Hegra — officially the Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr, known to earlier generations as Madain Salih — is Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remarkable archaeological destinations in the world. More than 100 Nabataean tombs have been carved into sandstone outcrops here over a period stretching from the first century BCE to the first century CE, their ornate façades still sharply defined despite two millennia of desert wind. This is not a ruin you piece together from fragments; it is a site that confronts you whole and intact, the scale of each carved doorway making clear that whoever commissioned these monuments expected them to last.
Booking access correctly is the most important step before any visit. We cover everything you need below.
Ticket Prices and What’s Included
There is no standalone entrance ticket sold at a gate for Hegra. The Royal Commission for AlUla manages the site under a guided-visit model, meaning every visitor must hold a pre-booked tour that includes licensed guide accompaniment.
Standard Hegra guided tour: approximately SAR 200–250 per person (as of 2026). This covers transport from the AlUla Welcome Centre to the main tomb clusters, a two-hour site visit with a licensed English-speaking guide, and access to Jabal Al Ahmar (the main concentration of royal and civic tombs) and the Nabataean water cisterns.
Comprehensive AlUla package including Hegra, Dadan, and Jabal Ikmah: approximately SAR 350–450 per person. These full-day tours add the Dadan archaeological site and the Jabal Ikmah open-air inscription library to the Hegra itinerary, making them the best-value option for visitors with a single day in AlUla.
Private guided Hegra tour: approximately SAR 800–1,200 for up to 4 people. Private tours allow you to linger at individual tombs and ask more specific questions. Several operators on GetYourGuide offer private departure options with flexible timing.
Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
How to Book
The official booking platform is experiencealula.com. You select your date, tour type, and preferred time slot — morning slots (07:30 departure) are generally cooler and better for photography; afternoon slots (13:30) are available but involve direct midday sun from November through March.
Slots fill up significantly in advance during the peak winter season (November to February). Book at least 2 weeks ahead during these months. In shoulder season (March–April, October), a few days’ notice is usually sufficient.
Tour operators on GetYourGuide also sell Hegra access as part of wider AlUla packages, often with hotel pickup from AlUla city included.
Opening Hours
Hegra operates seasonally:
- October to April (peak season): 07:30–17:00, tours departing at 07:30, 10:00, and 13:30
- May to September (off-season): Limited visits possible but extreme heat (regularly above 40°C) makes morning-only tours the norm; some summer slots are suspended entirely
The site is closed during Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha holidays. Check experiencealula.com for specific closure dates before booking.
Getting to Hegra from Nearest Cities
From Medina (~380km, approximately 3.5–4 hours by road)
Drive north on Highway 15 (Al Hijaz Road) toward Tabuk. Pass through Mughayra and continue to AlUla city. The route is well-signposted and the road quality is good throughout. Fuel up in AlUla before heading to the site — there are no petrol stations between the city and the visitor entrance.
Alternatively, fly from Medina (MED) to AlUla (ULH): Flynas and Saudi Airlines both operate direct routes. Flight time is approximately 1 hour. Return fares start from approximately SAR 250–400 as of 2026.
From Riyadh (~1,100km, approximately 10 hours by road)
Flying is strongly recommended. Riyadh (RUH) to AlUla (ULH): Flynas, flyadeal, and Saudi Airlines operate daily direct flights. Flight time is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Fares typically range from SAR 300–600 return. Book at least a week ahead during winter season.
From Jeddah (~700km, approximately 6 hours by road)
Fly from Jeddah (JED) to AlUla (ULH). Direct flights operate daily; flight time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Return fares from approximately SAR 280–500.
Local transport from AlUla city to Hegra (~25km, 20 minutes)
Tours typically depart from the AlUla Welcome Centre on Al Hijaz Road. If you have your own vehicle, parking is available at the welcome centre; from there, a shuttle bus takes visitors to the tomb clusters. Taxis and ride-hailing (Careem, InDrive) are available from AlUla city centre to the welcome centre.
Tour Operators and Prices
- AlUla Experiences (Royal Commission): Official tours from SAR 200/person — book at experiencealula.com
- Desert Safari Arabia: Full-day AlUla tours including Hegra and Elephant Rock from approximately SAR 380/person; private jeep tours from SAR 950 for up to 4
- GetYourGuide operators: Multiple licensed guides offering Hegra + Dadan day tours from approximately SAR 280–420/person with hotel pickup included
What to Expect at the Site
The visit begins at the AlUla Welcome Centre, where guides meet their groups. A shuttle bus (included in all tours) takes visitors approximately 3km into the site to Jabal Al Ahmar, the most dramatic section, where around 60 royal and civic tombs are carved into a single sandstone massif. The largest tomb — Qasr al-Bint — measures 22 metres high and is decorated with elaborate Nabataean relief carvings including eagles, snakes, and Medusa heads.
From Jabal Al Ahmar, most tours continue to Jabal Ithlib, a narrow gorge used by the Nabataeans for banqueting and ritual purposes, and to the ancient Nabataean water cisterns that allowed a permanent settlement to exist in this otherwise waterless desert.
Time required: Guided tours run 2 to 3 hours on-site. Full-day packages run 6 to 8 hours including Dadan.
Photography: The site is fully open to photography. Morning light (07:30–10:00) strikes the tombs from the east, illuminating the carved façades well. Afternoon light creates deep shadows inside the tomb chambers.
Difficulty and What to Bring
The terrain is mostly flat and sandy, with some uneven stone sections around the tombs. Comfortable walking shoes are sufficient — hiking boots are not necessary. The site involves approximately 2 to 3km of walking over the course of a tour.
Essential items to bring:
- Sun hat and sunscreen — even in winter, midday sun is strong
- 1.5 litres of water minimum (tours can run 2–3 hours; no water sold at the tombs themselves)
- Camera or phone with charged battery
- Light layers — mornings in winter (December–February) can be cold (8–12°C) even though midday warms to 18–22°C
- Modest clothing — covered shoulders and knees are appropriate at this historically significant site
Best Season to Visit
October to February is the ideal window. Temperatures range from 12°C at dawn to 24°C at midday, making sustained outdoor time comfortable. December and January see the lowest visitor numbers despite good conditions, as most international visitors travel between late October and late November or in February.
Avoid May through September. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 42°C, and the site experience is significantly diminished. Early morning tours do operate, but heat stress is a real risk.
The Winter at Tantora festival (typically late November through January) runs across AlUla during this period, combining Hegra visits with concerts at Maraya and stargazing events — making December and January the highest-activity time in AlUla overall.