The 80,000-square-kilometre
Nafud Al-Kabir (known as the Great Nafud Desert) is located in the north of the country near Tabuk and boasts windswept sand dunes that showcase the true beauty of Saudi Arabia. Jubba is the ideal base for
safari operations in the Nafud Al-Kabir Desert where local Bedouin, who are experts in desert lore, prove to be informa- tive guides for trips lasting up to a week. Visits to Bedouin camps for coffee or a meal offer a fasci- nating insight into a way of life that has changed little over the gen erations. The rolling sand dunes provide an archetypal view of the country. There are five main types of dune to encounter: crescent, linear, dome, star and parabolic. Crescent dunes are the rolling
waves of sand most associated with desert landscapes and they are the ones best suited to sand boarding and dune bashing.
Linear dunes are longer and
ALSO TRY
CAMEL MARKET
Buraydah is the capital of Al-Qassim Province in north- central Saudi Arabia with a population of 620,000 people. It has a typical desert climate – ferociously hot during daytime in the summer with plummeting temperatures at night and low humidity. As the only creature able to survive and serve man in such a hostile environment, the camel has been vital here
for centuries. Today Buraydah is home to one of the country’s few camel markets and, as such, makes a fantastic place to visit. Along with the camels, the market sells sheep and goats and there are stalls selling local leather goods including bridles, halters and saddles or woven goods such as blankets.
thinner and, at their most extreme, can stretch for more than 100 kilo- metres, while rare star dunes look like pyramids from the ground, but from the air resemble a star- fish. Dome dunes, as the name suggests, are oval mounds without a face. Finally, beaches and coastal areas are where you are most likely to find the parabolic dune also known as the hairpin, blowout or U-shaped dune. The protected area of Nafud
Al Urayq in the central Naid region of Saudi Arabia and the Alsa’afeeq Al Ghada Nature Park south of Unayzah in the Al Qassim Province are also popular spots for camping, riding, hiking and picnics. For more information on
exp l oring the kingdom’s dunes visit
sauditourism.com.sa or call +966 9 20000756.
MOUNTAIN RANGES Adventurers and sport enthusi- asts will love the dramatic Asir mountains. The area around Al-Sudah is especially good for mountain biking. The cliffs of Al-Habala are tailormade for rock climbing and the thermals near Tathlith make it perfect for experiencing hot air ballooning. Asir National Park has been
described as one of the “greatest national parks in the world” incor- porating mountains, desert and seascapes tucked in the south- west of the country in a region that receives up to 60 centime- tres of rain during the summer. From the mountain peaks, the spectacle of the desert thou- sands of feet below is magnifi- cent, especially at sunrise. The park covers 2,000 hectares and was the kingdom’s first
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