Asir and Al Bahah

The sight of mist-clad mountains, juniper forests, and colourful fortified villages is not one that you would anticipate finding in southwestern Saudi Arabia and is exactly what makes a visit to Asir and Al Bahah such a contrast to the rest of the Kingdom. This distinctive corner of Arabia is also noted for its unique artistic heritage, lively traditional markets, and cheeky baboons.

Abha, the pleasant resort capital of Asir, is a good place to start your tour. While little remains of old Abha, numerous villages in the surrounding countryside exhibit many fine examples of traditional Asiri architecture: tower-like mudbrick houses with rings of protruding slates. Within these buildings, you will find colourfully decorated rooms and elaborate geometric designs, a style known as Al-Qatt Al-Asiri. A journey through the stunning mountain scenery of Jabal Al Soudah will reveal several such villages and bring you to Rijal Almaa. This remarkable town is considered to be one of Saudi Arabia’s great cultural gems and has a phalanx of fortress-like houses climbing up the steep hillside. Another of Asir’s celebrated sites is the inaccessible ‘rope village’ of Habala, which is known for its ‘flower men’ on account of the male custom of garlanding their heads with herbs.

North of Abha, a visit to the mountainous province of Al Bahah both complements and contrasts with neighbouring Asir. Al Bahah is known for its cool weather and forests, as well as the impenetrable fogs that can descend in January and February. The panoramic views from the green Sarawat mountains here are spectacular, but for many overseas visitors, the undoubted highlight of a visit to Al Bahah province lies in the coastal plain below. A 4WD excursion to the ‘troglodyte mountain’ of Shada Al Asfal and the beautifully restored village of Zee Ain, standing on its mountain of marble, will take you completely off the beaten track and reveal two of Saudi Arabia’s great unsung marvels.