“Summertime to me is relaxing; it's sunshine, it's being outdoors,” Sidney beams, “and I think just freedom.” When most imagine summer in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula, this isn’t always the picture that springs to mind. But AlUla is different. Digital Nomad Sidney Tolo continues: “When you come from a hot and humid place like Dubai to AlUla, it's a dry heat, and then there's a nice breeze. It's a completely different world.” Together with lower humidity, AlUla’s temperatures are relatively refreshing too, especially in the evenings when they can be up to five degrees Celsius cooler compared to other destinations in the region.
But there’s clearly more to AlUla than just its unique climate – a whole lot more. And, thanks to fewer crowds, summertime here allows visitors to really make the most of them. From the magnificent sandstone tombs of Hegra to the fascinating inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah, the area’s incredibly rich heritage remains easily accessible over the summer months. With fewer people around, “it's almost like AlUla feels like it's just yours,” Sidney explains.
This extends to exploring AlUla’s wealth of naturally formed beauty, too, sculpted by millennia of desert winds. Littered with incredible and often surreal rock formations, the landscapes take on an even more timeless, otherworldly aspect. “Sometimes you have to stop and pinch yourself and think ‘where am I’?”
But there’s clearly more to AlUla than just its unique climate – a whole lot more. And, thanks to fewer crowds, summertime here allows visitors to really make the most of them. From the magnificent sandstone tombs of Hegra to the fascinating inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah, the area’s incredibly rich heritage remains easily accessible over the summer months. With fewer people around, “it's almost like AlUla feels like it's just yours,” Sidney explains.
This extends to exploring AlUla’s wealth of naturally formed beauty, too, sculpted by millennia of desert winds. Littered with incredible and often surreal rock formations, the landscapes take on an even more timeless, otherworldly aspect. “Sometimes you have to stop and pinch yourself and think ‘where am I’?”
A Place to Rejuvenate
A Place to Rejuvenate
There’s a good reason why AlUla has supported permanent settlements for thousands of years – its ancient spring-fed oasis. Swathes of lush farmland, scatterings of palm groves and meandering footpaths make the Oasis in AlUla a wonderful place for modern-day visitors to explore. It’s easy to find places to stop and relax under the dappled shade of soaring palms whose fronds whisper in the breeze. An early morning stroll around here over the summer months, surrounded by the scents and sights of nature, is a wonderfully restorative experience.
Of course AlUla is still hot over the summer, but you simply organise your day accordingly. Sunrise hikes are a spectacular way to start the day, and watching the first rays of dawn spill over the silhouette of AlUla’s majestic mountain range is not to be missed. The evening also presents opportunities to discover the desert as the day cools, the night falls, and the sky fills with thousands of stars – “the most stars I've ever seen in my life,” Sidney recalls. Book yourself in for a stargazing tour and an expert will also guide you through the constellations, before a fireside dinner under the twinkling canopy. Some also choose to camp the night in the magical desert wilderness.
Of course AlUla is still hot over the summer, but you simply organise your day accordingly. Sunrise hikes are a spectacular way to start the day, and watching the first rays of dawn spill over the silhouette of AlUla’s majestic mountain range is not to be missed. The evening also presents opportunities to discover the desert as the day cools, the night falls, and the sky fills with thousands of stars – “the most stars I've ever seen in my life,” Sidney recalls. Book yourself in for a stargazing tour and an expert will also guide you through the constellations, before a fireside dinner under the twinkling canopy. Some also choose to camp the night in the magical desert wilderness.
Summer Adventures
Summer Adventures
Adventure of the adrenaline-pumping kind doesn’t stop over the summer in AlUla either. At its Adventure Hub, thrill-seekers can sign up for any number of exhilarating experiences, from abseiling down sheer sandstone walls to ziplining high up through the air. Like nothing else in the region, the Giant Swing here is a particular favourite. You’re first suspended in the air before a quick release sends you swinging through the high canyon walls in a 70-metre arc, more than 85 metres from the ground. “It's just this rush of emotions and this joy,” Sidney enthuses, “You're like a kid again.”
And when you’re done flying through AlUla’s crisp blue summer skies, you can take a journey back in time with a stroll around its Old Town. This labyrinth of tightly packed mudbrick houses offers a fascinating insight into how people lived here, some until the not-too-distant past. Climb the fortress that used to serve as a lookout for the town, and you’re still treated to 360-degree vistas of the breathtaking surroundings.
And when you’re done flying through AlUla’s crisp blue summer skies, you can take a journey back in time with a stroll around its Old Town. This labyrinth of tightly packed mudbrick houses offers a fascinating insight into how people lived here, some until the not-too-distant past. Climb the fortress that used to serve as a lookout for the town, and you’re still treated to 360-degree vistas of the breathtaking surroundings.
Alive with Possibilities
