From Alula to Wadi Disah - Stunning roadtrip in Saudi Arabia Ep.2

IS THIS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY WE HAVE DRIVEN IN SO FAR?
Probably the same thoughts the Dakar racers were having during Dakar Rally 2024. Join us while we follow 2 Dakar stages around Alula. We show you some behind the scenes from inside the offical Dakar bivouac.

More is happening during winter in Alula: we attend Kokub desert party, a desert polo event and get to see the beautiful Old Town of Alula. But my favourite part of Alula Town is probably the Oasis, such a peaceful place for a walk. We take a guided tour to Hegra (also called Madain Saleh), Saudi Arabia's Petra without the crowds. It's an extensive area full of tombs from the Nabateans.

No visit to Alula is complete without a visit to Maraya concert hall, the mirror building,
and the Elephant Rock, really nice for sunset drinks. A bit out of Al-Ula we check out the impressive Rainbow Arch, and with a little help of our Swiss friends we also found a hidden gem there. They called it "the little bear" and it's a very appropriate name for a very cool rock formation.

The whole area is full of these rock formations, rocks that resemble an animal or something else. Between Alula and Wadi Disah we found a mushroom rock.

Wadi Disah is probably Saudi's most popular wadi. We were there on a Saturday and found many Saudi's on a picknick. Some tours in open 4x4's going on as well, so definitely not a hidden gem anymore. But anyway, we still were very impressed. We loved accessing the wadi from the north-east entrance as you then first look down on the area, before you delve into it.
Wadi Disa gets prettier and prettier the more you drive to the west, it also gets busier with other people. Depending on the time of year and weather conditions there can be more or less water in the wadi. Inform yourself and only drive it with an appropriate vehicle. Don't forget to look into you rear mirror if you drive out of the wadi, what a beauty!

We camp in a neigbouring wadi, Wadi Ghamra. For this one you need a 4x4 any time of year with sufficient ground clearnace as it is very rocky.
There are other valley's with no names where you will find no one, and they are stunning as well. Al Disah and surroundings, you amazed us!

Saudi Arabia is really an overlander's paradise, one of the best countries for overlanding if you ask us. We hope it stays like this...

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