Plan your desert trip early! Save this list of places found in the deserts of Riyadh that you can visit during the cooler months. Whether it’s your first time reading about them or you’ve seen them before, traveling a few kilometers outside the city center can bring you wanderlust and desert dust.
RED SAND DUNES
40 minutes away from the DQ
24.36491581737214, 46.3613743262396
The Red Sand Dunes located 40 minutes away from the DQ is one of the first places of interest that you must visit in Riyadh. The pristine sand dunes colored red orange fascinates both locals and expats looking for some escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Some of the popular activities here are quad biking (starts from SR 30 per 30 minutes), dune bashing (starts from SR 100), camel riding (SR 30 for 15 minutes), and sand boarding.
HIDDEN VALLEY
45 minutes away from the DQ
24.324294248715034, 46.32469200716091
The Hidden Valley is almost always the second stop after a visit to the Red Sand Dunes as it’s just a few kilometers away. It offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and overnight camping. It has large rocky cliffs that visitors climb to get views of the surrounding desert sand and escarpments.
AL-QURAINAH WIND TURBINE
50 minutes away from the DQ
25.13183623810052, 46.189014567962104
This lone wind turbine of Riyadh has caught the attention of visitors on their way out of Riyadh and into the desert. It stands mighty proud; a mesmerizing vision after seeing just plain sand and little villages on the way. The wind turbine provides electricity for a nearby farm. It has a fence surrounding it and the only thing you can do here? Take photos.
HEET CAVE
1 hour away from the DQ
24.490495381277594, 46.9973886881164
This hidden cave in the outskirts of Riyadh is considered as one of Saudi Arabia’s most unique natural wonders. It has an eye-shaped entranceway and a steep descent of around 300-500 meters of loose rocks and sand to get to an underground lake where people take a dip after a walk under the desert sun.
EDGE OF THE WORLD
2 hours and 20 minutes away from the DQ
24.957779366706987, 45.98945193945465
You should not miss The Edge of the World! It is quite an experience from the moment you traverse its rough, gravelly route to the viewing of the dramatic cliffs that overlook the seemingly unending plains below. Sunsets here are breathtaking and mesmerizing! Located in the rocky desert northwest of Riyadh, the Edge of the World requires an expert driver/guide and a 4×4 vehicle. (Do not just rely on Google Maps.)
