Wadi Al Disah blends the geological history and the tilling by the people of today, as the colors of the plants, the reddish canyon walls, and the golden and gray sands are in one setting.
The site suddenly becomes a live cinema showing landscapes similar to a digital graphic movie setting. The lush green of the valley and the rock formations are the best things you could ever see in this region of Saudi Arabia, and they will make you run out of words to describe it.
All you can do is click the camera, capture the scene, and paint the sites for the others to describe.
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 is indeed a must-see place in the Tabuk region. An open-ended valley allows visitors to pass through and through from one end to the other, entering at one end and exiting at the other end, provided that they drive a four-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 is available for this part for reference, so I call it 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, and others); hence, I refer to the place as Pagoda Valley.
Pagoda Valley is perfect for a winter picnic. The open sunlight keeps you warm while you feast on the scenic views of the rock formations around you, and bird chirps are your music in the wilderness.
Click the arrow tab at the right side of the frame below to see more images:
Click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube
2ND POINT - WATER SPRING AND DATES PICNIC GROOVE
The blending sights of the green grasses, trees, and date plants with the reddish rock walls of the background makes the place look like a fantasy movie set.
Entering the main exploring area, about 200 meters, you will find the water spring below the rock wall right after the road ends. 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 it except to say, "Wow!"
The full-grown dates shade the picnickers from burning sunlight during the summer seasons. The other desert trees and lion grasses growing around them bring music to your ears as the birds fly, perch, and sing.
See More Images Of The Water Spring & Dates Picnic Groove:
THIRD POINT - 3000-YEAR-OLD ROCK ENGRAVED ALPHABETS & MURALS
A few distances from the water spring, you 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 there way back 3000 years—centuries before the Arabic alphabet was born.
As you look around, the place offers 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; it is worth the effort to reach the place.
Enjoy the golden rocks as they reflect the afternoon sunlight.
FOURTH POINT - AL DISAH WINDOW
The Al Disah Window is a cave beside the driving trail. It is distinctive because it has a window on its cave wall, facing the driving trail and the mountain on the other side of the valley.
The cave's location makes it perfect for resting, eating, and siestaing during a picnic for the whole family. The temperature inside the cave is ideal for sleeping comfort.
5TH POINT - HIDDEN VERANDA
Only a few Al Disah hikers and visitors can access this part, a vantage point 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 to exert some effort to climb the rocks; however, the exhilarating view will ease the tiring climbing experience once you get here. Overlooking the green fields of lion grasses, the date farms, and desert trees will bring you again to fantasizing about an imaginary world we see in the movies.
You must have a guide who knows where the passage is going to the Hidden Veranda. Otherwise, you may not find it.
Driving a 4-wheel-drive car is already a challenge because you will find running the car on the loose sands is good enough to do beach volleyball.
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; this is 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 welcome canyon climbers to try climbing to the top. You only need to look for a safe trail to get to the top; extra precaution is still necessary when climbing.
Click the play tab to watch the video on YouTube
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 requires walking to the deeper part of the Wadi Disah valley. You can only drive up to the end of the concrete road.
Driving a four-wheel-drive car allows you to drive from the entry point to the deeper part of the valley, exit at the other end, and return to Tabuk by running on the other road.
Chance to encounter camels and donkeys along the way.
Car Requirement
Four-wheel-drive – if you want to go to the inner part of the valley, a non-4-wheel drive car will do, and take an exercise to go walking.
High clearance
New tires are a great advantage.
Terrain Condition to Drive
The route from the City Center of Tabuk to Wadi Al Disah via Jeddah Road is excellent up to Wadi Al Disah.
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
Things to Do
Trekking
Sightseeing
Off-road driving
Picnic
Overnight camping
What to Bring
Snacks and water to drench your thirst and light hunger while exploring.
Sunglasses protect your eyes from the open desert blinding lights of the sun.
Sombrero hat to shade your face without sunglasses, especially if you are shooting with your camera.
Sunblock to keep your skin from burning, especially during summer.
Of course, if you visit during the winter season, you should wear your winter suits to keep you warm and prevent you from freezing.
Lighting gadgets for overnight camping.
How to Get Here:
Those outside Saudi Arabia may book a connecting or direct flight landing at Tabuk Airport. Tabuk Airport is one of Saudi Arabia's international airports; however, its flight frequency is limited compared to Jeddah Airport and Riyadh Airport.
If your Holiday trip involves exploring Saudi Arabia, I suggest booking your flights via Jeddah or Riyadh and then booking another domestic flight to Tabuk.
Tabuk City should be your take-off point going to Wadi Al Disah.
It is better to hire a local guide to assist you in getting to the place and take you to the more profound and hidden parts of the valley.
Drive your car via Tabuk-Yanbu-Jeddah road.
Guide: Mr. Ahmed Al Atawi
Mobile: +966 50 417 7818
For more videos about underrated places of adventure, please check my YouTube Channel:
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