leisure: Abha
Abha
MOUNTAIN TOURS
Ideal for hikers and bikers, the mountain tours take visitors around Al Soudah, Al Habala for rock climbing, and Tathlith where camel-trekking and hot air ballooning are popular past-times. There are several operators carrying out mountain tours for up to three days that incorporate all of the listed activities.
Jebel Al Helah, an extinct volcano located near Mohayl village, and Jebel al Taraf in Ohud Rofaidah are other popular mountainous regions within Abha.
Ideal for: Part of full-day mountain tour
Group size: Two to 20
Timings: Best visited in the morning before the mid-day heat
Top tip: Organise a hot air balloon trip
NATIONAL PARK
Covering more than 2,000 hectares, the National Park is populated with mountain, desert and seascapes that stretch from west of Abha to the Red Sea Coast, cutting through the Tihamah Plain along the way. Near the halfway mark of the vast stretch of land Ð between al-Qura'ah in the south and al-Soudah in the north Ð is the Administration and Visitors' Centre, which highlights the park's best features while offering an insight into its history. With seven exhibition rooms and panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, and waters of the Red Sea on a clear day, the centre is an unsurprisingly popular attraction.
Ideal for: Half-day tour
Group size: Two to 50
Timings: Best viewed in the afternoon
Top tip: Watch the sunset from the panoramic view point
MOUNTAIN VILLAGES
Spectacular views of the surrounding area provide reason enough to visit Jebel Sawdah near Abha, the highest point in Saudi Arabia that peaks at 2,910 metres. The Jebel al Taraf in Ohud Rofaidah and Jebel Al Helah near the village of Mohayl are also worth a visit. Villagers living in the mountains before the emergence of motorised vehicles had little choice but to make do with materials and supplies at hand. The height of their surroundings and depth of the valleys meant it was extremely difficult for dwellers to bring in groceries and building materials. As a result, each village adopted its own technique for day-to-day living, making each one drastically different from the next. There are five styles of architecture in the region, ranging from thatched huts on the Tihamah coastal plain to the horizontal stone tile layers found in Al Basta. Mud tower houses spring up in Al Khalef, while visitors can expect to see stone apron tower abodes in Al Yazid, Al Khat and Dar Osman.
Ideal for: Part of full-day mountain tour
Group size: Two to 20
Timings: Best visited in the morning before the mid-day heat
Top tip: Take a tour guide and a camera
HABALAH
Known as the Hanging Village, this community in Asir clings perilously to a sheer cliff face of the valley wall. The villagers settled 300 years ago interacted using a pulley system and rope ladders, which is where the name Habalah (rope) comes from. Large iron buckets used to haul food and supplies up or down the village, which was inhabited until 1980, are just some of the remains that visitors can still see today. Parks and restaurants are close by, as well as a daily operated cable car that offers breathtaking views of the village.
Ideal for: Part of full-day tour
Group size: Two to 20
Timings: Best visited in the morning before the mid-day heat
Top tip: Take the cable car as the climb can be exhausting
RIJJAL AL MA'A
One of the most impressive cultural attractions in Rijjal Al Ma'a is the museum and visitor centre, which has been developed by the local community. Some 60 traditional stone-built dwellings and buildings in the style of Tihamah slopes make up the village. Tourists wishing to visit the area can tie Rijjal Al Ma'a into a day trip involving the nearby cable cars and lunch or dinner at one of several restaurants.
Ideal for: Half-day tour
Group size: Two to 20
Timings: Arrive for lunch and stay the afternoon
Top tip: Tie in with tour of the mountain villages
AL MAQAR TOURISM VILLAGE
Scenic views of the coastal region of Tihamah draw in many visitors each year to this attraction, which is located near a cliff ridge. The tourism village has a museum, restaurants, residential apartments and even a zoo.
Ideal for: Half-day tour
Group size: Two to 20
Timings: Best viewed in the afternoon to explore the full track
Top tip: Visit the zoo for an education in wildlife
RAIDAH PROTECTED AREA
At 14 sq km, this reserve may be one of Saudi's smallest wildlife areas. But that should not take anything away from a wonderful natural habitat and many local animals. Of Saudi's 10 indigenous species of birds, nine can be found in the park among many foreign fowl including eagles. Public access to Raidah Park is afforded to some education groups, although visitors should take caution as the site is located on a steep slope below Jebel Sawdah. The park is managed by the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation & Development. The steep walls of the wadi are great for spotting many animals, including gazelles, mongoose and leopards. Sacred baboons, caracal lynx and Arabian Wolves also roam the area, which carries a hunting ban.
Ideal for: Half-day tour
Group size: Two to 20
Timings: Best viewed in the morning before the wildlife takes to hiding
Top tip: Bring along binoculars to see the wildlife
