The crater is an established tourist spot so despite its remote location, a paved road has been built to make the crater easy to access. The Visitor Centre at the entrance to the site is free and offers insight into the geology of the area. There are also covered areas in which to picnic and a dedicated viewpoint overlooking the crater.

If you want to explore the crater properly you will need a 4WD vehicle to manage the routes that circumnavigate it. Strong winds cross the plateau above the crater, so be cautious when you are close to its edge. To really explore, take a hike down the established trail into the heart of the crater.

  Hiking into the Heart

As wonderful as the view is from above, the real magic is to descend into the crater’s salt-crusted base. There is a rough trail on the north side, it isn’t an easy hike as the path gets rough and narrow, so proper footwear is a must. The climb down will take about 45 minutes and significantly longer for the challenging climb back up. If you are not up for this hike, try walking the circumference of the crater’s rim, which will take about three hours.

  Maqla’a Tamyah Crater

The Maqla’a Tamyah Crater is carved into the Harrat Kishb basalt plateau, an area that boasts some remarkable landscape created by historic volcanic activity. The main route around the crater sits approximately 200m from the edge and is well established, but there are multiple tracks in the area to explore including one that takes you to the dried lava field at the northern end of the crater.

THE NATURAL WONDERS OF THE KINGDOM

Famed for its epic desert landscapes, Saudi Arabia’s diverse topography may well surprise many. Not only does it boast some of the most stunning desert expanses in the world, but there are also forests, mountain ranges, volcanic plains, rock formations and Ashoura coastal trees. The climate also varies from region to region with winter temperatures in some areas dropping below 0°C.

  Stargazing

The absence of any light pollution in this area makes this an ideal spot for the most incredible stargazing experience and lunar-like views of the crater. Bring your tent and plenty of food and water with you as this is a remote area with no shops or accommodation nearby. There is also little or no phone signal in the area.

DRIVING DIRECTION

A unique drive, this route follows a combination of paved road and impeccably marked tracks that lead you around the crater’s opening.

  1      Turn left from Highway 8454 onto the paved road.

  1a     For more of an off-road experience, turn left from Highway 8454 and follow the desert track to the crater.

  2     From the Visitor Centre, turn left to follow the track along the crater’s edge.

  3     Stop alongside the track and hop out of your vehicle to hike down towards the bottom of the crater.

  4     At the fork, take the left for a perfect place to stop, pitch a tent, and gaze at the stars.

  5     At the end of the route, you can complete the loop around the crater, or head back to the main road via the sandy off-road track.