A twenty-minute drive from the city center of Tabuk, you will find a rock island in the ocean of sands. This figurative description fits precisely to the place known as The Lion Face because the formation is just like an island surrounded by dunes. The whole shape that looks like a ship sailing on the ocean will draw your curiosity to explore it to find the things beyond the striking outer appearance.
The Lion Face is just one of the places you shouldn’t miss visiting in the Tabuk Region. The surroundings flaunted by the reddish sand color that exhibiting the vibrant color of the place.
Quick Facts
Name: The Lion Face
Location: Neom, Tabuk Region, KSA
Southwestern of Tabuk City
Distance from Tabuk City: 60 KM, 25 – 30 minute drive
Distance from the Highway: 1 Km approx.
Hot to Get Here
From the city center of Tabuk, drive through the Jeddah Road.
You need to drive for about 60 Km from the city center of Tabuk, and you need to turn right, off the road to the dune. Drive for about 1 km from the highway
You need a 4-wheel drive car to reach the place; otherwise, you need to walk from the highway.
For those coming from outside Tabuk province, the city of Tabuk should be the take-off point. In case doing the tour adventures for days, arrange your accommodation in the city of Tabuk.
To facilitate your trip to the lion face and other tourist attractions, I suggest hiring a local guide.
The exhilarating road with fantastic skyline going to the Lion Face Rock.
What to Expect
See the rock formed into the face of the lion towering above the reddish-golden dune
See for yourself the rock island formed like a ship
By rare chance, see a desert fox
See wild desert birds flying over the Island rock
See the pagoda-like rock formations around the rock island of the Lion Face
Off-road desert drive to a plain surface of the dune
Enjoy walking through the reddish-golden sand.
The diving platform-like of the rock island greets the visitors on their arrival.
The ship-like formation of the rock island view from afar.
The relaxing sights surrounding the place plus the desert wind blows the stresses one may have.
The pagoda-shaped rock formations make a perfect natural decoration of the vast golden desert (above photo and as shown below with the Lion Face)
The magnificent rocks carving, a masterpiece of the time.
This is not Titanic holed by the iceberg. It's simply the fantastic form of the rock island.
What to Bring
Snacks and water to support your thirst and light hunger while exploring
Sunglass to protect your eyes from the open desert blinding lights of the sun
Sombrero hat to shade your face without using sunglasses, especially if you are shooting with your camera.
Sunblock to keep your skin from burning, especially during summer.
Visiting during the winter season, of course, you should be in your winter suits to keep you warm and away from freezing.
The gas station and supermarket pass by going to the Lion Face Rock where you can do buying the supplies you need.
Activities You Can Do
1. Picnic and overnight camping
2. Sunset watching
3. Light trekking & climbing
For picnic and overnight camping, you may use your camping tent or simply find a cave formation of rock to hide from the sun and rain during rainy days. There are areas where you can do this, except when the number of picnickers is high.
The guide, Mr. Ahmed Al Atawi leads the author in climbing the rock.
Elevated rock platforms and rock walls favor the campers and picnickers to settle on the sand-free surface.
The rock wall awning covers the picnickers and campers from the sunlight and from the rainfalls.
The author poses for a photo with the lion's head in the background.
For an easy and facilitated tour to this place, you may arrange with the tours and travel operators offering this place in their package.
For a personalized guide, you may connect with the guide who assisted the author in coming to this place, MR. AHMED AL ATAWI @ +966 50 417 7818.