Beautiful region with history and archaeology aplenty
A key destination in the Saudi Arabian experience - The Wadi Rum of the Kingdom
The beautifully scenic and historic province of Tabuk is a key destination in the Kingdom and features incredible scenery as well as being rich in antiquities and archaeological sites, not to mention the remains of the Hejaz Railway line. Within Tabuk Province you’ll wind the stunning canyons of Wadi Al Disah (Valley of the Palms) which looks like a cross between The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley; Wadi Tayyib Al Ism – a valley of steep granite stones separated from the turquoise-fringed Gulf of Aqaba by only the road; the important historical sites of Mughair Shuaib which seem to appear out of nowhere in the reddish desert sands, offering beautifully carved facades and tombs into the sandstone; as well as the wonderful Al Shaq Gorge (The Great Canyon of Saudi Arabia).
This region also houses the magnificent deserts of Wadi Bajdah and Wadi Zeeta which are similar to Wadi Rum in Jordan. On the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba you’ll find the site of the future ‘utopian’ city of Neom as well as several sites associated with Moses, who it is rumoured lived east of the city of Tabuk for 10 years. It’s said by some that Jabal Maqlah is the ‘real’ Mt. Sinai and at the Moses springs near Magna, natural springs flow under date palms. Another site of interest is the mountain of Jabal Lawz where snow can fall in winter.
Tabuk, the capital city of the Tabuk region, has long been a resting point for Jordanian and Egyptian pilgrims. Its rich culture can be felt in Souq Twaheen, famed for selling patterned rugs and goat-hair tent covers. There are spectacular fortresses all around Tabuk, but this imposing castle in the centre of town might be the oldest. Known to date from 1559.