“An animated world in a real existence” is what best describes the place because of its cinematic resemblance to the setting of fantasy movies we see in cinemas. This place blends the geological history of yesterday, the tilling by the people of today, colors of the plants, the reddish canyon walls, golden and gray sands as they put into one, the site suddenly becomes a live cinema showing landscapes similar to a digital graphic movie setting.
Quick Facts
Name: Al Disah (Wadi Al Disah, Wadi Disah) Location: Tabuk Province/Region, Saudi Arabia Distance from Tabuk City: 250 km, 2½ hours drive Road Access: Excellent and concrete road
Wadi Disah indeed a must-see place in the Tabuk region. An open-ended valley gives visitors the chance to pass through and through from one end to the other, entering on one end and exiting to the other end provided that you drive a 4-wheel drive car.
It has six (6) key points that every traveler or visitor must reach and see at least most of them if not all to make the trip worth the time and effort, and to enjoy, see and get these key points, I suggest to do the hiking for the whole day inside Al Disah alone
First Point - Pagoda Valley
Pagoda Valley is not the official name of this Point. But no name available for this part for referencing, so I call it a Pagoda Valley.
Located before the end of the road, more or less 1½ from the road ends before entering the main exploring area. The towering rock formation to the right side of the wide-open camping valley looks like the pagodas in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Laos & others); hence, I refer to the place as Pagoda Valley.
Pagoda Valley is perfect for settling for a picnic during winter times. The open sunlight enough to keep you warm while feeding your eyes with the scenic views of the rock formations around and the bird chirps as your music in the wilderness.
Pagoda-like rock walls greet the visitors before entering the main exploring area.
The panoramic open field view of the Pagoda Valley Point.
Moving closer to the road end and main entrance of the exploring area.
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2nd Point - Water Spring and Dates Picnic Groove
Entering the main exploring area, about 200 meters, you will find the water spring below the rock wall right after the road ended. It is visible because you will notice the water flowing on the road; as you track where water flows coming from, it leads you to the spring. The water is potable; you can drink from the spring using a container in your hand. I tried drinking, and it tastes as natural as the bottled water we buy.
Across the rock wall where the water spring is, you will see the fully-grown dates plant with the magnificent rock towers and rock walls in the background. It appears like a digital graphic image of the place in a fantasy movie. In my experience, I could not easily find a word to describe, except to say, wow!
The full-grown dates are the ones that give shade to the picnickers away from the burning sunlight during the summer seasons. Not to mention the other desert trees and lion grasses growing around it bring music to your ears as the birds flying, perch, and singing around.
The blending sights of the green grasses, trees, and dates plants with the reddish rock walls of the background make the place look like a fantasy movie set.
The depth of the loose sand on the dry riverbed requires explorers to use a 4-wheel-drive car. In the background is the majestic landscape of rock towers that greets the visitor upon arrival.
The fully grown-up dates plant gives picnickers shaded points to settle hiding from the sunlight during summers.
In the above photo, local visitors washing hands and drinking water from the natural spring. Below, is the author taking his turn to drink the water from the spring.
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3rd Point - 3000-Year-Old Rock Engraved Alphabet and Murals
Few distances from the water spring will find the rock cliff on the right sight of the dry riverbed and driving trail. This cliff has an engraved alphabet and murals by the ancient people who dwelt way back 3000 years. Centuries ahead before the Arabic alphabet was born.
As you look around, the place gives you astonishing sights, a combined color of rocks, and unique towering rock formations on both sides of the valley. See them as they reflect the sunlight, worth the efforts of trying to reach the place.
The 3000-year-old engraved alphabet and murals engraved by the ancient settlers using different letters are seen right at the driving trail.
Enjoy the golden rocks as they reflect the afternoon sunlight.
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4th Point - Al Disah Window
The Al Disad Window is a cave beside the driving trail. The distinction of this cave it has a window on its cave wall, facing the driving trail and the mountain on the other side of the valley.
The location makes the cave perfect for resting, eating, and siesta if you are doing the picnic for the whole. The temperature inside the cave is ideal to suit your sleeping comfort.
It looks like the mouth of the cave, but it's not. This is the window of the cave.
The guide waiting for the author to enter the cave.
The cave is a perfect point for resting halfway through your exploring adventure.
5th Point -Hidden Veranda
Only a few of the Al Disah hikers, visitors can get to this part. A vantage position for viewing the Al Disah Valley. The hikers need to trek a medium height of the rock-mounted formation in the middle of the valley. It would be best if you exerted some effort of climbing the rocks; however, once you get here, the exhilarating view will ease away the tiring experience of climbing. Overlooking the green fields of lion grasses, the dates farms, and desert trees will bring you again to fantasizing about an imaginary world we see in the movies.
You have to have a guide that knows where the passage is going to the Hidden Veranda. Otherwise, you may not find it.
Driving the 4-wheel-drive car is already a challenge because you will find running the car the loose sands, which is good enough to do a beach volleyball.
Field of lion grasses, dates farm, and other fruit-bearing trees run by the locals tilling the valley of Al Disah, one of the scenic sights you will see at the Hidden Veranda.
Another scenic sight at the back side of the hidden Veranda
Afternoon sunlight at the canyon
The author enjoys looking at the valley
Never ever come to this place without a camera.
Click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube
6th Point - The End or Exit Point
You may probably think that the exit point of Al Disah (eastern side exit) is nothing but a way to get out and leave the site, not the case, however. I thought that way, but you should be ready with your camera again to capture the scenic formations of rocks as their ridges reflect the afternoon sunlight; another “wow” will come out from your mouth.
The towering rock walls on both sides of the welcome canyon climber to try getting to the top. You only need to look for a safe trail to get to the top, and on the course of climbing, extra precaution is still necessary.
Fiery reflection of the rocks to the late afternoon sunlight.
You may be thinking that exiting A Disah means you are done, no not yet! You are about to see the final salvo.
Nature is not about weather and geological activities, the landscape also.
Stop, look and shoot!
The exit point tells that Wadi Al Disah welcomes the visitors with a bang and sends off with a boom.
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What to Expect
A long drive of 2 ½ hours from Tabuk City for the 250 km distance
Scenic sights to see along the road
Driving a non-4-wheel drive car will require a long walking to get to the deeper part of the Wadi Disah valley. You can only drive up to the end part of the concrete road.
Driving a 4-wheel drive car gives you the chance to drive through from the entry point, going to the deeper part of the valley and exiting on the other end, moving back to Tabuk running on the other road.
Chance to encounter camels and donkeys along the way.
Spirit lifting sights of the golden sands in a seem neverending desert lands excites the travelers all the more.
Local resident riding his camel gives the author a chance to shoot this photo and offered him a ride.
Silence is intelligence. Who says donkeys are stupid?
Car Requirement
Four-wheel-drive – if you want to go to the inner part of the valley, if not, a non-4-wheel drive car will do and take an exercise to go for walking.
High clearance
New tires are a great advantage.
No explanation is needed, just look at the loose sands, a 4x4 car is what you need to explore the whole of the valley.
Terrain Condition to Drive
From the City Center of Tabuk to Wadi Al Disah via Jeddah Road is excellent up to Wadi Al Disah.
From the City of Tabuk up to Wadi Al Disah, the road conditions are the same.
Things to See
Magnificent canyon and majestic rock formations.
Al Disah Cave
Rock towers
Wildflowers
Vigor lion grasses
Desert trees
Water spring
Wild birds
Dates Farm
Orchards
The waters flowing on the driving trail are from the natural water springs inside Al Disah.
Things to Do
Trekking
Sightseeing
Off-road driving
Picnic
Overnight camping
The guide leads the author in sneaking through the narrow break of rocks to get to the Hidden Veranda. Don't you think it's cool?
After passing through the narrow ditch, Bingo!
Standing the cliff edge to the author is always cool, but you don't need to do it, or just be careful.
Local visitors are bout to eat lunch amidst the day of adventure.
What to Bring
Snacks and water to drench your thirst and the 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.
Lighting gadgets for overnight camping.
How to Get Here:
Those coming from outside of Saudi Arabia may book a flight landing in Tabuk Airport, connecting flight, or direct. Tabuk Airport is one of the international airports of Saudi Arabia; however, the flight frequency is limited compared to Jeddah Airport and Riyadh Airport.
If your Holiday trip is to explore Saudi Arabia, I suggest booking your flights via Jeddah or Riyadh, then book another domestic flight to Tabuk.
Tabuk City should be your take-off point going to Wadi Al Disah.
Better to hire a local guide to assist you in coming to the place to bring you to the deeper and hidden part of the valley.
Drive your car via Tabuk-Yanbu-Jeddah road.