Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
The Asir road trip at a glance
This Asir road trip uses Abha as a base for three or four days, then drives north along the mountains into the Al Bahah region, ending with a flight or the road down to Taif, Makkah or Jeddah. It is planned one way, so you never retrace the long drive. Summer, from June to September, is the peak season, when the highlands stay far cooler than the coast.
| Day | Base | Plan | Getting around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Abha | Land at Abha Airport; Al Muftaha Art Village, then the Green Mountain after dark | Airport to Abha, 30 min, from SAR 60 |
| Day 2 | Abha | Al Soudah in the morning, before the fog; a slow afternoon | Hourly driver, from SAR 80 per hour |
| Day 3 | Abha | Rijal Alma Heritage Village, down the escarpment | Hourly driver |
| Day 4 | Abha | Habala Village if the cable car is running, or Khamis Mushait | Hourly driver; Abha to Khamis Mushait is 30 km |
| Day 5 | Al Bahah | Drive north through the mountains, with a break in Al Namas | 330 km, about 4 h 20 min, from SAR 570 |
| Day 6 | Al Bahah | Raghadan Forest Park and Dhee Ain Marble Village; fly out or drive on | Hourly driver, ending at the airport or on the road |
Abha: your base for the first days
Abha is the highland capital of Asir. Abha International Airport (AHB) is 25 km from the city and also serves Khamis Mushait. Summer is its busiest season, so book flights, hotels and drivers early.
On the first evening, walk around Al Muftaha Art Village, a restored quarter of artists' studios and galleries, then go up the Green Mountain, which is lit green at night and has cafés with city views. Our Abha and Al Soudah summer guide has more ideas for time in the city.
Al Soudah and Rijal Alma
Al Soudah is an area of misty highlands near Abha with one of the highest points in the Kingdom and a cable car. Go in the morning: fog often rolls in by the afternoon and hides the views. Bring a jacket even in summer, check that the cable car is running, and allow about three hours.
Rijal Alma Heritage Village, west of Abha, is a village of colourful stone tower houses with a museum. The road descends the escarpment, so drivers take it steady, and morning light is best for photos. Give it a day of its own, so nobody feels rushed on the bends.
Habala and Khamis Mushait
Habala, the "hanging village" on a cliff south of Abha, is reached by cable car and takes most of a morning. Check that the cable car is running before you set off; if it is not, use the day for Khamis Mushait instead, the commercial twin of Abha, 30 km away and about 30 min by road.
Abha to Al Bahah along the mountains
The drive north to Al Bahah is 330 km, about 4 h 20 min, from SAR 570 in an economy sedan or SAR 1,160 in an SUV. Services are spread out on parts of the road, so the driver fuels up before leaving and carries water. Rest, prayer and meal stops are included.
Break the journey in Al Namas, a cool summer resort town on the escarpment, 140 km from Abha. The mountain road to Al Namas often has fog on summer mornings, so a mid-morning start is easier. North of Abha the road also passes Tanomah, a green mountain town, if you want a second stop.
Al Bahah and Baljurashi
Al Bahah is the forested mountain region south of Taif. Raghadan Forest Park, close to the city, has juniper forest and viewpoints on the edge of the escarpment, and is cool and misty in summer. Dhee Ain Marble Village, south of Al Bahah, is a village of white stone houses on a marble outcrop, surrounded by banana groves; the road down to it is steep, and morning light is best.
Baljurashi, 25 km south of Al Bahah, is a historic market town with its own souq and Jabal Shada nearby. An hourly driver in Al Bahah waits at each stop, so you can combine the forest, the marble village and Baljurashi in one day.
Ending the trip: fly out, or continue to Taif and Makkah
Pilgrims who continue from Al Bahah to Makkah for Umrah travel via Taif and enter Ihram at Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sail al-Kabir); the driver stops there on request.
| Onward trip | Distance | Typical drive | Economy sedan | SUV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Bahah to Al Bahah Airport | 45 km | 45 min | SAR 80 | SAR 160 |
| Al Bahah to Taif | 220 km | 3 h | SAR 380 | SAR 770 |
| Al Bahah to Makkah | 301 km | 3 h 45 min | SAR 520 | SAR 1,060 |
| Al Bahah to Jeddah | 391 km | 4 h 50 min | SAR 670 | SAR 1,370 |
Mountain driving: what to expect
- Steep escarpment roads, such as the descents to Rijal Alma and Dhee Ain, are taken slowly.
- Fog is common on summer mornings on the Al Namas road and in the afternoons at Al Soudah.
- Tell us if anyone gets car-sick on winding roads, and we plan extra stops.
- Cable cars, parks and viewpoints are busiest at weekends; check that cable cars are running.
- Evenings in the highlands can be cool even in August, and winter nights are cold.
- Sedans manage the main roads well; an SUV adds space for families and luggage.