The questions that come up before a visit and before booking — gathered on one page with short, clear answers.
There is no permit specific to AlUla itself. What you need is lawful entry to Saudi Arabia (an e-visa for eligible nationalities, or national ID/residency for residents), then tickets for the heritage sites, which are visited on organised tours. Entry requirements change by season, so confirm them with official sources before you travel.
The cool season from October to March is best: days suit moving between sites and walking, and nights turn notably cold in December and January. In the summer months from June to August the midday heat is high, and activities are scheduled for early morning or before sunset.
AlUla guide — when to goTwo to three days is the comfortable length for a first visit: one day for the major archaeological sites, one for the Old Town, the valley and an evening experience, and a third for nature and trails. A single day covers only one chosen thread, and distances between sites consume more time than visitors expect.
AlUla guide — how many daysAlUla is about 300 kilometres from Medina — roughly three and a half hours by car on paved roads — and Medina is the nearest major city. The alternative is flying into AlUla International Airport (ULH), which receives domestic flights from Riyadh and Jeddah, with additional seasonal services at peak times.
AlUla guide — getting thereYes, but the scheduling changes: in the hot months field activities move to early morning or the hours before sunset, and evening experiences take over. Published group departures follow the season, while private journeys can be designed around a summer-appropriate schedule.
Published departuresYes; the valley, the Old Town and short experiences suit children, and many families choose one- or two-day programmes. Longer trails and mountain walking need a judgement call on a child's age and fitness, and we can adjust the programme to the ages in the group.
Design your journeyYes — our group departures include a dedicated women's line, shown on the departures page with a “women only” tag when it runs in season. A fully women-only private journey can also be arranged on request.
Published departuresA group journey is a published departure with a set route and a per-seat price, joined together with other travellers in a small group. A private journey is designed for your group alone — you choose the date, the pace and the content, and sites, guides and transport are coordinated around you, starting from a small group size.
Private journeysFor group departures: pick a date on the departures page and reserve your seat directly. For private journeys: send a request with your dates, group size and what you want, and the team comes back with a programme and pricing before any commitment. Short experiences are booked from the experience page itself, subject to availability.
Start a private requestYes, we run journeys in Arabic and English, confirmed when the programme is finalised. Guides at the official heritage sites operate within those sites' approved tours.
What each programme includes is stated explicitly on its page under “what's included” and “what's not included”, and it differs between programmes. When you travel with us, the team arranges the required entries and tours within what is available in that period.
Browse journeysPrices shown on the site include 15% VAT, noted beside the price on journey and seat pages. Any fees or services that are not included are stated explicitly in the programme details.
Online payment via mada and credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) through secure payment channels. For private journeys and corporate programmes a confirmation payment followed by a balance may be arranged, and this is set out in the quote before you commit.
The policy depends on the booking type, when you cancel, and the costs already committed. For group journeys: cancelling more than 7 days ahead allows a refund after payment fees and non-refundable costs are deducted; between 3 and 7 days a cash refund is not guaranteed; under 72 hours is non-refundable. Private journeys have tighter terms because they are coordinated to order. The full, binding text is on the policies page.
Cancellation & refund policyRescheduling is possible in many cases and is assessed against the remaining notice and the costs already committed; priority may be given to moving to another date or to future credit rather than a cash refund. Exact terms and notice periods are on the policies page.
Modification policyModest, comfortable clothing with shoes that handle sand and rock, plus an extra layer for the evening, because desert nights are far colder than the days. An abaya is not required for foreign visitors, and a hat and sunscreen help in every season.
AlUla guide — practical questionsThe sites are spread along the valley and walking between them is not an option, so you need a car or organised transfers. On our journeys, movement between sites is organised as part of the programme.
Browse journeysPersonal photography is available at most sites, some have specific rules explained on the ground, and commercial or drone photography needs separate permits. The best light falls on the sandstone at sunrise and sunset.
Message us and we'll answer directly — or start a private request and we'll come back with a programme before any commitment.