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Nufud as Sirr
250km
40km
Driving MODERATE DUNE DRIVING – 4WD REQUIRED
Best for DUNE BASHING AND CAMEL SPOTTING
Recommended for A UNIQUE DESERT EXPERIENCE
Approximately 45km from Buraydah, this route through the Nufud as Sirr is a desert trip with a difference. A mix of paved roads and sand tracks, this route will have you surfing the dunes and skirting the ‘shoreline’ of one of the country’s biggest salt lakes. Combine with nearby cultural sites and the world’s biggest camel farm for a full day adventure.
Traversing very different landscapes, depending on the time of year, this route takes you to the remarkable ‘beach’ at Al Awshaziyah Lake and then into the Nufud as Sirr Desert for some adrenaline-fuelled dune bashing. Keep a lookout for different coloured camels as they roam the shrub-dotted dunes in search of food. During the rainy season, the area is surprisingly green, and being close to Buraydah – Saudi Arabia’s agricultural hub – you’ll notice an abundance of crop circles.
Although not featured on the main route, we recommend you also make time to visit the Al Qassim Camel Market and Al Musawkaf Souq.
Al Qassim Camel Market
Cited as the largest camel market in the world and peddling a variety of different livestock including goats, sheep and of course camels, this colourful spectacle offers a unique Saudi experience. Beginning every morning at 6am, people from all over the country circle the enclosures looking for a purchase. As the haggling begins against the backdrop of animal sounds (and smells), prepare to have your senses well and truly flooded. The action is generally all over by 10am, but it’s still worth a drive around if you arrive in the afternoon.
BURAYDAH DATE FESTIVAL
The annual Buraydah Date Festival is the biggest in the world. Held for 45 days from September to November, the event offers 45 varieties of dates with estimated sales of up to 300,000 tonnes each year. A multitude of cultural and heritage activities run alongside the festival, including a youth awareness programme designed to encourage the younger generations to enter the industry.
Al Musawkaf Souq
A replica of its ancient predecessor, Al Musawkaf Souq is both a popular tourist attraction and a traditional marketplace, selling everything from vintage toy cars to biscuits and spices. Also featuring a small café, the souq comes into its own in the evenings when locals gather to shop and socialise. The courtyard inside hosts regular cultural events and is especially busy during the celebration of religious and national holidays. The market is open daily from 4–10pm.
Al Awshaziyah Lake
Covering an area of 50km2, this impressive salt lake, or sabkha when it’s dry, is bordered by the rolling dunes of the Nufud As Sirr Desert. Crowds flock to the lake for its white sands and clear waters, a beach experience in the middle of the desert. In drier months, when the lake is empty, a thick white crust made up of saline minerals sits across its surface.
BURAYDAH
The capital of the Qassim Region, Buraydah is a thriving modern city with plenty of parks, hotels, entertainment centres and shopping malls. For off-roaders looking to rest in comfort after their venturesome days, it is the perfect base to explore the northern area of the Kingdom.
DESERT AGRICULTURE
Buraydah and its surrounding desert landscape is abundant with crop circles. These round, green fields use an ingenious centre-pivot irrigation system to optimise a farm’s yield. Growing predominantly wheat, the area has witnessed an agricultural boom in recent years and despite its arid conditions, Buraydah has become one of the largest wheat producers in the country and a net exporter of cereal.
Nufud as Sirr Desert
Popular with local 4WD owners and visiting off-road enthusiasts, this scenic stretch of desert is known for its tall dunes and soft orange sand. There’s a petrol station close to the start where you can reduce your tyre pressure and stock up on supplies should you fancy a night camped out under the desert stars.
Al Mithnab Traditional Village
This beautifully restored heritage village is an architectural treasure. Made up of over 384 mudbrick houses and 30 shops, the buildings feature elaborately patterned doorways and a white edging typical of Najdi architecture. Spend time wandering the narrow streets and check out the majlis market where you might stumble upon an auction.
DRIVING DIRECTION
This drive encompasses paved roads, established sand tracks and rolling dunes. Be sure to deflate your tyres before entering the desert.
1 The route begins on Highway 6373. Continue straight, past numerous farms and then across Al Awshaziyah Lake.
2 Turn right to explore the lake further or follow the route onto Highway 6166.
3 At the junction, turn right onto Highway 6160. If you stay on this road it will eventually lead you past seasonal lakes towards Al Mithnab Traditional Village. To continue on the main route, take the first paved road on the left.
4 The route passes a small village and mosque before going uphill and across the Nufud as Sirr Desert.
5 The dunes eventually give way to an established sand track before reaching the main road. Turn left to re-join the highway towards Buraydah.
