Natural Attractions - A metropolis, sprawling commercial buildings, shopping malls, high-street highways with bustling traffic, and the capital city of Saudi Arabia are common descriptions that one can give in a spontaneous conversation question, except for those who have explored the city side and the desert areas of Riyadh City and Riyadh Province.
People outside the kingdom often inquire about the lifestyle, recreational activities, and entertainment. Is it an exciting, dull, joyful, or solitary place? If I were to describe the city or the country, Riyadh and Saudi Arabia are excellent places to visit or live.
People can access various facilities, activities, and recreational options in the West and other free countries. In Riyadh, however, you won't find bars, beer salons, karaoke, or other nightlife venues for relaxation. Instead, you can explore natural amenities, scenic spots, landscapes, mountains, parks, and valleys that offer healthy outdoor activities. These provide excellent alternatives to the typical city activities you're accustomed to back home.
Unknown to many outsiders, Riyadh and the entirety of Saudi Arabia blend urban and rural elements, combining modern and traditional lifestyles and merging past, present, and future. The city has malls, restaurants, and entertainment venues such as cinemas and parks where you can experience urban and contemporary living. Just a short drive away, you'll discover stunning desert locations with breathtaking views and mountain landscapes perfect for trekking, climbing, and maintaining your fitness routine. Golf courses, race tracks, resorts, and farms are ready to be explored.
I will not discuss the city and the life that awaits you. Instead, I will enumerate the best places to visit with scenic sights, fantastic rock formations, and activities to enjoy nature.
Places of Nature Adventures
THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
Natural Attractions - Don't be astonished to find yourself atop a towering escarpment with cliffs that rise hundreds of feet, as you are at the Edge of the World. This location is the ultimate adventure spot in the Province of Riyadh. No adventure trip to Riyadh is complete without experiencing the excitement and breathtaking views of the mountain range escarpment.
An adventure to the Edge of the World is incomplete without climbing one of the four central cliff towers to appreciate the sweeping view of the expansive valley below fully.
Read more about the Edge of the World here: THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tabs to watch the videos below.
THE RED SAND DUNE
Natural Attractions - Decrease the tire's air, accelerate your bikes, and drive in the reddish-sugary-fine sand of Riyadh Redsand Dune. Let your imaginations fly your spirit high above the sky in soft, loosened sand as you go around basking in the sea of the sands.
Marvel at the breathtaking views surrounding the area, which perfectly complement the reasons to visit and discover the hidden gem the desert offers.
SHARK PINNACLE
Natural Attractions - Feel like the God of the desert guards, view the vast golden lands seated on one stone atop the mountain, and listen to the chirping wild birds as the cold wind of wide-open land touches your skin; enjoy being at the viewing point of Shark Pinnacle.
Click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube.
THE BERRY PARK & CAMEL TRAIL
Natural Attractions
Berry Park and the Camel Trail in Riyadh are located in the same area and are excellent alternative destinations to the Edge of the World. The scenery and landscapes are just as thrilling, with the added benefits of being near the city, accessible by any vehicle, whether small or large and requires a much shorter drive on rough roads to get there.
Read more about Berry Park here: BERRY PARK AND CAMEL TRAIL (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tabs below to watch the videos on YouTube.
THE WHITE CANYON
Natural Attractions
In the White Canyon of Riyadh, natural outdoor Jacuzzis have been flawlessly crafted by water currents over millennia. Pack lightly with essentials like water, snacks, and a camera to embark on the trek.
Read more about the White Canyon here: WHITE CANYONS, RIYADH (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tab to watch the video.
THE HIDDEN VALLEY
Natural Attractions
All it requires is the determination to continue uncovering hidden gems and unraveling more tales and secrets beyond the hills and ridges. Don't halt at the arrival area; venture beyond the mountains to witness the breathtaking views concealed behind the peaks.
Read more about the Hidden Valley here: THE HIDDEN VALLEY OF RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tabs below to watch the videos on YouTube.
AL WASLAH PARK
Natural Attractions
The suspense and thrills may be light, but they are filled with stunning sights. Al Waslah Park is part of the Al Uraidh Valley, which offers a picture of the mountain landscape and farmlands' simplicity, serene, and unaltered natural good looks. With about a 5 km drive from the city's outskirts, you can start seeing the desert in its exquisite untold laidback exterior as the colors of the green trees.
Read more about Al Waslah Park here: AL WASLAH PARK, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (underratedadventures.com)
Please click the play tab to watch one of the videos about Al Waslah Park.
For other related videos, click the below links:
Al Uraidh Valley - Al Waslah Side: https://youtu.be/-yfxV3CY40c
Al Uraidh Valley - Al Waslah Park Side 2: https://youtu.be/e6STwtfy_co
AL URAIDH MOUNTAIN
Natural Attractions
Al Uraida, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—Although Mount Uraida is not this location's official name, despite extensive research, I could not discover any other name. They were unaware of its name even when inquiring with locals from the surrounding area.
Therefore, I have called it Mount Uraida for reference purposes since it is located near Al Uraida.
During the past half of the climb, you will encounter rocks you need to scale to advance to the top.
Closing to the top, cliffs on the right side greet you with chilling effects on your knees. You just knew you had conquered something beyond your usual limit.
Read more about Al Uraidh Mountain here: EXPLORING MOUNT URAIDH (URAIDA) (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tabs below to watch the videos on YouTube:
SHAIB LUHA POOL
Natural Attractions
The Al Uraidh valley in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is best characterized as a wilderness on the city's outskirts, perfect for picnicking, camping, and hiking. Its breathtaking landscapes often go unnoticed, but its captivating allure is undeniable once seen. The mountain ridges, cliffs, and the valley, decorated with desert trees' greenery, draw visitors back repeatedly.
Read more about the place here: AL URAIDH PICNIC, CAMPING AND HIKING VALLEY (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tabs to watch the videos on YouTube.
HAEER LAKES PARK
Natural Attractions
Haeer Lakes Park is a place where the fantastic natural landscape and the architectural development design perfectly blend. It is a place of unwinding, relaxing, and spending time with family and friends. Haeer Lakes Park is the newest and rising public park south of Riyadh and has become a favorite place for weekend and holiday promenades.
Supported by the 4As (Accessibility, Availability, Affordability & Accommodation) requirements for a tourism destination, the high crowd attendance of the park goers, picnickers, and promenade is not surprising.
Read more about Haeer Lakes Park here: THE HAEER TOWN AND THE LAKES PARK (underratedadventures.com)
DAHL HIT POINT
Natural Attractions
Want to experience some nerve-racking thrills interacting with monkeys in the wild? Dahl Hit Point is the best place. You can feed the whole troop and interact inside their territory. Remember to bring some bread and other food items because monkeys expect visitors to feed them.
Click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube.
AL HEET CAVE & POOL OF RED TADPOLES
Natural Attractions
Al Hyt (Heet) Cave
Al Heet Cave ranks as one of the top attractions in Riyadh. It is an underground cave approximately 75 meters beneath the surface, featuring a small lake within its confines.
In addition to the cave, you'll be captivated by the breathtaking scenery surrounding it, with hills and trenches ready for exploration and mountain peaks ready to be ascended.
Read more about Al Heet Cave here: AL HYT (HEET) CAVE, RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (underratedadventures.com)
Please click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube.
The Pool of Red Tadpoles
Natural Attractions
The Pool of the Red Tadpoles is another location in Al Hyt, about 2 kilometers south of the Al Heet Cave. Its unique characteristic is that it serves as a habitat and breeding site for frogs with tadpoles that differ from the common ones we are familiar with, as they are red.
Visiting the pool offers breathtaking views of the valley and hills. It is also perfect for picnics and overnight camping.
Click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube.
WADI HANIFA
Natural Attractions
Wadi Hanifa is the most extended river channel that crosses through the metropolis area, stretching the length of 125 Km from north of Riyadh to the southern town of Haeer. Parks are scattered into several name points, to name:
Wadi Hanifa – Al Hada
Wadi Hanifa – Al Namar
Wadi Hanifa – Laban
Wadi Hanifa - Laban
Wadi Hanifa - Al Masane
AL AMAARIAH CLEFT and STATE PARK
Natural Attractions
Explore and witness the two mountain ridges meticulously carved with precision and artistic mastery to create a gateway linking two areas on either side of the mountain. The construction of the road network also allowed people to experience a breathtaking landscape, a stunning desert mystery.
The state park is perfect for overnight camping and picnics. Positioned in the valley, it is encircled by mountains featuring geologically carved and man-made hill formations.
WATHILAN NATIONAL PARK
Natural Attractions
The 80-kilometer winding dry river valley provides adventure enthusiasts with opportunities for camping, picnicking, mountain biking, off-road driving, forest exploration, cliff climbing, and sightseeing. A drive of one hour and 15 minutes, covering 115 kilometers from Riyadh's city center, will lead you to a location featuring perennial desert trees, shrubs, seasonal grasses, plants, unique rock formations, cliff walls, and mountain ridges. Various birds fly around and chirp as they perch on the trees, enhancing your experience in this nature-rich destination.
Motor Bike Sports
Natural Attractions
YAMAMA MX TRACK
Yamama MX Track has demonstrated that a motorbike sport can thrive amidst a soccer field. Indeed, it has. Yamama MX Track is the leading MX track in Riyadh province and the surrounding areas. If motorbike riding is your sport, Yamama MX Track is accessible and within reach. In addition to engaging in your favorite sport, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery, including lush greenery, valleys, and mountain landscapes.
Read more about the Yamama MX Track here: YAMAMA MX TRACK – THE RISE OF MOTORBIKE SPORTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOCCER FIELDS. (underratedadventures.com)
Click the play tabs to watch the below videos on YouTube.
Farm Adventures Experience - Natural Attractions
WAHBI FARM & TOURISM ESTATE
If you're looking to explore desert farming, raise livestock, grow dates, or escape to a farm for a break from city life, Wahbi Farm is an excellent option. Relax on a carpet under the date palms, listen to the birds, feel the desert breeze, and savor the wilderness. You can also meet Witchita, Wahbi Farm's guest relations camel, and see the sheep grazing in the grasslands. Wahbi Farm and Tourism Estate is also home to the Yamama MX Track.
Click the play tabs to watch the videos on YouTube.
HANGING STRAWBERRY GARDENS
Natural Attractions
Experience the joy of selecting your favorite sweet strawberry and feel beautiful as you become a farmer, choosing the fruit you'd like to savor. The hanging strawberry gardens in Al Amaariah invite visitors to enjoy the firsthand fruit-picking experience. Try the PPE: pick-pay-eat; it's a serene and delightful activity.
AL MAAMOURA FARMS AND NURSERIES
Natural Attractions
This is the farm to visit for those looking to buy fresh oranges, lemons, and pomelos while taking in the breathtaking views of expansive farmland and the golden desert of Hafirat Nisah, Riyadh. Located just a 1½ hour drive from the city center, you can purchase fresh fruit at farm gate prices right on the farm. In addition to buying fruit, you'll be amazed by the stunning desert landscapes, rock and mountain formations, and the beautiful blend of golden and reddish desert valleys with the greenery covering the plains of Hafirat Nisah.
If you are not a Riyadh, Saudi Arabia resident, visiting this farm could be a package of visits to different desert adventure destinations. At least five exciting spots to stop for a visit as a side trip, aside from the charming sights that you can see along the road on your way to the Al Maamoura Farms and Nurseries, and these are the following:
YAMAMA GARDENS FARMS & NURSERIES
Natural Attractions
Yamama Gardens Farms & Nurseries is a tropical oasis presenting a sudden shift in scenery amidst the desert sands and rocky mountains of Hafirat Nisah, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. If you have a passion for horticulture, are a flower enthusiast, or are involved in the floral industry, this farm is a must-visit destination.
Visiting this place offers numerous delights, and discovering the desert landscapes of Riyadh Province during your journey will always be exciting, from the moment you begin driving to when you stop in front of the farm. As you navigate the desert terrain, the thrill intensifies as the golden sands and hills unfold.
Read more here: YAMAMA GARDENS AND FARMS NURSERIES - THE DESERT BLOOMS FARMING (underratedadventures.com)
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