The winter season in Saudi Arabia is often considered the best time to visit. Mild temperatures and exciting festivals make it ideal for exploring the vast deserts, mountains, and valleys. Visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, and desert safaris. As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Trojena, a planned year-round alpine destination in the Sarawat Mountains near NEOM, the U.S.-Saudi Business Council has curated a list of exciting outdoor activities for those eager to explore the country’s diverse natural landscapes during the winter’s mild weather.
Winter in AlUla
AlUla has emerged in recent years as a popular destination for unique cultural festivals and outdoor experiences. Below are some ongoing activities open to visitors this winter:
Winter at Tantora
Winter at Tantora is an annual cultural festival held in AlUla, celebrating art, music, and heritage and known worldwide for the hot air balloon rides that fill the sky above the desert. The festival, AlUla’s largest and most popular, also offers live musical performances, tours, parades, and special dining experiences. The highlight of this festival is its “living museum” in the old town, a free-to-attend celebration of the cultural heritage of AlUla and northwest Saudi Arabia.
Source: Experience AlUla
When: Dec. 19, 2024 to Jan. 11, 2025
Price: varies (some events free)
Learn more here.
Hegra after Dark
Hegra, a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest preserved site of the Nabatean Kingdom outside of Petra, is this year hosting the third edition of its immersive night-time experience featuring dozens of live performers, a guided tour via horse-drawn carriage, and views of the site’s spectacular tombs and rock-hewn architecture.
Source: Experience AlUla
When: Nov. 1, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025
Price: starting at SR200 per person
Learn more here.
Quest for the Ancient Kingdoms
The Quest for the Ancient Kingdoms is a guided treasure hunting tour through the Wadi AlNaam, which translates to Valley of the Ostriches, a rugged seasonal riverbed valley that cuts through the desert landscape. Although ostriches are now extinct in the Arabian Peninsula, the walking and dune buggy tour takes guests along the routes that the ancient Dadan people used to hunt these animals. The experience has two different versions for families and for those seeking a more adventurous experience.
Ancient petroglyphs in the Wadi AlNaam. Source: Experience AlUla
When: Nov. 7, 2024 to Feb. 27, 2025
Price: starting at SR200 per person
Learn more here.
The Incense Road Experience
A guided tour through the Old Town of AlUla, featuring a multi-sensory mix of live performances, hands-on exploration, and an historical experience walking through the maze of mud-brick buildings that were the focal point of the Nabatean spice and incense trade through the Arabian desert.
Source: Experience AlUla
When: Nov. 7, 2024 to April 5, 2025
Price: starting at SR120 per person
Learn more here.
Hiking, Camping, and Desert Safaris
Outside of AlUla, tourists may find camping and hiking experiences outside of Riyadh and in the more lush mountains in the southern Asir province.
Camping and Desert Safaris: desert camping in the Bedouin tradition, an age-old activity known as “Kashta,” is most popular in the winter when temperatures are mild enough to enjoy the beautiful desert landscape. You can take an excursion into the desert or mountains lasting for days, or simply overnight, and whether it is organized by yourself or a guided tour, Kashta is beloved for the being the quintessential Saudi experience and a chance to see the stars in the night sky free of any light pollution.
Learn more about this tradition here.
Edge of the World: a 1,100+ meter sheer cliff about 100 km south of Riyadh, perched at the end of the Tuwaik mountains. The spectacular views are attainable for ambitious hikers, rock climbers, and those who want a natural experience outside in a beautiful, rugged landscape.
“Edge of the World.” Source: Visit Saudi
Learn more here.
Qaryat al-Asba (Graffiti Rocks): located about 140 km west of Riyadh, this rocky outcropping serves as the canvas for prehistoric petroglyphs. The carvings and drawings include scenes of ostriches, camels, date palms, and battles with cavalry and infantry.
Learn more here.
