By Janelle Vales-Yasay
Taif is a city located in Saudi Arabia overshadowed by its more well-known neighboring cities of Jeddah and Makkah. But Taif has its own ancient-modern charms that beguile tourists, especially seen during the first ever Taif Season. Traveling to Taif is not just a simple trip; it’s a soulful experience that one has to embark on once or twice in his lifetime.
One can find Taif, a city in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca Province, on the slopes of the Sarawat Mountains. At this elevation, the city enjoys a nice weather becoming one of the best summer destinations in the Kingdom. It is also known as the “City of Roses” with its abundance of roses and other harvests like grapes, pomegranates and honey. Apart from its agricultural importance, Taif is also known for its historical significance. It lies in the crossroads of the incense trade route that served as a channel for goods like the Arabian frankincense and myrrh, spices, and textiles, and the pilgrimage road to Makkah. Taif’s history, culture, heritage, art and nature were highlighted in Taif Season, one of the 11 seasons of Saudi Arabia aimed at transforming the Kingdom into one of the most important tourist destinations in the world. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage prepared a lot of events and activities for all to enjoy. It was an honor seeing the astonishing beauty of Taif, uncomplicated yet unforgettable, and basking in the warmth of some of the most hospitable people in the Kingdom. The Taif Season featured four major attractions: Souk Okaz, Camel Festival, Roses Village, and Sadat Al Baid. Each event gave visitors different experiences in an ambiance full of fun, excitement, and entertainment. There’s nothing like being immersed in all of these adventures for the whole month of August. Every day is an opportunity to get to know Taif, the place and its people, better.
SOUK OKAZ: A Past Always Present
History is the heart and soul of Taif. It has a unique, magical past embodied in Souk Okaz, one of the legendary and best known souk in pre-Islamic times. It was more than a market though; it was a vital center where Arabs settle disputes, pass judgments, announce treaties, and hold competitions for sports and the arts. The souk was destroyed by the Kharijites in 726 but its value lives on through the storytellers of our time.
Souk Okaz has become a tourist destination. Every year, the seasonal market opens its doors to locals and expats during the month of Dhu Al-Qidah. This year, the 13th edition of Souk Okaz opened as part of the Taif Season. Seven huge digital screens representing seven distinguished poets whose images and voices are simulated by renowned Saudi artists, welcomed guests to the high-tech version of the souk.
Stirring theatrical shows were performed at the Okaz Boulevard which accommodated 5,000 spectators at a time. Sitting in one of the concrete benches and watching the show portrayed by men wearing colorful garb, some atop horses and camels, were enthralling; we were given a glimpse into moments long gone but never forgotten. These people were master storytellers and we were glad to listen and watch.
Time is lost when we went inside the market, a re-creation of the ancient souk that hosted sellers of various crafts and wares. We were so engrossed in the shops with products like pottery, handicrafts, silverware, carpets, trinkets, and leather goods. A caravan of camels also went around the market and it was quite a sight to behold.
We also enjoyed the horse show at the Knights grounds. The jockeys gave impressive performances in riding their horses and using swords and spears for exhibitions. The female riders who took part for the first time in the souk received the loudest applause. The pavilions inside Souk Okaz also showcased the culture, art, and cuisine of 11 Arab nations including the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Tunisia and of course, Saudi Arabia.
The last ten days of the souk saw performances by renowned singers and musicians at the Okaz Main Theater. Saudi stars Abadi Al-Johar and Dalia Mubarak, Emirati singers Hussain Al-Jasmi and Ahlam Alshamsi and Syrian musical artist Asala Nasri gave beautiful concerts befitting the fabled grounds.
Truly, the glorious past is always remembered at Souk Okaz for years and years to come.
ROSES VILLAGE: Fine Fragrance of Success
Thanks to Taif’s mild climate and its lush green landscapes, a 30-petal damask rose bloomed abundantly. Taif’s famous rose is celebrated for the essential oil extracted from it and a history so complex yet beguiling. Brought by the Ottoman three centuries ago, with stories of it being originally from India, the pink roses with yellow centers are known for its delicate petals and subtle scent. Over 2,000 farms grow these roses and extract essential oil and rose water from them.
Celebrating these roses, the Taif Season organized the Ward Village at Al Rudaf Park, a large park in the south of the city that has well-tended lawns, weathered granite rocks, and a majestic fountain. The Ward Village became an entertainment venue with its circus shows, rides, and colorful parades.
We rode the mini bus around the park when we first got there to take in the ambiance of the Ward Village. It was beautiful and every corner was worthy of photos and videos to be shared to families and friends. The village has a museum of roses and also a lab that teaches how roses were picked, distilled, and manufactured to become oil and rose water. There was also a market that showcased the fruits of Taif like pomegranates, berries, figs, grapes, and prickly pear. It was a very colorful venue and we enjoyed walking around and checking the featured spots. The fountain show and fireworks display capped the night in the park perfectly.
The small, fragrant flower of Taif has come a long way; its expensive rose oils have been used in luxury designer perfumes from Chanel to Guerlain. But its roots are still embedded in the care and love provided by the farmers of Taif’s orchards and honored by the people of the Kingdom. Now that’s the sweet smell of success.
CAMEL FESTIVAL: Epic Animals of Arabia
Known for their strength and endurance, Arabian camels thrive in desert conditions. They navigate the shifting desert sands and rocky terrains with ease and grace. These incredible mammals of the desert have long been a part of Saudi Arabia’s history and culture. They were highlighted at the Crown Prince Camel Festival.
The festival, considered the largest camel sports festival in the world in 2018, hosted over 10,000 camels from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. It aimed to showcase and boost the camel racing heritage of the Kingdom and promote the cultural and economic value of camels. The competitions held within the festival are considered the largest of their kind in the region with over SR 53 million prizes handed out.
A towering illuminated sculpture of a camel at the entrance of the festival grounds got a Guinness World Record for being the largest of its kind. The replica is 10-meter wide and 4.65-meter high and lit up with more than 50,000 lights.
During our visit to the festival grounds held at the King Faisal Park, we marveled at the camel sculptures and also saw the different sections of the camel village which included a museum, traditional souk, cafés, vintage car display, and the Diamond Show which featured an acrobat in the middle of a gem-like foldable structure. The overall ambiance of the place is relaxing.
Just like the camels, the ships of the desert, the heritage and culture of Saudi Arabia continue to endure and persevere.
SADAT AL BAID: Call of the Mountains
Taif boasts of natural wonders that are surprisingly easy to explore. The city is surrounded by majestic mountains that give an awesome trail to the bold and adventurous and provide captivating views and sceneries to the careful and shy. Mountaineers have been enticed by the Al Hada and Al Shafa mountains in Taif. This is why Sadat Al Baid, part of the Taif Season, was a thrilling experience.
The SCTH and Taif Season staff worked hand-in-hand with reputable tour agencies and guides to offer hiking trips during the season. The month was divided into two seasons and both proved to be really successful. People signed up for some outdoor fun including trekking, Scout activities, ziplining, and musical evenings called “Samr Nights” where participants enjoyed a night of music and food gathered around a bonfire under the mesmerizing sky of Taif.
Our trip took us to the winding roads of Al Hada where the popular cable cars of Taif can be found. The cable car ride gave us a scenic view of the mountains and the famed Al Hada Road which I’ve only seen on photographs before this trip. Looking down at the winding roads was an incredible experience. With the mountains serving as a stunning backdrop and the warmth of the sun providing colors to the pristine features of the area, the view was jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring. We can’t imagine how dramatic this scene might turn into at night. Surely, the twinkling lights of the distant towns will take this view into a different level of breathtaking beauty.
The mountains of Taif are calling and there are a lot of reasons to heed their call.
Visiting Taif for the first time, and just in time for the Taif Season, was an experience of epic proportions. There were so many things going on but for some reason, everything was organized the way they should be. There are many aspects to this season that gave us all the feels. A glimpse of the past, an engagement with the present, and a taste of the future… of things yet to come to Taif and to Saudi Arabia. We can’t wait!
See you next season, Taif!
