Tayma Heritage Tour
Tayma’s story is one of legacy, power, and legend. A destination with an outstanding history of ancient cultures, today’s travellers can journey along the famed Incense Road to reach Tayma – the land of the last Babylonian King and other extraordinary figures embedded into the region’s steep history.
About this activity
~ Groups of 20 or less
~ Live Tour Guide
~ Audio Guide Option Available
*Transport from AlUla by luxury bus or private car is available
Highlights
- Discover Tayma's network of heritage sites that continue to fascinate archaeologists worldwide.
- See Arabia’s oldest and largest well, Bir Haddaj - the source of life in Tayma for hundreds of thousands of years.
- Explore Qasr Ibn Rumman and experience the unprecedented recent history of the Tayma.
Weekday Itinerary (Sun – Wed)
The Ancient Temple of Salm (Duration: 1 hour)
11:00 am | 12:00 pm
Start at the Welcome Centre at The Ancient Temple of Salm. Check-in with the guide, discover the interactive displays and grab an audio guide. Walk down a stone path to a viewpoint overlooking what once was a large salt lake and see the well-preserved ruins of The Ancient Temple of Salm. Return the audio guide.
Shuttle to Bir Haddaj Welcome Centre (Duration: 10 minutes)
Bir Haddaj, Souq AlNajm, Qasr Ibn Rumman (Duration: 2.5 hours)
12:15 pm | 1:15 pm
Start at the Welcome Centre at Bir Haddaj. Discover the interactive displays and grab an audio guide. See where camels help draw water from the ancient well of Bir Haddaj. Walk through the narrow pathway of Souq AlNajm, stopping at the 300-year-old gateway of the souq. Explore the summer and winter mosques, the Sheikh’s Majlis, and more in Qasr Ibn Rumman. Return the audio guide.
Self-Guided Exploration (Duration: 2 hours)
2:45 pm | 3:45 pm
Enjoy some self-guided exploration around the oasis, on foot or by bicycle. Have lunch at Mirzam, serving Saudi favourites with a contemporary twist. Or grab a coffee or fresh juice from one of the local coffee shops and stalls around Bir Haddaj.
Weekend Itinerary (Thurs – Sat)
The Ancient Temple of Salm (Duration: 1 hour)
11:00 am | 12:00 pm | 2:00 pm
Start at the Welcome Centre at The Ancient Temple of Salm. Check-in with the guide, discover the interactive displays and grab an audio guide. Walk down a stone path to a viewpoint overlooking what once was a large salt lake and see the well-preserved ruins of The Ancient Temple of Salm. Return the audio guide.
Shuttle to Bir Haddaj Welcome Centre (Duration: 10 minutes)
Bir Haddaj, Souq AlNajm, Qasr Ibn Rumman (Duration: 2.5 hours)
12:15 pm | 1:15 pm | 3:15 pm
Start at the Welcome Centre at Bir Haddaj. Discover the interactive displays and grab an audio guide. Watch as camels help draw water from the ancient well of Bir Haddaj. Walk through the narrow pathway of Souq AlNajm, stopping at the 300-year-old gateway of the souq. Snack on an array of canapes and local drinks before touring Qasr Ibn Rumman. Explore the summer and winter mosques, the Sheikh’s Majlis, and more in this grand palace. Return the audio guide.
Self-Guided Exploration (Duration: 2 hours)
2:45 pm | 3:45 pm | 5:45 pm
Enjoy some self-guided exploration around the oasis, on foot or by bicycle. Have lunch at Mirzam, serving Saudi favourites with a contemporary twist. Or grab a coffee or fresh juice from one of the local coffee shops and stalls around Bir Haddaj.
What’s Included
✓ Light snacks at the Bedouin Camp rest stop, if on your way
✓ Guided tour of Tayma
✓ Arabic or English-speaking tour guide
Private Car Transfer From AlUla
✓ Everything included in the Tayma Heritage Tour above
✓ Round-trip transport from AlUla in a luxury private car
✓ Hotel pick-up and drop off
✓ Light meal on the journey back
Tayma Heritage Tour from AlUla by luxury bus
✓ Round-trip transport from AlUla in an air-conditioned luxury bus
✓ Light snacks at the Bedouin Camp rest stop
✓ Guided tour of Tayma
✓ Arabic or English-speaking tour guide
✓ Light meal on the journey back
Weekends Only
✓ Weekend Immersive Show with canapes and fresh juices (13 Nov - 31 Dec)
Meeting Point
For tours starting directly in Tayma, please arrive to the Welcome Centre at The Ancient Temple of Salm at least 15 minutes before your tour is set to begin. Late arrivals will not be eligible for a refund.
*If you are travelling from AlUla, visitors are invited to stop at the traditional Bedouin Camp along the route to Tayma. You must show your Tayma Heritage Tour ticket to enjoy the Bedouin Camp.
Tayma Heritage Tour from AlUla by Private Car
For tours starting from AlUla with transportation by private car, the car will pick you up at your hotel. To book a private car, you will first book a Tayma Heritage Tour and then will see an option to add a private transfer. Please book your Tayma Heritage Tour ticket and your private transfer on the same date.
Tayma Heritage Tour from AlUla by Luxury Bus
For tours starting from AlUla with transportation by luxury bus, groups will meet at Winter Park Visitor Parking. Please arrive promptly at the meeting point, at least 30 minutes prior to departure time. Late arrivals will not be eligible for a refund.
Key Information
- Comfortable shoes
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- We strongly recommend you bring a warm jacket, as this is an outdoor event and desert nights can get chilly.
- All guests must bring their passport or Iqama for Day Trips outside of AlUla.
Know before you go
- Some sites visited lack shade and can be hot under direct sunlight.
- This tour involves a fair amount of walking.
- The total journey time from AlUla to Tayma is around 3 hours each way.
Experiences
The Ancient Temple of Salm
Located in the northwest of the city, The Ancient Temple of Salm is an extensive temple complex which reveals evidence of cultural connections between Tayma and the wider ancient world. Incredible discoveries have been made here, including the AlHamra Cube and the AlHamra Stele, which is currently on display in the Louvre in Paris.
Bir Haddaj
Bir Haddaj is the vibrant city centre of Tayma and is home to one of the largest ancient wells in the world at 65 metres wide and 13 metres deep. Dating back to at least the sixth century BCE, this well has been in continuous use and yet has never run dry. It is believed that at one time, nearly 77 camels used to draw water here at any one time.
Souq AlNajm
This historic market has been a thriving centre of Tayma for over 300 years. This historic street was home to many families, but it was also a place of business with some residents using their houses as temporary shops and stalls. Enclosed in high walls, the street was only wide enough to allow two camels to pass each other, a useful defence for the city in keeping large armies at bay.
Qasr Ibn Rumman
This grand palace is named after the Governor of Tayma, Sheikh Abdul Karim bin Ali AlRumman. With the original building from the 1700s, the main palace was added in 1916 and 1919. Not only the Governor's workplace, this castle was also his family home. Learn about its summer and winter mosques, the courtyard, sitting rooms and more.
Mirzam
Providing a contemporary twist on Saudi cuisine, Mirzam offers high-end local dishes within the vibrant heart of Bir Haddaj. Combining unforgettable dishes with breathtaking architecture and natural landscapes, Mirzam delivers a unique dining experience that emphasises Hijazi specialities and flavours of the highlands.
Heritage Product Terms
Terms & Conditions
The heritage sites have been part of AlUla’s cultural landscape for thousands of years. We hope the visitors who explore these sites will preserve this historic area by adhering to the following:
Please do:
- Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints.
- Please adhere to the designated walking paths and do not enter non-designated areas, such as the tombs. There is still much to be discovered about AlUla, and entering the tombs or other areas may damage the antiquities yet to be discovered underneath.
- Please avoid distorting or marking the rock surfaces, including touching our pouring water on the engravings.
- Do not remove rocks or take anything from the heritage sites.
- Keep these sites clean; put your litter in the allocated bin.
- For your safety, please do not climb rocky ledges.
Please Do Not
- Do not scratch, draw or in anyway mark the monuments.
- Do not climb.
- Heritage sites are non-smoking except in the designated smoking areas.
- Do not remove or take anything from the tombs.
- Do not remove or take anything from the ground.
- No fires of any kind are permited including campfires.
- No trees or plants are to be removed.
Visitors who mistreat the monuments will be asked to leave and will not be allow to revisit in future.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Booked through 3rd Party or Travel Agent: If you booked your experience through a third party, please coordinate with them on policies, changes and updates.
