I’d like to share my experience visiting the Hegra archaeological site in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia began issuing tourist visas in 2019, gradually gaining attention as a tourist destination. Today, I’ll report on everything from booking the Hegra ruins tour to the day of the visit in this first part!
What is Hegra?
Let me briefly introduce Hegra. It’s an archaeological complex of the Nabataean Kingdom from over 2,000 years ago, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 111 massive rock-cut tombs carved directly from giant monoliths in the desert, making it an extremely valuable archaeological site.
Important Note: Advance Reservation Required!
Visiting Hegra definitely requires advance reservations. Individual visits without tour companies are not permitted, and generally, reservations can only be made through the official tour operator called Experience AlUla. This is for the protection of the ruins and the safety of tourists in temperatures that can reach nearly 50°C (122°F). I made my reservation two weeks before departure, but popular time slots fill up quickly, so I recommend booking even earlier.
I visited in July 2023. I booked an evening tour, which turned out to be the right choice. I made the reservation two weeks before departure. During the high season in winter, popular time slots seem particularly difficult to book. Consider making reservations even earlier.
Meeting on Tour Day
Winter Park, one of AlUla’s prominent green spaces
Typically, the tour meeting point is Winter Park. In the desert-like landscape of AlUla, this is an unusual green oasis where beautiful lawns are well-maintained, creating an atmosphere like an oasis in the desert. Curiously, it’s unclear why it’s called “Winter” – even locals shake their heads when asked. There’s also an AlUla Experience visitor center here, but when I visited the day before for another matter, staff were absent, suggesting it’s not continuously staffed. At that time, I was impressed by the sight of stray dogs happily running around on the lawn.
Stray dogs happily playing on the fluffy lawn
The normal process is for participants to gather at Winter Park and then travel by bus to Hegra South Gate. However, to make effective use of time, I arranged to meet directly at Hegra South Gate instead of Winter Park. This flexible approach might be one of the charms of Experience AlUla tours.
Meeting at Hegra South Gate
South Gate, located just before entering the ruins area, features modern architectural design that blends with the surrounding desert landscape.
Upon arriving at the parking lot, several cars were already there. All the locals had parked their cars in the shadows of large rocks – wisdom for avoiding the scorching sun. We followed suit and parked in the shade of rocks. The imposing presence of the rocky mountains visible from the parking lot was overwhelming, immediately raising expectations for the ruins we were about to visit.
Walking toward the South Gate building, we could already see movie-like rocky mountains in the distance. The building itself was unified in colors that matched the desert, with a large Experience AlUla logo displayed at the entrance.
Pleasant Waiting Time
Entering the South Gate Visitor Centre, there’s a small café terrace on the right and a souvenir shop on the left. The air-conditioned, refreshing space makes you forget the heat outside. When I informed the reception counter about the tour, staff welcomed me with warm smiles. After being told to “wait a moment,” I was guided to the café terrace where they served cookies and fresh juice.
The adjacent souvenir shop had a better selection than expected. The first things that caught my eye were original Experience AlUla branded items.
Standard items like tumblers, hats, pens, and T-shirts were available, but what particularly caught my attention was an eco-bag embroidered with “Alula” in both Arabic and English. Staff told me this was their most popular item.
On the opposite side was a handicrafts section. There were handmade decorated pots and woodwork with intricate patterns – all breathtakingly beautiful. While not inexpensive, I was mesmerized by the excellent craftsmanship.
Along the walls were photo books, history books, and guidebooks, including both English and Arabic versions, showing consideration for both domestic and international tourists.
Finally Departing!
Soon after, we received word that the Winter Park group had arrived. Going outside South Gate, I noticed several classic jeeps lined up, their charming appearance catching my eye. I was excited thinking we might ride in these, but transportation to Hegra was by large bus. The jeeps were apparently for supporting families with children or those with mobility difficulties. Though slightly disappointed, I was impressed by such thoughtful consideration.
Boarding the bus, Arabic announcements began. They explained Hegra’s history and the 3-4 main ruins we would visit. While munching on the cookies I’d received earlier and gazing at the desert scenery, we gradually approached the ruins.
Next: Exploring the Ruins!
In the next part, I’ll provide detailed coverage of the actual ruins tour. The ancient structures illuminated by the sunset were truly breathtakingly beautiful. Stay tuned!
