For those seeking adventurous activities, Saudi has many to offer. Its astonishing landscapes, exquisite coastlines, and geological wonders beg to be explored in a venturesome way. Below are some of the experiences you can take advantage of in the Kingdom.

 

Desert Adventures

Saudi has plenty of deserts—in fact, it is home to the largest sand desert on Earth! With a knowledgeable guide, you can take advantage of many activities on its desert sandscapes. 

The first may be rather obvious: camel riding. Being atop a camel is an experience not to be missed. It’s a bit daunting at first, but don’t worry—you will have help. You will soon grow accustomed to the feeling and do what countless desert trekkers have done for thousands of years.

“Dune bashing” lets you board a 4x4 for a thrilling off-road experience on Saudi’s sand dunes. You should go with an experienced driver who knows the terrain as it takes real skill to balance the vehicle on the shifting sands. The dunes also offer up other pursuits such as sandboarding, sand sledding, and sand skiing—typical snow activities but with sand!

Kashtah is an Arabian camping tradition that goes back to ancient times. You will sleep among the sand dunes and beneath the stars. Prior arrangements can be made for tents, mattresses, bonfires, and meals. You will need to be prepared as it can get surprisingly cool in the desert at night.

 

Hiking Adventures

Jabal Fihrayn, or the Edge of the World as it is more commonly known, is a popular Saudi tourist destination due to its mind-blowing scenery. The view from atop its 300-meter-high (984-foot-high) cliffs is simply not to be missed. If you take your eyes off the horizon and look down, you will see an ancient ocean bed now dry. As part of the Tuwaiq escarpment, there are many hiking options here. It can also be a great place to camp.

The Adventure Trail in AlUla is an excellent place to hike whether you are a beginner or more experienced. There are rugged landscapes to be explored, with terrain made up of volcanic rock and ancient basaltic flows. There are also hundreds of petroglyphs on the cliffs and rock faces dating back thousands of years.

The network of caves at Al Qarah Jabal (Mountain) in Al Ahsa is yet another place worthy of a hiking trip. The caves were caused by the weathering of the mountain over time, and the result is fantastic shapes, narrow canyons, and tall passageways. An added bonus is that due to the cavernous environment, the temperature remains mild all year long. Recent renovations, including lighting and paving, have made the caves even more accessible. It is worthwhile to remember to bring your hiking shoes and sunglasses while here.

 

Water Adventures

The west coast of Saudi stretches along the Red Sea, from Tabuk in the north to Jazan in the south. This means plenty of areas to participate in water activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing, and swimming. The Red Sea is particularly well suited for the first two, due to its plethora of marine life and year-round warm temperatures. We will focus on those two activities here, but it should be noted that you should never dive alone. 

Jeddah is located in the middle of this coastline and is a prime location for diving and snorkeling. In Sharm Obhur, you can go cage diving to see sharks: Four people enter a cage, along with professional experts and divers, and view the sharks in a safe way. Off the nearby island of Abu Tair, you can discover a famous shipwreck—what remains of the Greek Staphonos, which sank in 1978. 

The port city of Yanbu is about 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of Jeddah and is another not-to-be-missed diving location. In fact, the “Pearl of the Red Sea” is known as Saudi’s scuba diving capital. The Seven Sisters coral reef chain is an amazing diving spot, complete with a reef wall, fields of corals, and perhaps a hammerhead shark sighting. Abu Galawa features the wreck of a Chinese tugboat that sank in 1947, and the wreck of the SS Iona—now a living reef—is nearby.

The east coast of Saudi stretches along the Persian Gulf, though not for nearly as long as the west coast. Half Moon Bay, just south of the city of Dammam was a frequent stop for traders from the Arabian Gulf area. It is now a great place for a beginner to learn how to scuba dive, due to its being tranquil and shallow—the average water depth is about 7 meters (23 feet).

You will never be short of adventure in Saudi, no matter your inclination. Central Holidays can assist you in finding travel packages focusing on various activities and has a professional staff who can help ensure that your travel experience is everything you desire.