AlUla and Hegra (Mada'in Salih)

AlUla and the Hegra archaeological site (Mada'in Salih) lie in the north of Saudi Arabia's Al Madinah Region, about 300 km from Madinah and three to four hours by car depending on the source. A regional magazine calls the drive long and quiet through red cliffs and desert and advises staying overnight, and that advice is sound: the driving alone is six to eight hours return. Hegra is Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its Nabataean rock-cut tombs. Visits are normally by official tour: the Hegra Day Tour starts from SAR 95 per person (~$25) with air-conditioned coach pickup at the Winter Park bus stop, takes about two to three hours including transfers, and a premium 4x4 tour starts from SAR 1,000 per vehicle (~$267) for up to seven people. Bookings are made on experiencealula.com or by calling +966 920 025 003 (Sunday to Thursday 08:00 to 17:00 KSA time). Changes are allowed up to one day before and not on the day. No direct Madinah-AlUla flight or train was found. Hegra is open to non-Muslim visitors and is unaffected by the Madinah precinct rules. Best in the cool season. In an emergency dial 911 (unified emergency number) or 997 for a Saudi Red Crescent ambulance.