The first thing to do, if you want to see Saudi properly, is forget what you think you know. It’s easy to default to the expected: endless sand, dry air, distant cities rising from the heat haze. For years, that’s been the shorthand - a neat but incomplete picture of a place that rarely makes itself easy to summarise. But spend a little time outside the cities, and a different picture starts to emerge. One that’s quieter, more unexpected, and deeply connected to the land.
In parts of Saudi, the landscape rearranges itself so suddenly it feels like a shift in season rather than geography. One moment you’re watching dust swirl across a plateau; the next, you’re facing black volcanic cliffs or turquoise sea. There are fog-covered mountain roads, ancient hot springs with their own legends, coral reefs, deep canyons, and even forests.
These places aren’t secrets, local communities have lived with them, picnicked in them, built family stories around them, but for many outside Saudi, they remain unknown. Not remote so much as unimagined. And perhaps that’s part of their appeal. So, here are five landscapes in Saudi that ask you to look again.
Umluj: Where Volcanoes Meet the Sea
Located on the Red Sea coast between Al Wajh and Yanbu, Unluj is a cluster of 100+ islands and Saudi’s best-kept coastal secret. Powdery white sand. Water so turquoise it feels digitally enhanced. In fact, the Red Sea is home to the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system making Umluj a paradise for snorkelers, divers, and drone photographers alike. What sets it apart, though, is its contrast. Behind the crystalline beaches rise volcanic mountains, their black lava fields cutting stark silhouettes against the sky. This collision of coast and cratered stone gives the landscape an edge - beautiful, but never bland.
Wadi Lajab: The Canyon That Breathes
You don’t find Wadi Lajab. It finds you. Tucked away in the green highlands of Jazan, this narrow gorge is often called Saudi’s “Grand Canyon,” though that label doesn’t quite do it justice. This isn’t a geological boast; it’s a love letter written in stone and water. Steep rock walls rise on either side, carved by a river that still flows gently along the canyon floor. Figs and ferns grow in surprising places, sprouting from cracks in the rock and clinging to ledges like they belong there. On quiet mornings, the air fills with birdsong and the soft sound of water. Later in the day, children splash in the shallows while hikers follow the stream, jumping from boulder to boulder and stopping by shaded pools. There are no signs or fences here, no constructed viewpoints. The beauty is in the rawness.
Al-Ahsa: The Desert’s Oasis Heartbeat
If the phrase “world’s largest desert oasis” sounds like an oxymoron, that’s only because you haven’t seen Al-Ahsa. Situated in the Eastern Province, this sprawling UNESCO World Heritage site is home to 2.5 million palm trees, dozens of natural springs, and a pastoral lushness so implausible it borders on smug. The air smells of date syrup and old stories. The ground trembles with geothermal generosity, particularly at Ain Najm, a sulfuric hot spring bubbling at 32°C, where locals and spa-seeking visitors alike come to soak in what could easily be described as the spa circuit’s best-kept secret.
Al Wahbah Crater: Stillness at the Edge of a Volcano
A giant hole in the ground might not sound like the most romantic place but stand at the edge of Al Wahbah Crater, near Taif, and you might feel differently. There’s something about it: a quiet, unexpected awe that makes you pause. Once a volcano, now a huge salt-covered basin, Al Wahbah feels almost otherworldly. The white crater floor sparkles like scattered crystals, surrounded by desert that stretches out in still, cinematic silence.
There are many stories about how it formed. Some say it was a meteor strike; others believe it was a volcanic collapse. Scientists support the volcanic theory but like all great landmarks, Al Wahbah is open to interpretation. One local legend says the crater formed when a mountain collapsed from heartbreak, separated from its lover across the plain.
The hike down takes about 45 minutes. The climb back up is steeper and slower, best done before the midday sun. Some visitors come for the adventure, others for the calm. At sunset, the crater walls glow gold, and the white salt basin seems to light up. As night falls, people stay a little longer, waiting for the stars to take over the sky.
Fog Walkway, Aseer: A Date with the Sky
In Abha, in southwest Saudi Arabia, there’s a walkway where people come just to watch the fog. That’s it. No big landmarks or attractions. Just the weather, and the way it transforms the view. The Fog Walkway runs along a cliff edge in the highlands of Aseer. On clear days, you can see deep valleys and stretches of green forest below. But when the fog rolls in, and it often does, everything changes. The railings blur, the sounds fade, and the whole place feels like it’s floating in a cloud.
It’s not somewhere people rush through. Most stroll slowly, stop for photos, or sit quietly on benches, letting the mist pass around them. Nearby, there’s more to explore: local markets, traditional performances, and cosy mountain cafés serving warm bread and cardamom coffee. It’s a quiet corner of Abha’s cultural life, woven gently into the rhythm of the mountains and the mist.
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