Hegra Tour

FROM SAR 95

Visit Hegra - Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest preserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra. Featuring countless well-preserved tombs from the first century BC to the first century AD, Hegra is waiting to be explored.

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Hegra Tour

With its 111 monumental tombs, Hegra is an exceptional example of the Nabateans’ outstanding architectural expertise and is undoubtedly one of the most iconic sites within AlUla. Board a luxury coach bus and be transported to Hegra where our local Rawis await you. Known as ancient Arabic storytellers and reciters - the rawis will guide you through various ancient tombs and provide in-depth knowledge of Hegra’s fascinating history. From the iconic monolithic tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza to ancient banquet halls, immerse yourself into the architecture of this great Nabataean civilization.

What You Will See

Tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza

The tour's first stop is the monolithic Tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza, Hegra's largest tomb, measuring about 72 feet tall. Left unfinished, with rough, unsmoothed chisel marks skirting its lower third, it is at times referred to as Qasr al-Farid by the locals, meaning the "Lonely Castle" in English, because of its distant position in relation to the other tombs.

Jabal AlBanat

The next stop is Jabal AlBanat, one of the largest clusters of tombs in Hegra, with 29 tombs that have skillfully carved facades on all sides of the sandstone rock. The name of the outcrop Jabal AlBanat refers to the number of tombs owned or commissioned by or for women. Many include inscriptions to protect the tomb, threatening punishment to whoever disturbs them or their contents.

Jabal Ithlib

Next, at Jabal Ithlib, a natural mountain outcrop to the east of Hegra, hone your knowledge of the inner workings of Nabataean society, from how they built their settlements to how they practised their religion. Travel through The Siq, a natural narrow passageway through the mountains, perfect for a photo. Peek inside The Diwan, a rock-cut chamber that was once a venue for sumptuous banquets and a meeting room for the city's leaders.

Handcraft Pavilion

The Handcraft Pavilion is home to beautiful handmade goods and local specialities. Rest your feet and admire the artistry of the region, passed down for thousands of years.

Jabal AlAhmar

Continue your journey of discovery at Jabal AlAhmar, home to 18 tombs, some of which have been recently excavated. The name refers to the unique red colour of the rock.

Limited-Time Exhibition

Meet ‘Hinat’

For the first time, visitors can come face to face with an over 2,000-year-old Nabataean woman. ‘Hinat’, as she is affectionately known by the archaeologists, was excavated from one of Hegra’s tombs in 2008. A small exhibition at the Hegra Visitor Centre gives an insight into the creation of the world’s first reconstruction of a Nabataean woman and explores her life in this once vibrant city at the heart of the Incense Road. This special exhibition commemorates Hegra’s 15th Anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Included in your Hegra Tour

 

Please note: further to maintenance and excavation work, some sites at Hegra might be closed during your visit.

Key Information
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Meeting location: Winter Park. Please arrive one hour before your tour start time. A luxury air-conditioned coach bus will depart 45 minutes before your tour start time. Missed your bus? See the Visitor Centre for information on the next bus departure.
  • Parking: Complimentary at Winter Park.

Please note:
  • Hegra is an open, expansive area and exposed to the elements. We encourage you to take responsibility for your health and safety and stay hydrated and wear appropriate sun protection.
  • Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.
Tour Schedule
3 July - 30 September 2023
Tours are available daily at:
  • 8 am
  • 9 am
  • 5 pm

Oct 2023- Mar 2024
Weekday
  • 9 am
  • 10 am
  • 11 am 
  • 12 pm
  • 1 pm 
  • 2 pm 
  • 3 pm 

Weekend
  • 9 am
  • 10 am
  • 11 am 
  • 11:30 am 
  • 12 pm
  • 1 pm 
  • 1:30 pm
  • 2 pm 
  • 3 pm 

Vintage Land Rover Hegra Tour

Explore Hegra with our Rawi as you are driven around in a vintage 4x4 Land Rover, each suitable for up to 7 guests.
 

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Heritage Product Terms

Terms & Conditions
To protect our heritage:
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
Customer Bookings: We will gladly refund the ticket price of cancelled experiences up to 3 days before the scheduled tours. Unfortunately, we are unable to refund credit card fees. Experiences cancelled within 1–3 days before your tour may be rebooked if timeslots are available but are not eligible for refund. We are unable to refund or rebook experiences cancelled on the day of scheduled tours.

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.

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Before the Nabataeans, AlUla was the capital of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, which controlled the caravan trade in the first millennium BCE. Dadan linked southern Arabian kingdoms producing valuable aromatics to the growing markets in the Mediterranean world. See remarkably well-preserved tombs, expertly carved from a towering red-rock mountain face that overlooks the valley oasis. A special highlight is the famed Lion Tombs marked by seated lion sculptures.

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The Awe-Striking Inscriptions of AlUla Jabal Ikmah

What was part of the caravan way station served as a record keeper of sorts with carvings providing information to researchers about the way of life of the Dadanites, Lihyanites and others. Hundreds of inscriptions referring to journeys, pilgrimage, ritual and offerings can be found here. Rock art depicting humans, chariots, harps, camels, bovines, goats, scorpions and ibex can all be spotted.

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Saudi Arabia's First UNESCO World Heritage Site Hegra

The Nabataean site of Hegra, was the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom, dating back to the first century BCE. Today, visitors will find that more than 100 well-preserved monumental tombs remain, most with elaborate facades carved from rock formations that are scattered throughout this immense desert landscape.

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Plan Your Trip To AlUla

Flying to AlUla

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What to Do

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Where to Eat

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Where to Stay

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