A 170km drive north of Al Madinah, you’ll begin your journey from the popular Hadiyah Station. Once you have explored this fascinating and beautiful part of the desert, you can head off to the remarkable old city of Khaybar. Fertile plains carpet this old town, creating a beautiful contrast between the abandoned buildings which are now part of an important heritage site.

  Hadiyah Station & Locomotive

Hadiyah Station was a major post for the Hijaz Railway and is accessible to visitors. As you walk in, you will see a derailed rusting train and carriages, still with the original woodwork and engine.

  Hadiyah Fort

One of the larger forts in the area, Hadiyah Fort seemingly blends into the mountains. Parts of the fort walls are still standing and it has become part of the natural landscape, with shrubs and plants growing between the cracks.

  Marbled Mountains

An easy drive across loose sand beds, the mountain’s contrasting colours and marble effect are particular to this area.

  Wadi Khaybar

Wadi Khaybar is known for its well systems and irrigation canals which help keep the surrounding area lush and green. As you make your way through the expansive wadi, you will notice abandoned buildings nestled between the date palms. Hop out and explore the traditional architecture of the region.

MYSTERIOUS STONE STRUCTURES

Mustatils, meaning 'rectangle' in Arabic, are gigantic rectangular-shaped structures, created by humans. A groundbreaking archaeological find from the 1970s, these large-scale constructions are said to be from the Neolithic period. With academics still working to understand the origin and purpose of these sculptures, some believe they could have been built for ritualistic or religious reasons. Since their discovery, experts have documented over 600 mustatils through satellite imagery and 350 through helicopter aerial views. To this day, they are still uncovering new structures in different shapes and sizes, primarily in the AlUla and Khaybar regions.

  Stone Structures

Said to be older than the pyramids, archaeologists have found around 400 mysterious stone structures in the Khaybar and AlUla area. While it isn’t exactly clear what these structures and symbols are, their average size is about four times the length of a football field. Take a walk around them for a better look, but you need an aerial view to properly see the different shapes and patterns.

DRIVING DIRECTION

Running below the path of the Hijaz Railway, this route takes you past archaeological sites, through stunning marbled mountains and, if you’re lucky, seasonal pools teaming with wildlife.

  1     On the main road, pass over the old rail track (you can turn off here to visit Hadiyah Station & Locomotive) and head towards Hadiyah.

  2     Explore the old ruins and stone structures, then head out along the sandy plains, which are an ideal spot for camping and some dune bashing fun.

  3     Continue straight through Wadi Khaybar.

  4     Take a left and drive 6km. Explore on foot for a close-up view of the stone structures in the area.

  5     After navigating through some rocky terrain, the track will lead you back to the main road. You can follow an alternative trail that connects you to the Hijaz Railway track (Route 14).