Al Ula in 2 days: Hegra, Elephant Rock and how to get around

How do you get to Al Ula?

Al Ula transport starts with how you arrive. Most visitors fly into Al Ula Airport (ULH), 35 km from Old Town and about 45 km from Hegra, or drive from Madinah. A pre-booked car from the airport to your hotel costs from SAR 60, or SAR 140 in an SUV.

The road from Madinah is 350 km on Route 15 north through Khaybar and takes about 3 h 30 min, from SAR 600. The driver fuels up at Khaybar, as services are limited after it. Flights into Al Ula are busiest in winter and reduced in summer, and many visitors drive from Madinah; our Madinah to Al Ula road trip post covers that drive.

Book tours and tickets before you go

Several of Al Ula's main sites are visited by booked tour or timed ticket, not by walking in. Entry to Hegra is by booked tour, and we drop you at the visitor meeting point. Dadan is usually visited by booked tour too.

Tours and tickets are sold through Experience AlUla, the official visitor website. Check what each site needs and book your slots before you plan the driver's times, especially in winter, when tours fill early. Maraya visits depend on events, so check its programme as well.

Day 1: Hegra, Elephant Rock and Old Town

Start with Hegra in the morning. It is Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with monumental Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone, about 25 km from town. Allow around three hours for the visit.

Rest in the afternoon, then drive about 10 km to Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil) for sunset. It is a towering sandstone formation shaped like an elephant, with a lounge area at its base; ask the driver to wait for the return.

Finish in AlUla Old Town, a maze of mud-brick houses below a fortress, with restaurants and shops along the restored market street. Climb to the fort for the views.

Day 2: Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and Harrat Viewpoint

On day two, visit Dadan, the site of the ancient Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, with tombs cut high into the cliff. Pair it with Jabal Ikmah nearby, an open-air library of ancient inscriptions carved into a canyon. Go with a guide, who can read the inscriptions with you.

If an event is on, stop at Maraya, the mirror-clad concert hall in the Ashar Valley. End the day at Harrat Viewpoint on the volcanic plateau above Al Ula, about 25 km from town. Sunset is popular, so arrive early, and tell the driver if anyone gets car-sick, as the road climbs.

Your two days at a glance

Should you keep a driver or book separate rides?

The sites are spread out around the valley, so most visitors keep one car and driver for the day. Our hourly service costs from SAR 80 per hour in an economy sedan or SAR 180 in an SUV, with a 3-hour minimum and a 10-hour day rate. The driver waits at every stop, so you are not looking for a ride back from Elephant Rock after dark.

Separate point-to-point rides work if your resort runs its own shuttles or you only need one trip. Resorts in the Ashar Valley need a gate booking reference for vehicle entry, so send it with your booking.

When is the best time to visit Al Ula?

October to March is the best season for the heritage sites, with pleasant evenings in Old Town. The AlUla winter season, usually December to March, brings festivals, concerts and the most visitors, so book flights, tours and drivers early.

Summer is very hot and has fewer flights. If you go then, plan outdoor sites for the early morning and sunset.

Combining Al Ula with Madinah

Al Ula pairs well with a stay in Madinah: drive up, spend two nights in Al Ula, then fly out or drive back. Khaybar is on the way, 170 km from Madinah, and its oasis fortresses make a good rest stop.

If you land at Madinah Airport, a direct car to Al Ula costs from SAR 600, so you can start the trip without going into the city first.