Al Madinah Province in western Saudi Arabia combines Madinah, the city of the Prophet's Mosque, with AlUla's UNESCO-listed Hegra, the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and early Islamic sites at Badr, Khaybar and Uhud. This guide covers sights, hotels, food, access rules for non-Muslims and getting around.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Mount Uhud and the Battlefield
Highlights: Uhud Martyrs Cemetery, resting place of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib and companions killed in 625 CE · Archers' Hill (Jabal ar-Rumat) with its view across the battlefield plain · The reddish granite face of Mount Uhud rising above the northern edge of Madinah · Short 15-minute ride from the Prophet's Mosque area, easy to combine with Quba Mosque
Wadi al-Jinn (Wadi al-Bayda)
Highlights: Masjid al-Jinn, the small mosque tied to local tradition about the jinn and the Prophet's recitation · The 'magnetic hill' road where cars appear to roll uphill · Dark volcanic desert scenery northwest of Madinah · Short half-day trip of about 35-45 minutes each way
Badr Battlefield and Town
Highlights: Battle of Badr site, the first major battle of early Islam (624 CE) · Memorial to the martyrs of Badr and the surrounding historic enclosure · The small town of Badr with its local market and food stalls · Desert highway drive southwest from Madinah
Khaybar Oasis and Fortresses
Highlights: Ruins of the Khaybar fortresses built from black volcanic stone · Lava-field landscape surrounding the oasis · Date palm groves and farm plots still in cultivation · Fresh Khaybar dates available in local shops
Yanbu and the Red Sea Coast
Highlights: Yanbu Al Bahr historic district with coral-stone houses and carved wooden windows · Red Sea corniche and harbour with fishing boats · Snorkelling and diving on nearby coral reefs · Grilled fish and seafood at waterfront restaurants
Jeddah and Historic Al-Balad by Train
Highlights: Al-Balad, Jeddah's UNESCO-listed historic district · Carved teak roshan balconies on coral-stone merchant houses · Souq Al-Alawi and the old market lanes · Haramain high-speed train ride of about 2 hours 15 minutes · Jeddah corniche and Hijazi seafood
Mahd adh-Dhahab Gold Mine District
Highlights: Historic gold mining district known as the Cradle of Gold · Old mine workings and remote desert scenery · Long desert drive southeast across Al Madinah Province
AlUla and Hegra
Highlights: Hegra (Mada'in Salih), Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site · Qasr al-Farid, the lone Nabataean tomb carved into a freestanding rock · More than 100 sandstone tombs left by the Nabataeans · Elephant Rock and the old town of AlUla
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Public
- Haramain high-speed train (sar.hhr.sa) to Jeddah; SAPTCO coaches (saptco.com.sa) to Yanbu; Madinah city buses serve the Uhud area.
- Taxi
- Uber, Careem and licensed taxis for Uhud and Wadi al-Jinn; negotiated private taxis for Badr, Khaybar and Yanbu.
- Private
- Private car rental or driver booked through a hotel front desk for Khaybar, Badr, Mahd adh-Dhahab and AlUla.
Multi-day tours from Al Madinah
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from Al MadinahWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Fuel up in Madinah before Khaybar, Badr, Mahd adh-Dhahab or AlUla; service stations thin out on desert roads.
Haramain tickets sell out on Fridays and holidays; book at sar.hhr.sa in advance.
Hegra and Dadan tours need advance booking at experiencealula.com; self-driving is not allowed inside Hegra.
Carry water, an offline map and a power bank on desert routes.
Confirm taxi round-trip fares and waiting time before leaving Madinah.