While the rest of Saudi Arabia bakes under relentless desert sun, the mountains of Asir in the southwest of the Kingdom stay cool, green, and draped in cloud. Abha, the regional capital, sits at 2,270 metres above sea level — higher than most European ski resorts — and offers summer temperatures that rarely climb above 25 degrees Celsius. For Saudis, it has been a summer escape for generations. For international visitors discovering it for the first time, it is a revelation: Saudi Arabia has mountains, forests, cloud cover, and a highland culture entirely distinct from the Gulf coast cities most foreigners know.

This guide covers everything you need to plan a trip to Abha and the Asir region — from the terraced villages and painted houses to the juniper forests and the men who wear flowers in their hair.

Why Abha — Saudi Arabia’s Best-Kept Secret

Abha is the capital of the Asir Province, located approximately 100 kilometres inland from the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern corner. The city sits on the western escarpment of the Sarawat Mountains, the mountain chain that runs the length of the western Arabian Peninsula from Yemen to Jordan.

The altitude changes everything. While Riyadh and Jeddah regularly see temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius in summer, Abha averages 23-25 degrees. In winter, temperatures can drop to 8 degrees Celsius, and frost is not uncommon. The city receives an average of 278 millimetres of rainfall annually — modest by global standards but extraordinary for Saudi Arabia — with the bulk falling between February and April, and a secondary wet season in July and August.

This rainfall, combined with the altitude, creates landscapes that visitors simply do not associate with Saudi Arabia: terraced hillside farms growing wheat, coffee, and fruit. Juniper forests covering mountain slopes. Fog rolling through valleys. Wildflowers in spring. It earned Abha its nickname — “the City in the Clouds.”

The Asir region is also culturally distinct. The Qahtani tribes who inhabit these mountains maintained a degree of independence through centuries of Ottoman and later Saudi rule, and their traditions — architectural, artistic, agricultural, and personal — differ markedly from the Najdi culture of central Saudi Arabia or the Hejazi culture of the Red Sea coast. This is its own world within the Kingdom.

Al-Soudah — Saudi Arabia’s Highest Point

Jabal Al-Soudah (also spelled Sawda or Soudah) rises to 3,015 metres above sea level, making it the highest peak in Saudi Arabia. Located approximately 25 kilometres from Abha, it is the centrepiece of the Asir highlands and offers the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Kingdom.

The summit area provides panoramic views across terraced valleys, juniper-clad slopes, and — on clear days — all the way to the Red Sea coast. On many days, visitors at the top find themselves above the cloud line, looking down on a sea of white stretching to the horizon.

The Saudi government has designated Al-Soudah as a major tourism development site. The Soudah Peaks project, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in September 2023, is a $7.7 billion initiative to transform the mountain area into a year-round tourism destination. The first development phase, expected to be completed by 2026, includes the construction of 940 hotel units, 391 residential units, and 1,025 staff accommodation units across five of the project’s six planned zones. The project aims to attract 2 million annual visitors by 2033.

Even before the Soudah Peaks development is complete, the area offers excellent hiking. The Jebel Sawda trail is the longest in the Asir region at approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) and is rated as the most popular and most challenging trail in the area, according to AllTrails data. The Aqabat Al Qroun trail offers sweeping views, cool mountain air, and shaded paths through juniper forests. The Gurun Historic Route follows ancient mountain paths once used by local tribes and traders, passing through natural rock formations and untouched vegetation.

Asir National Park — Forests in the Desert Kingdom

Asir National Park was established in 1981 and covers a significant area of the Sarawat Mountains around Abha. It is the most biologically diverse terrestrial environment in Saudi Arabia, home to juniper forests, wild olive trees, acacia woodlands, and a range of wildlife that includes the Arabian leopard (critically endangered and extremely rarely seen), hamadryas baboons, rock hyrax, and more than 300 bird species.

The park’s landscape is remarkably varied. Within a short drive, visitors can move from arid lower slopes through scrubland and acacia woodland to dense juniper forest at higher elevations. The contrast with the desert landscapes that dominate most of Saudi Arabia is striking.

Activities in the park include hiking on multiple marked trails, birdwatching (the Asir magpie, a species endemic to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, is a highlight for birders), camping at designated sites, and photography. The park is well suited to families, with trails of varying difficulty from gentle walks to full-day mountain hikes.

The best time to visit is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when temperatures are comfortable and the landscape is at its most colourful. Summer (June to August) is the peak domestic tourism season — Saudis from the lowlands flock to Asir to escape the heat — so accommodation and attractions can be crowded despite the pleasant weather.

Habala — The Hanging Village

Habala (Al-Habala) is one of the most unusual settlements in the Arabian Peninsula. A small village perched on a cliff face approximately 300 metres below the surrounding mountain ridge, it was built more than 370 years ago by members of the Qahtani tribe who were fleeing Ottoman forces. The village’s location was its defence — accessible only by rope ladder, it was effectively impregnable.

The name “Habala” comes from the Arabic word for rope (habl), reflecting the only means of access for centuries. Residents lived in stone houses built into the cliff face, farming terraces on the slopes below and hauling supplies up and down by rope. This way of life continued remarkably late — until the 1980s, when the Saudi government relocated the inhabitants to modern housing.

In the 1990s, a cable car was built to provide tourist access to the village, which was preserved as a heritage site. The cable car descends into the valley below the cliff, offering dramatic views of the escarpment, the terraced fields, and the abandoned stone houses.

The cable car operates from approximately 10am to 6pm during high season (summer months, May to October) and 2pm to 6pm during low season. The site is approximately one hour’s drive from Abha. Entrance is free; the cable car ride has a nominal fee.

It is worth noting that the relocation of Habala’s original inhabitants was not voluntary. The Qahtani community was evacuated by the Saudi Arabian National Guard after refusing to move. Today, some original inhabitants are allowed to return to the village during the summer tourist season to perform traditional dances for visitors. The heritage preservation, while genuine, sits alongside a difficult history of displacement.

Rijal Almaa — The Painted Heritage Village

Rijal Almaa is a 900-year-old heritage village located approximately 50 kilometres west of Abha, on the road descending from the Sarawat escarpment towards the Tihama coastal plain. The village consists of approximately 60 multi-storey stone buildings — some reaching eight floors — constructed from local stone, clay, and wood, with distinctive coloured wooden window shutters.

The village served as a natural corridor linking Yemen and the Levant to Makkah and Madinah, making it an important regional commercial centre. Its strategic location gave it military significance, and residents participated in various battles, successfully defending their independence during Ottoman rule.

Rijal Almaa is on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List (added in January 2018) and houses the Rijal Almaa Heritage Museum, located in the Al Al-wan Palace. The museum displays over 2,000 antiquities and documents across 19 sections, covering the village’s unique heritage including manuscripts, tools, weapons, jewellery, and traditional clothing.

The architectural style of Rijal Almaa — multi-storey stone towers with quartz-decorated facades — is unique to the Asir region and reflects both the available building materials (the mountains provided excellent building stone) and the defensive needs of highland communities. The buildings are remarkably well-preserved and offer one of the most photogenic sites in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri — The Women’s Wall Art of Asir

One of the most distinctive cultural traditions of the Asir region is Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a form of interior wall decoration practised traditionally by women. In 2017, UNESCO inscribed Al-Qatt Al-Asiri on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — Saudi Arabia’s first inscription on this list.

The art form involves painting the interior walls of homes — particularly the guest reception room (majlis) — with geometric patterns and symbolic motifs over a white gypsum base. The patterns consist of horizontal divisions (the “qatt”), filled with triangles, rhombi, zigzags, and floral-inspired designs in bold colours. The base layer is typically white gypsum, over which patterns are applied in black, red, yellow, green, and blue pigments.

Traditionally, the lady of the house begins by sketching the main outlines and placing dots of colour inside each shape. She then invites female relatives — young and old — to help complete the work. The process is communal: a social event involving laughter, conversation, and shared meals as the designs take form. UNESCO noted both the artistic significance and the therapeutic value of the practice, describing it as bringing “comfort and serenity” to the women who practise it.

The tradition has been passed from mother to daughter for generations, though in modern times both men and women practise the art form, and it has expanded beyond domestic walls to other surfaces and commercial applications. Visitors can see examples of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri at the Rijal Almaa Heritage Museum, at traditional homes in the Asir villages, and increasingly in contemporary Saudi art galleries.

The Flower Men of Asir

Among the most visually striking cultural traditions of the Asir region is the custom of the “flower men” — men of the Qahtani tribe who wear elaborate garlands of fresh flowers and herbs in their hair. The practice is believed to be over 2,000 years old.

The garlands are made from the more than 2,000 varieties of flora available in the Asir highlands, with common materials including marigolds, basil, jasmine, and fenugreek. The combination chosen varies by occasion: some garlands are worn for public and religious events, while others are believed to have medicinal properties, helping with headaches, sinus problems, and other ailments.

The flower men are primarily associated with the mountainous area around Habala and the broader Qahtani tribal territory. While the practice has declined with modernisation — younger men increasingly work in cities rather than in the mountains — it has survived contact with the modern world and remains a living tradition. Tourism has provided an economic incentive for its continuation, with flower men performing traditional dances for visitors at heritage sites including Habala.

Visitors who wish to see the flower men should time their visit for the summer months (June to September), when domestic tourism brings life to the Asir heritage sites and cultural performances are most frequent. The Habala cable car area and Rijal Almaa village are the most likely places to encounter flower men during the tourist season.

Traditional Asiri Food — What to Eat in Abha

The Asir region has a culinary tradition that is distinct from the rest of Saudi Arabia, shaped by its highland agriculture, beekeeping traditions, and proximity to Yemen. In 2024, the Asir region was named World Region of Gastronomy by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism — recognition of a food culture that is both ancient and richly varied.

Dishes you should try:

Haneeth. The signature dish of Asir. Meat (usually lamb or goat) is slow-cooked for several hours in a tanour (underground fire pit), laid on a bed of branches from the markh tree and other local plants whose smoke infuses the meat with a distinctive flavour. The result is extraordinarily tender, deeply smoky meat served on a bed of fragrant rice. This is the meal that Saudis from other regions travel to Asir to eat.

Areeka (Arika). A traditional breakfast dish made from flat bread baked on a griddle, then torn into pieces and served with dates, ghee, and local honey poured over the top. It is nutritionally dense — a working farmer’s breakfast — and delicious in a simple, hearty way.

Aseedah (Aseeda). A thick porridge made from whole wheat flour, cooked with spices until dense and smooth, and served alongside soup and yoghurt. Aseedah is comfort food — filling, warming, and traditionally eaten communally from a shared plate.

Mandi. While found across the Arabian Peninsula, the Asiri version of mandi is particularly prized. Rice and meat (chicken or lamb) are cooked together in a taboon (underground oven), with the meat smoked over charcoal until fall-apart tender. The key difference from other regional variations is the use of local spice blends and the underground cooking method.

Miva. A traditional Asiri side dish that can accompany meals, be eaten on its own, or be paired with ghee and local honey. Miva is considered an essential component of the Asiri table.

Asiri honey. Beekeeping has been practised in the Asir highlands for centuries, and the region produces some of the most prized honey in Saudi Arabia. Sidr honey (from the thorny jujube tree) is the most valued variety, commanding premium prices throughout the Kingdom. Look for it in the souks of Abha.

Where to Stay in Abha

Abha’s accommodation options range from budget to five-star, though the luxury segment is thinner than in Riyadh or Jeddah.

Abha Palace Hotel. The city’s most established upmarket option, located on the edge of Al-Sad Lake and 10 minutes from Abha Airport. Features 88 rooms, a spa with indoor swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub, a recreational park with cable car rides to Green Mountain, and the Nahran restaurant serving international cuisine. Rooms include flat-screen TV, minibar, and private bathroom. Suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows.

InterContinental Abha. A five-star, 135-room hotel located a 5-minute walk from Agrab Market and approximately 10 minutes’ drive from Asir National Park. Offers premium dining, spa facilities, and conference rooms. The most polished international-standard hotel in the city.

Budget and mid-range. Several locally-run hotels and serviced apartments are available in central Abha, typically ranging from SAR 200-600 ($50-160) per night. Quality varies significantly — check recent reviews before booking. During the summer peak season (June to September), book well in advance as domestic tourists fill the city’s capacity.

How to Get to Abha

Abha International Airport (IATA: AHB) serves the region with both domestic and limited international connections.

Flights

International connections are available to Cairo, Doha, Dubai, and Sharjah, though most international visitors will connect via Riyadh or Jeddah.

Driving

Abha is accessible by road from both Riyadh and Jeddah, though the distances are significant:

From Riyadh: Approximately 950 kilometres, 8-9 hours driving. The route passes through the Najd plateau and descends through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery as you approach Asir.

From Jeddah: Approximately 620 kilometres, 7-8 hours driving via Highway 15. The road climbs from the Tihama coastal plain into the mountains, with excellent scenery on the final approach.

For most visitors, flying is the practical choice. However, the drive from Jeddah is scenic and manageable, and renting a car in Abha gives you the flexibility to explore the surrounding villages, trails, and viewpoints at your own pace — which is the best way to experience Asir.

Best Time to Visit Abha

The ideal window depends on your priorities. If you want to see the flower men and experience the cultural heritage sites at their most vibrant, visit in summer despite the crowds. If you prefer quieter trails and more comfortable hiking conditions, spring and autumn are optimal. Winter offers the lowest prices and smallest crowds, but some heritage attractions operate on reduced hours or close entirely.

What to Pack for Abha

Abha’s mountain climate means packing differently than you would for the rest of Saudi Arabia:

Layers. Temperatures can shift 15 degrees between a sunny midday and a cloudy evening, especially in the shoulder seasons. A light fleece or jacket is essential year-round. In winter, pack proper cold-weather clothing — it genuinely gets cold at 2,270 metres.

Rain gear. A waterproof jacket is advisable, particularly during the spring and late-summer rain seasons. Fog and low cloud can roll in quickly, reducing visibility and making exposed trails slippery.

Hiking boots. If you plan to walk any of the mountain trails, proper hiking footwear with ankle support and grip is important. The terrain is rocky and can be wet.

Sun protection. Despite the cooler temperatures, UV intensity at altitude is high. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are necessary.

Modest clothing. Saudi Arabia’s dress code applies in Asir as elsewhere. Women are not required to wear an abaya but should dress modestly (covering shoulders and knees). Men should avoid shorts in towns, though they are acceptable on hiking trails away from populated areas.

Beyond Abha — Other Asir Highlights

Thee Ain (Dhee Ayn) village. A stunning marble-built heritage village approximately 180 kilometres north of Abha, perched on a white marble hill with a spring and palm grove at its base. One of the most photographed sites in Saudi Arabia.

Faifa Mountains. South of Abha, near the Yemen border, the Faifa Mountains feature distinctive terraced agriculture and a unique microclimate. The terraces, cut into steep mountain slopes, are still actively farmed and create one of the most dramatic agricultural landscapes in the Middle East.

Wadi Lajab. A narrow canyon with a freshwater stream running through it, offering a swimming and wading experience in a dramatic natural setting. Accessible by a moderate hike from the trailhead.

Al-Baha. A smaller mountain town north of Abha with its own forest parks, cable cars, and heritage sites. Less developed for tourism than Abha but worth a day trip for its quieter atmosphere and mountain scenery.

Abha and the Asir region offer something that no other part of Saudi Arabia can match: a mountain culture in a Kingdom defined by desert, with cool air, green landscapes, painted villages, and flower-crowned men. It is the most underrated destination in the Middle East, and 2026 — with the Soudah Peaks development bringing new infrastructure while the traditional culture remains intact — may be the perfect moment to visit.

For more on planning your Saudi trip, see our Saudi Arabia travel hub and our guide to the best time to visit Saudi Arabia.

Last updated: March 2026. This guide is reviewed seasonally and updated as new developments in the Asir region emerge.