Madain Saleh · The Desert Rose City

—Unlocking the Sandstone Code of the Nabatean Civilization

🌟【Opening】
Nestled in the golden sand dunes of northwestern Saudi Arabia, Madain Saleh (Mada'in Saleh) stands like a rose-hued city frozen in time. As Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, this southern capital of the Nabatean Kingdom weaves tales of 1st-century BC caravans through its 111 exquisitely carved rock tombs. When sunset pierces the towering tombstones, the ochre sandstone glows like honey, revealing why the Quran called this place "Al-Hijr" (The Rocky Place)—every wind-carved groove is an epic engraving of silk and spice-laden camel trains.

🕒【Opening Hours】
Regular Hours:
April–October: 06:00–19:00 (avoid midday heat)
November–March: 08:00–18:00 (morning mist adds mystery)
Starlight Night Tours: Open until 22:00 every Friday & Saturday (sound-and-light projections revive ancient caravan trails)
⚠️ Heritage Etiquette:
① No touching tomb walls (millennia-old pigments are fragile);
② Drones require prior permits (5km no-fly zone around the reserve).

💵【Ticket Prices】
Experience Price (SAR ≈¥1.9) Highlights
Basic Site Pass 95 SAR Includes free audio guide
Nabatean Craft Workshop 65 SAR Carve your own rose sandstone souvenir
Starlight Dinner Package 210 SAR Tomb-view terrace + traditional Zar dance

🔍【Experiences】
1. Tomb Decoder Quest
Qasr al-Farid (The Lonely Castle): Explore the largest standalone tomb, with serpent lintels symbolizing wealth guardians.
Tomb Acoustics: Clap inside Qasr al-Bint to trigger a 7-second echo (ancient anti-theft design).
Caravanserai Zone: Operate replica water wells, reliving caravan survival tactics on the "Incense Route."

2. Immersive Time Travel
Holographic Sand Theater: 19:30 show "Queen of Nabatea" (Arabic + English subtitles).
Pottery Workshop: Sift soil to reconstruct ancient pottery with caravan markings.
Star Map Decoding: Guides use lasers to link tomb layouts to Orion’s Belt.

🔥【Itinerary Tips】
Half-Day Highlights: North Gate → Caravan Well → Qasr al-Farid → Diwan Meeting Hall → Jabal Ithlib Sacred Mountain
Full-Day Deep Dive: Add Al-Khuraymat rock art zone (hunt for prehistoric "Crying Camel" graffiti).

🚙【Transport】
Coordinates: "Hegra Archaeological Site", AlUla 43512
🚄 High-Speed Rail: From Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport → Haramain Express to AlUla Station (2hrs) → Shuttle Bus (Blue Line).
🚗 Scenic Drive: Rent a 4x4 at AlUla Airport → 40min via Route 375 (11 viewpoints en route).

🏜️【3-Day Itinerary】
🗺️ Civilization Trail Loop
Day 1: Tomb Epic – Full day at Madain Saleh (tombs + starlight dinner) → Overnight at Habitas luxury camp.
Day 2: Nature & History – Sunrise at Elephant Rock → Mirror House coffee → Decipher petroglyphs in Ikma Valley.
Day 3: Modern Echoes – AlUla Old Town mud-brick workshop → Dareen Canyon suspension bridge.

🛖【Stay Like a Nabatean】
Type | Property | Heritage Perk
Cave Villa | Banyan Tree AlUla | Infinity pool reflecting tomb silhouettes
Stargazing Pod | Shaden Resort | Roof telescopes decode tomb constellations
Heritage Home | Hegra Homestay | Stone houses run by Nabatean descendants

🎒【Packing List】
📦 Desert Archaeology Kit
Must-Have | Pro Tip
Archaeology Flashlight | Tomb lighting (no phone flashes)
Sandstone-Colored Scarf | Sunshield + photo prop (avoid bright colors)
Rubbing Paper | Legal rock art tracing (indoor use prohibited)
Electrolyte Powders | Combat "invisible dehydration" (4L water daily)

💡 Did You Know?
Qasr al-Farid’s unfinished chisel marks reveal Nabatean "installments"—merchants paid deposits to start tombs, but wars left them eternally incomplete!

🌅 When the wind caresses these tombs, you’ll hear whispers of camel bells and stars from 2,000 years ago.
(Note: Smart guide bracelets launching in 2025 will auto-play holograms near tombs.)

【Heritage Rules】 No solo exploration of closed tombs. Hikers must buddy up and carry GPS.