Hegra Walking Tour (Jabal Ithlib and Qasr al-Farid area)

The Hegra Walking Tour covers the Jabal Ithlib and Qasr al-Farid area of the Hegra Archaeological Site near AlUla in northwest Saudi Arabia. Hegra, also called Mada'in Salih, was the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom and in 2008 became the first site in Saudi Arabia inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is known for more than 100 monumental tombs cut into sandstone outcrops. Access is controlled: self-driving into the site is not allowed, and visitors reach the stops by coach from the Hegra South Gate or from Winter Park in AlUla, booking through Experience AlUla. The Hegra Day Tour is listed from SAR 95 (about $25) and lasts roughly 3 hours, while the Premium Tour is listed from SAR 1,000 per vehicle (about $267). Visitors should bring a passport or ID for booking. The tour is built from short walks of a few hundred metres at each stop rather than one continuous trail, so total walking is modest and the difficulty is easy. The valley floor is flat, with short sandy ascents and a few steps near tomb facades. Surfaces are sand, gravel and bare sandstone. There is little shade beyond the rock faces and any canopies at stops, so sun protection is important. Key landmarks include Qasr al-Farid, the isolated tomb carved into a single large rock and left unfinished, the cluster of tombs around Jabal Ithlib, including the Diwan, a meeting and ritual space cut into the rock, and views across the surrounding desert. Interiors of most tombs are closed, and visitors are asked not to touch carvings or climb on the rock. Turn-around points are determined by the guide and coach timetable, so visitors usually follow the group. Drinking water and restrooms are available at the visitor centre and are usually provided at main stops, but visitors should still carry a bottle. Conditions can be very hot in summer, and the site is far more comfortable from autumn to spring.