A trip to the Evergreen beauty of Saudi Arabia: Wadi Lajab

HEAVEN IN THE DESERT

-called Wadi Lajab, is a Canyon situated in the far south of Saudi Arabia, in the Jizan province. This Nature's wonder is filled with stunning views- its narrow course and heights that can reach up to 2000meters above sea level!

 After hours of drive from Abha region, through the winding roads with hair pin turns through numerous towns and villages, our hearts soared at the sight of the rising mountains of Jable Al- Qahr. The landscape took a magical wave of a wand and transformed into a majestic green kingdom of hanging gardens. In  the sea of the desert, the noble walls of the red cliffs were carved by nature. The springs in canyon walls were crowded with green leaves while the trickling stream of water ran like a thin silver ribbon through the rocky terrain. We walked farther into the wilderness and I caught my breath at the stunning views of the amber gold cliffs, with its pristine white waterfalls making a pool at the bottom of the cliff. There is a power and a brilliance in the tranquility. I could watch this streaming water even in my sleep, a beautiful infinite dream.

And thus, I became the child of Nature. No less than the trees and the mountains.

 

 My adventure junkie friends and I, hiked through the track in groups, while the other fellow tourists and locals called out for tricky routes or slippery slopes. As we trekked through its twisting paths, we discovered many different types of rock, including basalt, marble and granite each characterized by their unique color and texture. We crawled over boulders, crossed waist deep pools of water ecstatic with joy. Despite having stumbled and slipped on pebbles, we kept moving forward and the mountains rose higher and higher, overlapping each other far in the horizon.

Finally as I stepped up onto the sand strewn rock at the top of the cliff, the wind whipped, howling, pushing me towards the edge and the canyon floor below! The beauty and the cool breeze overtook my senses. I knelt down looking out to the world bellow- the green valley with its little oasis and the tops of mountain head which shone like a jewel at the touch of sunlight. The sense of awe i had only enhanced. Indescribable joy, relief and beauty.

At the end of the day, our feet were soaked, clothes were drenched and bruised but our eyes were sparkling with pure joy. As we were leaving, I looked back to where i had been and wished I could live in the mountains, in the palm trees, in the rocks with only the wild wind for company and the blissful tranquility. 

" The mountains echoed. The world smiled with the vibrance of a thousand splendid suns."-Khaled Hossaini

How to reach Wadi Lajab:

• Nearest airport: Jizan Regional Airport, which is 129KM from Wadi Lajab. 2nd nearest airport: Abha airport, which is 181 km from Wadi Lajab 
• Location: Click Here 

Highlights and recommendations:

• The Al-Raith mountains, where Wadi Lajab is found, gained great importance among historians after the Saudi history researcher Hadi Ali claimed it was the area where people lived in the Arabian Peninsula in ancient times.
• It is situated between two high rocky mountains with steep sides covered by a green blanket of creepers and thick moss that can resemble a hanging garden.
• The trip is very family friendly and for people of all level of fitness. You can simply go for a picnic with your family and friends and enjoy the incredible views next to fresh water streams. Take a bath in one of the ponds with cool water and watch fish swimming in the water streams. 
• Enjoy the unforgettable moments and the geographical formations in the area.
• Carry lots of drinks, snacks, hiking shoes and light clothes but most of all please carry litter bags to help protect the pristine beauty of the nature.