Mada'in Saleh

Scenery on way from Jeddah to Yanbu

Heading up into the hills from Yanbu

Sunset behind the hills

A little like Australia......

This weekend just gone we took a trip up to Mada'in Saleh, which is the Saudi Arabian version of Petra. We left Jeddah about 1pm heading up the coast road to Yanbu. The scenery is flat, sandy and pretty boring - the only interesting bits were the periodic sandstorms that we had to drive thru where the visibility of the road was reduced to about 10m.

One of the many camels

View the next morning from the door of our hotel room

One garden 'wing' of the hotel

The other side of the garden

These outcrops around Al Ula were so much like some at home

Upon reaching Yanbu we refueled, meeting a local who warned us that the road we were taking was 'very windy' (curved). As it turned out his definition of windy and most of ours differed greatly - it had a number of curves, but they were far from the hairpin type curve you find on European roads! We took a right hand turn away from the coast and started heading up into the hills towards Al Ula and Mada'in Saleh. The scenery changed quite a bit and in places it resembled areas of the Australian outback. Along about dusk we were stopped by a group of camels being herded (by ute), black, white and sand coloured as they crossed the road.

Our trip continued with fading light, through the outskirts of another town, variously sign posted Al Ays- Al Eys - Alis - where we once again stopped for fuel. At this point Barry and I were approached by a local who introduced himself (even shaking my hand!) and offered his assistance as we "looked confused". In fact we were confused - but only by our friends in the car in front and why they had stopped! He gave us information about the road and villages ahead and we once again set off arriving in Al Ula at about 7.30pm. We checked into the hotel and had dinner before collapsing into bed.

A stop on the way to Mada'in Saleh to take pictures of countryside

First tomb we saw - this is a 'rich' family's tomb

Inside. The number of graves varied depending on the size of the family.

Tool markings on the wall. There were also a lot of old wasps nests.

Most of the group (there were 12 of us) walking from one to the next

This is the 'middle class' area

They were carved from the top down - this one was not completed.

"Muffin rock"

Camel carved into the rock

Part of the facade has collapsed on this one. The graves on the wall outside, open to the elements, would have been for the servants/slaves of the family who owned this tomb.

Monkeys

This is the main large tomb that is on all the promotional Mada'in Saleh materials

Ad-Diwan. Muslim pilgrims would visit this area.

We climbed to the top of this hill

Animal sacrifice area. They were hung in the grooves and the blood drained into the sink like holes in front. The animals were burnt in a large pit in front of this.

View from the top of that hill

Our guide and Jacob waiting for everyone else to get back down from the top of the hill.

Each tomb has different carvings - most have had their heads removed.

The main well of the area - it is now dry.

Hijazi Railway Museum

At 8.30am on Thursday we were collected from the hotel by bus and a guide and headed out to Mada'in Saleh where we walked around the tombs and religious area before returning to the Hijazi Railway Museum right near the entry gate. I think I will let the photographs speak for themselves - it was amazing!

After this part of the tour we returned to the hotel for lunch and a rest in the afternoon heat before being picked up at 4pm for a tour of the old town of Al Ula. This was the town that was inhabited up until about 30 years ago, when the last of the people moved into the newer town. There is a large fort/castle there that provided a great view of the valley - which has date palms everywhere and even grass it is so fertile and wet!

Walking up the steps to the top of the fort/castle

View from the top.

View north up the valley from the top of the fort. This looks towards the hotel and Mada'in Saleh. Part of old town in foreground.

This looks south towards the new town of Al Ula with the remainder of the old town in the foreground on both sides of the road.

On a rocky area of the fort.

Looking up at the fort - wave to the people up the top!

Inside the old town

A house that has been preserved for people to look at. The downstairs area was for receiving visitors and for storage.

The roof supports for the second floor!

Standing on those roof supports. The top area was where the family lived.

The old Souq area. This large space used to be filled with camels.

Row of shops from the old Souq

Our final stop was at 'Elephant Rock' after stopping along the road to look at the "lion tombs" from a distance (they are currently roped off for further excavation). We then returned to the hotel. As there was a wedding being held in the restaurant, and it was the only family restaurant in the town we went into Al Ula to look around the shops and to buy some takeaway which we took back to the hotel and ate in the garden.

The 'lion tombs'. Still closed off for excavation.

"Camel Rock"

"Lion Rock"

"Elephant Rock"

This is a natural fissure in the rock - it has not been carved!

Elephant rock from the other side. This side has an 'eye' and 'tears' running down the trunk.

The next morning upon checking out we were met by 2 policemen who wanted to know the route we were going to take. In the end we ended up with a police escort for the 750km trip back to Jeddah - we still don't quite know why. The general feel was one of that it was being done as a courtesy, that it was a positive thing - that we were VIPs deserving of this - but it was a little inconvenient as they prevented us from travelling at times at the speed limit (one guy wanted to do 80 in a 120 zone) as well as limiting the number of stops that we could make along the way. But it was certainly an interesting experience!

Looking back down the valley to Al Ula (from the south) as we left.

Our convoy - with police car in front!