Outdoor Recreational Activies in Saudi Arabia
Hiking, Climbing, Dune Skiing and More
If you’ve just landed a job in Saudi Arabia, don’t put your outdoor recreational gear into storage, as many expats have done. That intolerably hot desert featured in Lawrence of Arabia does exist, to be sure -it’s the Nafud Desert, located in the northwest part of the country - but people who love nature have a wide variety of other choices for outdoor activities in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s outdoor attractions include the spectacular coral reef of the Red Sea, the monumental Nabataean tombs and sandstone sculptures of Medain Saleh and the high, rugged mountains of Abha.
Skiing in the Empty Quarter
Without a doubt, Saudi Arabia’s most famous natural wonder is the Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter, a great desert as big as France. Here dunes have piled up upon dunes, reaching hundreds of meters high. In spring and fall, the weather is pleasant here and hikers can enjoy the unique experience of climbing to a high point and finding themselves surrounded by a vast ocean of endless waves of sand.
At the top of a dune, you are in the perfect position for enjoying a thrill few people have ever experienced—as long as you’ve brought along a pair of skis. These can be store-bought or home-made. (Cut PVC tubing and curl up the front end in boiling water). Just be careful when you’re nearing the bottom. The base of a sand dune can be a lot more solid than you’d think!
Conquering the Black and White Volcanoes
Equally beautiful, but relatively unknown, are the Black and White Volcanoes of Harrat Khaybar Lava Field. These are located only 190 kilometers north of Jeddah but have only been seen by a handful of human beings. Here the jet-black lava of Qidr Volcano meets two white volcanoes composed of cream-colored comendite.
All of these volcanoes are relatively easy to climb and require no special equipment. One of the white volcanoes—called Jebel Bayda—is shaped like a giant iced doughnut and in half a day you can climb it and then descend all the way to the crater floor. Jebel Abyad, instead, is high and pointed and just catching a glimpse of its steep, deep crater requires squeezing through several cracks at the very peak.
Qidr, the black volcano, is composed of fresh basalt less than 300 years old. Much of the climb upward is along the smooth roofs of lava tubes. The view from the top of any one of these volcanoes is staggering and unleashes the imagination. The undulating line where black meets white might remind you of hot fudge on vanilla ice cream or perhaps something a bit more poetic.
Creeping through Desert Caves
People living in the central and eastern parts of Saudi Arabia have easy access to the curious desert caves of the Summan Plateau. These caves may have entrances barely large enough for your shoulders, but they often lead to a labyrinth of passages where you might come upon million-year-old as well as ancient artifacts or caches of animal or human bones.
If you enjoy rappelling, you’ll find some challenging limestone pits. The deepest recorded freefall drop into such a pit was 100 meters or 300 feet straight down into Dharb Al Najem Cave.
In the main cities of the kingdom you’ll find groups like the Natural History Society or the Hash House Harriers which organize hikes or campouts to interesting sites. So, if you are thinking of working in Saudi Arabia, you may want to pack your hiking boots, caving helmet and scuba gear…and by all means don’t forget your skis.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
