Make your trip to AlUla memorable with the new helicopter tour
Buckle up, put your headsets on and take in a bird’s eye view of AlUla…
With its unique landscape, showcasing three distinct geological periods going back up to a thousand million years, AlUla is a sight to behold – especially from the air.
“While the rocks are mostly common rock types, the fact that you have these three completely different landscapes – the Precambrian Arabian shield rocks, the sandstone that was laid down over it and then the black basalt formed by volcanic eruptions – all in one area, is what makes AlUla so special,” said geologist Don Boyer.
A visual feast without rival
The weathering, the agencies of wind and water, have created drainages, such as the wadi that cuts through AlUla and the steep-walled canyons nearby.
These elements have sculpted the ridge-tops and created dramatic rough edges of basalt and interesting rock formations. It also features a variety of colours and textures, from the black basalt to the multi-layered sandstone.
Seen from the ground, it’s one of the most vibrant geological wonders, and the view from the air, where the full scale of AlUla is apparent, is even more astounding.
The good news is that visitors to AlUla can now appreciate the landscape’s diversity, monumentality, and global significance by taking the Kingdom’s first helicopter tours.
Elevate your visit to AlUla
Take to the skies with AlUla’s new helicopter tour, one of the unique ways to take your AlUla trip to new heights.
The 30-minute scenic journey will first take you to the monumental Jabal AlFil, also known as the Elephant Rock, AlUla’s most famous natural geological rock formation.
Buzz over to Hegra, a Unesco World Heritage site and the southern capital of the Nabatean Civilisation, and hover between its ancient tombs carved deep into the red and golden rocks. There, you will get to see one of the last trains of The Hijaz Railway stood in time.
The pilot will then whisk you towards the west, where you will spot the Maraya concert hall in the distance. The Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest mirrored building can be seen reflecting the sun out to the sky, shining brightly like a diamond in the desert.
As you traverse to the south, you will fly past Jabal Ikmah, the open-air library. Then, the tour continues back down to the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms, and finally over the AlUla Old Town before landing back at Fursan Village.
This AlUla helicopter tour will provide you with memories sure to last a lifetime.
Boyer shared, “The pleasure of flying over this part of Saudi Arabia as opposed to, for example, heritage sites in Europe is that there is no clutter. In AlUla, it’s vast; you see things in their raw state, and the state of preservation is generally very good indeed.”
The flights for AlUla Helicopter Tour are available at Sar750 per person and will operate twice a day.
Visit: Experiencealula.com
Images: Provided