AlUla Travel Guide
Buy Saudi RiyalAlUla at a glance
AlUla, in Saudi Arabia's north-west, is desert valleys, a mud-brick Old Town and Hegra, the kingdom's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 111 monumental Nabataean tombs. Three days is right. There are no direct flights from India: fly to Riyadh or Jeddah and take a Saudia or flynas flight to AlUla airport, or fly into Madinah or Tabuk and drive for about three hours.
Hegra and Dadan can only be visited on a tour from Winter Park, where parking is free: the Hegra Day Tour costs from SAR 95 per person and the Dadan and Jabal Ikmah tour from SAR 60, with private 4x4 tours from SAR 1,000 per vehicle. Old Town and Elephant Rock are free. Maraya, the mirrored concert hall, is not open inside at present.
The AlUla Skies Festival runs from 6 to 15 November 2026: sunrise balloon flights over Hegra cost SAR 990 (book by 4 pm the day before) and tethered rides SAR 100, walk-in only. The season runs from late October to April; November nights fall to about 9°C.
Hire a car for everything else, or use the Darb AlUla ride-hailing app; the Hop-on Hop-off bus was not running in October 2026. Women do not need an abaya or headcover in AlUla. Indian passport holders need a visa: the online eVisa if they hold a used US, UK or Schengen visa or live in the GCC, otherwise the new Package Visa bought with flights and hotel from an approved travel agent, or a visit visa through a visa service centre in India.
What to see and do
Old Town is the centre; Elephant Rock is 20 minutes north-east, Hegra's tours leave from Winter Park, and Sharaan is about 45 minutes away.
Hegra
Nabataean tombs carved between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, 94 of them decorated. Tour only: the Day Tour from SAR 95 per person (2 to 3 hours with a Rawi guide) or the Premium Tour from SAR 1,000 per vehicle. Stay on the paths.
AlUla Old Town
Mud-brick lanes below a hilltop fort, free and open to all, liveliest after 3 pm; shops close at 11 pm and most restaurants at 1 am. The guided Old Town Tour costs SAR 70.
Elephant Rock
Jabal AlFil, a sandstone outcrop shaped like an elephant, 20 minutes' drive from Old Town. Open daily from 4 pm to midnight with fire pits and food trucks; no entry fee, and no climbing.
Dadan and Jabal Ikmah
The site of an ancient north Arabian city and, 10 minutes away, a canyon of rock inscriptions. One tour covers both, from SAR 60 per person; self-drive is not permitted.
Paying in AlUla
For the riyal itself, visa rules for Indians, the cash you can carry and the tourist VAT refund, see the Saudi Arabia travel guide, and the SAR to INR page for today's rate. Saudi riyals load on the Matrix Forex Card, so most travellers carry the card plus a small cash float.
Experience AlUla says cards and contactless are widely accepted, but some shops take only cash; there are ATMs, and Omlah Exchange has counters at the airport and in Old Town. Carry SAR 100 to 150 a day for small shops and tips. Card charges are not refunded when you cancel an online tour booking.
What AlUla actually costs
Set the length and style of your trip to see what to budget, in riyals and Indian rupees.
Indicative, excluding international flights and accommodation, per person per day. Converted at the verified mid-market rate on 26 October 2026, SAR 1 ≈ ₹25.29, not a Matrix board rate.
Budget roughly ₹5,690 to ₹50,570 per person per day on the ground, excluding flights and accommodation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hegra Day Tour, per person | from SAR 95 |
| Hegra Premium Tour, per vehicle | from SAR 1,000 |
| Dadan and Jabal Ikmah Tour | from SAR 60 |
| Old Town Tour | SAR 70 |
| Skies Festival sunrise balloon | SAR 990 |
| Old Town and Elephant Rock | Free |
Getting around
AlUla is spread out, so walking between sites is not realistic. Tours handle Hegra and Dadan; for the rest, hire a car at the airport (Indian licence plus an International Driving Permit) or book rides in the Darb AlUla app, and arrange your ride back from remote sites before you go.
Common mistakes in AlUla
Assuming the eVisa is open to all Indians
India is not on the eVisa list. It works only with a used US, UK or Schengen visa or GCC residence; otherwise use the Package Visa or a visa service centre.
Turning up at Hegra in your hire car
Self-driving into Hegra and Dadan is not allowed. Book a tour and park at Winter Park.
Leaving tour bookings to the day
Tours have limited places, and same-day changes or refunds are not allowed.
Packing only for heat
November nights fall to about 9°C. Bring a warm layer for mornings and evenings.
AlUla FAQs
The Hegra Day Tour costs from SAR 95 per person, with site entry, a shared guide and the coach from Winter Park. The Premium Tour costs from SAR 1,000 per vehicle in a private 4x4. You cannot visit Hegra without a tour.
Yes. India is not on the tourist eVisa list, but Indians holding a used US, UK or Schengen visa, or living in a GCC country, can apply online or get a visa on arrival: from SAR 379 plus health insurance. Since July 2026 other Indians can buy a Package Visa, flights and a hotel of four stars or more from an approved agent, issued within 48 hours; or apply for a visit visa through a visa service centre in India.
There are no direct flights. Fly to Riyadh or Jeddah and connect on Saudia or flynas to AlUla, or fly into Madinah or Tabuk and drive for about three hours.
Not at present: Experience AlUla says there is no access to the inside of the mirrored concert hall, except at ticketed concerts when they are scheduled.
The AlUla Skies Festival runs from 6 to 15 November 2026. Sunrise flights over Hegra cost SAR 990 per person, booked by 4 pm the day before; tethered rides cost SAR 100, walk-in only.
Experience AlUla says women do not need an abaya or headcover. Dress modestly at places of worship, and bring layers for cold winter nights.
On 26 October 2026 one riyal was ₹25.29 at the mid-market rate, so SAR 100 is about ₹2,530. The riyal is pegged at SAR 3.75 to the US dollar.
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