09
Um Ruqaibah Rock
864km
25km
Driving MODERATE
Best for LEISURELY STROLLS
Recommended for CAMPING
The rocky landscape of Abu Rakah Valley is an enjoyable and challenging drive, taking you between rock slabs that are scattered across the sandy track. The dry and open desert terrain is perfect for a family getaway, where a morning of rock exploration can be combined with an evening of camping
Be careful exploring narrow wadis if there is any danger of them flooding. Even if the wet weather seems far away, wadis have a large catchment area and the water can seemingly come from nowhere. A traditional way to detect imminent floods in wadis is to watch the ants. If you see them making a hasty escape from a wadi, chances are you had better do the same.
Only 11km from Abu Rakah village, this route primarily follows a paved road before transitioning to a rocky, sandy path. There are numerous similar-looking rock formations every few metres, so ensure you don’t miss Um Ruqaibah Rock.
Wadi al Jazl
Predominantly dry throughout the year, the meandering Wadi al Jazl remains fertile thanks to the water that flows beneath the Earth’s surface. This makes it a perfect place to explore the sandy rock vistas – until the rainy season comes and fills the wadi with torrents of water.
CAMPFIRE FOOD
If you decide to spend the night camping, you can always attempt to make a traditional dish. Due to the cooler temperatures, food local to the Tabuk Region often seeks to give warmth and comfort. One of these dishes is the popular 'al fattah', which consists of bread, ghee and milk. After the bread is cooked over hot coals, simply pour ghee and milk on top before eating.
Um Ruqaibah Rock
With a colossal, mushroom-shaped top perched upon a small stem-shaped bottom, this rock is quite the sight. Be sure to use your vehicle for scale as you photograph or film this interesting rock formation. The shape is derived from centuries of wind and rain erosion, where the softer layers of sedimentary rock near the base have eroded much faster than the hardened layers above.
DRIVING DIRECTION
This route offers a mixture of wide-open wadi driving and interesting rock formations.
1 The main road will end and an unpaved track takes its place. You can take the trail to Wadi al Jazl before returning to the main route.
2 Continue into the wadi. Explore the different tracks or hiking options as you make your way through.
3 At the fork, bear left.
4 Keep a lookout for the standalone Um Ruqaibah Rock on the left. If you turn left at the rock and follow the track for about 1.5km, you’ll come across a rock formation that resembles a huge ship. This track has big boulders along the way so go slow.
