Old Town Tour
The tour is currently unavailable due to restoration work but will return in October 2023. Follow @AlUlaMoments on Social to be the first one to know when this tour is back
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Location
Visitors CenterGet a glimpse into AlUla’s not-so-distant past on the Old Town Tour. A Rawi (guide) will lead you through AlUla's Old Town, where pilgrims, travellers and permanent settlers congregated through the ages. Inhabited from before the 12th century up until the early 1980's, Old Town offers researchers unique oral histories and living memory that the area’s other heritage sites cannot.
With 900 houses, 500 shops and 5 town squares, you can explore a maze of remnants of original stone and mudbrick buildings and enjoy views of an AlUla Castle dating back to the 10th century. Guest will learn about Old Town’s settlers and pilgrims, as well as their motives and methods in the city’s construction.
Find more tour and transportation details below.
Tour Details
Tour Schedule
Oct 2023 - Mar 2024
Weekdays
- 8:30 am
- 9:30 am
- 3:30 am
Weekends
- 8:30 pm
- 9:30 pm
- 2:30 pm
- 3:30 pm
Tour Details
- Parking is available at the AlJadidah northern parking. Shuttles services are available from the parking zone to the entrance of AlUla Old Town.
- Please arrive at AlJadidah northern parking 30 minutes before your tour start time to allow time for shuttle transfer from AlJadidah to AlUla Old Town
- Guests will need to be at the AlUla Old Town visitor center 15 minutes before tour start time
- Book your tickets in advance and have your e-ticket ready when you arrive to check-in.
- Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.
- AlUla Old Town Tour is a walking tour, so we recommend that you wear comfortable footwear.
- AlUla Old Town is an open site and exposed to the elements. We encourage you to take responsibility for your health and safety and stay hydrated.
Tip: Visitors can download the Experience AlUla app for an immersive 360 location-specific digital guide.
Recommended attire
- Both men and women are encouraged to dress modestly in public and avoid tight-fitting clothing.
- Women should cover their shoulders and knees in public, but do not need to wear traditional clothing.
Refunds & Rebooking
- We will gladly refund the ticket price of cancelled experiences up to 3 days before the scheduled tour. 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 a refund.
- We are unable to refund or rebook experiences cancelled on the day of the scheduled tour.
Old Town
Inhabited until the not-so-distant past, Old Town is a labyrinth of tightly packed streets lined with mudbrick houses, shops and squares. Above it all, a 10th-century fort still watches over the town and its scenic desert valley.
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.
ALULA AUTONOMOUS POD
Experience the future of sustainable, zero-emission mobility! With the launch of a new, fully autonomous pod vehicle service, enjoy a quick and easy link to AlUla Old Town from the south car park for free.
Explore What to Do in AlUla
Adventure and exploration await in AlUla. Discover ancient civilisations, immerse yourself in stunning desertscape, explore iconic rock formations, take to the air, stroll through lush oases, stargaze under clear night skies…there’s no end to unforgettable experiences in AlUla.
