Tabuk is best explored by renting a car as all of the beautiful places have huge distances between them. The drive is very enjoyable as you will pass through different landscapes and scenery.

Tabuk Region is bordered by Jordan and without a doubt, it is one of my favorite regions in Saudi Arabia for its diverse and unique landscapes. As I drove along Tabuk regions, I was captivated by the tall mountains surrounded by red sand dunes, my jaw dropped as I drove along the coastline with Egypt on the horizon and mountainous silhouette from the Sinai Peninsula against the Aqaba Gulf.

Catalina Sea Plane

Catalina Seaplane is a military seaplane from the 1930s that belonged to an American family who was traveling around the world and happened to have landed in Ras Al Sheikh Hamid. The seaplane shows the bullet holes that were shot by the bedouins in the area who thought it was a threat. There weren’t any casualties, the family was flown to Jeddah for interrogation and eventually let free. However, the seaplane remains in the same spot.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iEQoQfJFQbT2

Haql & Georgios Shipwreck

Haql is located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, bordered by Jordan and along the Gulf of Aqaba. It is one of the popular spots for diving and there are many beach resorts in Haql.

Many visit Haql to see the long-abandoned shipwreck called the Georgios G Shipwreck. The abandoned cargo line is left stranded since 1958 due to the narrow route that caused the ship to get caught on the corals.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iEQoQfJFQbT2

Tayyib Ism

Located just off the coast of Aqaba and across from Sinai, legend has it that Prophet Moses crossed the Red Sea and split the mountain in half. It starts off with beautiful palm trees and as you walk through the crack, there are streams along the way. It’s definitely a must-visit.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/JrngViDgz8Q4bk6s8

Sharma

I have not been there but it said to be one of the best beaches. There is also a restaurant in a hotel where one could enjoy a meal with a sea view.

For more details on how to go on a boat trip in Saudi, check the link here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/JrngViDgz8Q4bk6s8

Duba

During our trip to Tabuk, we stayed the night in Duba and took a boat from the marina in Duba. The coral reefs were beautiful!

For more details on how to go on a boat trip in Saudi, check the link here.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iEQoQfJFQbT2

Magna

A drive along the coastline of Magna is not to be missed! You’ll find yourself stopping on the side of the road to marvel the beauty of the steep mountains. It is also believed that Prophet Moses crossed the Red Sea to Magna.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iEQoQfJFQbT2

Spring of Moses

Located in a palm tree lush area, the spring is said to be where Prophet Moses drank after crossing from Egypt. The area has a perfect view of the sea, valleys and palm trees.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iEQoQfJFQbT2

Wadi Disah

If I had one place to visit in Tabuk Region, I’d say “Wadi Disah” without hesitation. That’s how special and spectacular this canyon is. The 15km canyon is best explored with a 4×4. There are plenty of generous and hospitable locals who visit the valley whom you could hitchhike with. Before arriving to Wadi Disah, there are several strawberry farms worth a visit if it’s during the season.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/iEQoQfJFQbT2

Al Bad’a

It is often skipped and less popular than other spots in Tabuk Region. However, there are several tombs from the Nabatean period that are worth a visit even if they are only a few and not well maintained. Unlike Madain Saleh, Mughayer Shuaib can easily be accessed.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/JBjH3o3kp91mkPRz7

Umluj

Umluj is also known as the Maldives of Saudi for it’s clear and pristine beaches and white sandbanks. It is a popular destination for beach camping trips.

For more details on Umluj, click here.

For more details on how to camp in Saudi, check the link here.

For more details on how to go on a boat trip in Saudi, check the link here.

Campsite Location: https://goo.gl/maps/JBjH3o3kp91mkPRz7

How to get to Tabuk Region: Fly in from any city to Tabuk City

How to get around Tabuk Region: Rent a car from the airport and make sure that it has unlimited mileage. Usually, Dheeb rental car has an offer for unlimited mileage

Recommended Tour Agency: @tabuk.tours

Contact Person: Salem

Contact Number: +966 50 277 9907

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Here’s how to arrange a boat trip on your own:

1. Visit the closest Coast Guard and inquire on the closest Marina or simply find one.
2. Check if it is allowed to dive if you plan on diving
3. Check if there’s any gear rental shop nearby. (Umluj didn’t have one)
4. Talk to the captain on the places you want to visit; snorkeling, shallow area, mangroves, reefs, etc.
5. Give all IDs to the coast guard to issue a permit. You will take the IDs back upon your return.
6. Rates per hour vary in every city and according to the boat type.

• Rabigh: 150 SAR/hour (8 Pax)
• Umluj: 200 SAR/hour (11 Pax)
• Jeddah: 300 SAR/hour (11 Pax)

Contacts:

Jeddah: +966 50 663 8794

Rabigh: +966 56 366 3777

We spotted a stingray while walking around the mangrove area by Rabigh

Photos by: @photojunaid @zee_tr @qairawan_sa 

Beach Camping in Saudi Arabia

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There are plenty of pristine public beaches that are secluded and tucked away from the city where you could go and spend the day or even a few nights.

Finding a spot where you could swim and camp should be done cautiously as there are some areas where it is not allowed or dangerous to swim in.

1. Open Google Map (Satellite) and check which area seems to be sandy with corals.
2. Check with the closest coast guard on the spots where you could camp and swim so you don’t waste your time wandering in areas that might not be allowed to swim or camp in.
3. Drive along the coast and pick your camping spot.
4. Go back to the nearest coast guard and inform them of your camping spot and provide an ID of a male who will be responsible for the campsite.
5. The coast guard will give you a permit and a number to be placed on your campsite so they can identify each campsite.
6. Set your camp and enjoy your time!

Coast guards constantly move back and forth to ensure safety. I never felt bothered and they were always helpful whenever I needed anything.

Here are the camping spots I have camped in recently.

Rabigh: https://goo.gl/maps/PLdfxoRWCSE1MZXz6

Umluj: https://goo.gl/maps/kFmPyNrsoP9rSXYo6

UPDATE: Beach camping is no longer allowed along all the coasts of Saudi Arabia. Individuals can sleep along the beach only with a sleeping bag and without a tent. Sometimes, you can get lucky if you are allowed by the coast guard to camp a couple of meters away from the shore.

Got questions? Comment below and I’ll happily answer them!

Rabigh Campsite

Rabigh Campsite

Rabigh Campsite

Rabigh Campsite

Umluj Campsite

Umluj Campsite

Umluj Campsite

Umluj Campsite

Umluj Campsite

Umluj Campsite

Photos by:

@photojunaid @shaggy23 @zee_tr @qairawan_sa @musaphoto

Here’s a quick preview of the Rabigh Campsite

View this post on Instagram

Summer is coming.. – Shots by: @photojunaid Editing: Me ( @nadiranjum ) Trip by: @qairawan.sa – – @saudiarabia #SaudiTravel

A post shared by Nadir Anjum (@nadiranjum) on May 11, 2019 at 1:43am PDT

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The quick weekend getaway will take you to volcanic areas, caves, clear blue water, and black sand dunes in 3 days!

Day 1: Yanbu – Campsite

We were picked up from Yanbu Airport and driven to the campsite on a volcanic area. The area requires a 4X4 car.

The weather was pretty chilly and it picked up some wind in the middle of the night.

Day 2: Hiking

We started our day at 8 am for a 10km hike to explore 3 caves.

The trail is mostly flat ground with different terrains; hard lava, fine volcanic materials, flat sand.

To go down into one of the caves, we used a 6-meter ladder that’s already held in place. It’s safe!

You may want to consider taking an antihistamine and a mouth cover as the place is filled with heaps of bird waste.

We have been blessed with plenty rainfalls this year that plants grew in one of the caves.

We had our break with a warm cup of tea before heading back to the campsite.

Black Sand Dunes

Post lunch, we packed up and headed to an area known as “ارض القمر” which means the land of the moon.

As you can see, the volcanic materials are wearing off from the volcanic mountains. Over time, it created a vast area of black sand dunes

If you check google earth, you would be able to see the black area where we camped and the location of the black sand dunes located west of Al-Ais

Al Shabhah Town

As the sun sets, we visited the old town of Al Shabhah where we were greeted in the most traditional way by a group of kind locals.

The locals are putting together an effort to restore the old houses and artifacts of the area for visitors to enjoy.

They demonstrated a traditional way of making wheat bread which is by placing the dough directly on ash and covered with charcoal.

Then the bread is beaten to get rid of the ash and crumbled. Lastly, it is served with a lot of ghee.

It may not sound appealing but once you try it, you won’t be able to stop. It has a very distinct flavor and taste.

Then we camped by the seashore of Umluj.

Day 3 – Swim/Dive/Snorkel

We went to the boat rental spot in Umluj and hopped in one and went to the tiny islands spread around where we snorkeled.

Boat Rental Location: https://goo.gl/maps/v8srqfM9jp72

The water is crystal clear with many beautiful corals everywhere. 

I wanted to dive but there wasn’t enough time between diving and my flight.

We ended it with a feast of seafood!

It was one of the most exciting trips I experienced in Saudi and I recommend everyone to visit the locations mentioned!

Trip Organized by: Weekend Trip

Instagram: @weekendtrip1

Twitter: @weekendtrip1

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