which always consists of several cars, water supplies, petrol and someone who can repair an off-road vehicle. Nothing can be left to chance in the desert. The hot desert of Rub’ al Khali has driven away most of the inhabitants, although about 42,000 people still live there. This is 20% less than a decade earlier.
White camels are my favourite. White camel farm near red sand dunes, about 60km from Riyadh. Saudi Arabia.
On Rub’ al Khali (‘Empty Quarter’) you can organize a trip to the Oroug Bani M’aradh Nature Reserve, where, apart from camels of course, there are for example oryx antelopes. You can also go to the Liwa oasis. Travelling to this desert is for experienced travellers who look for new original experiences and solitude. This is a place for those who want to listen to the sand blown by the wind from the sand dunes and watch the changing colours of the desert during the day and night. There is also coffee with Bedouins under huge tents and camel rides. I have already experienced it in other Arab countries, but the ‘Empty Quarter’ must be special because of its vast area.
Jazan Fort. Saudi Arabia.
Saudia and encouragement to desert expeditions
Meanwhile, to brave travelers who desire desert expeditions I also recommend other countries of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Crossing the desert is hard work but I think everyone should have this experience. Saudi Arabia turned out to be a very interesting achievement of my travels.
When I write travel reports aboout my expeditions around each region of Saudi Arabia, I will include direct links to those articles.
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