Hegra heritage tour & entry
The standard ticketed visit with a local Rawi (storyteller) guide, covering the main tomb groups and Qasr al-Farid.
Best for First-time visitors
Check dates & pricesvia Klook
AlUla
How to visit Hegra
Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site: more than a hundred monumental tombs carved by the Nabataeans, the same people who built Petra.
Updated · by Daniel
What you need to know
Hegra, also known as Mada’in Salih, was the Nabataean kingdom’s southern city in the first century AD. It became Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
You cannot visit Hegra independently. Entry is by timed, ticketed tour only, starting from the visitor centre. Tickets are released for the season and the best slots on winter weekends go early. Dates sold out? Read this →
Best ways to see Hegra
Legacy of AlUla premium tour
A longer, more comfortable circuit combining Hegra with other AlUla highlights and fewer people per group.
Best for Travellers short on time
Check dates & pricesvia Klook
Tips for the best visit
- Go early or late. The first morning slots and late-afternoon tours have the best light and the gentlest heat.
- Qasr al-Farid is the famous lone tomb. Check that your tour includes it; almost all do.
- Bring: water, sunglasses, a hat and closed shoes. There is sand underfoot.
- Photography is welcome. Drones are not, without a permit.
Getting to Hegra
Car hire
AlUla and the Riyadh escarpment are driving destinations. Book an SUV early in season.
AlUla airport transfer
Pre-book a car from AlUla International (ULH). Resorts are 30–60 minutes away.
Hegra at a glance
- Where
- About 20–25 km north of AlUla Old Town; tours leave from the Hegra visitor centre area
- Entry
- Timed, ticketed tours only. No independent visits
- Tickets
- Standard tours start from SAR 95 (≈ $25) on the official Experience AlUla site (checked September 2026); premium and private tours cost more. Prices change each season
- Duration
- About 2–3 hours for a standard tour
- Best months
- October to March. Summer tours run early and late in the day
- UNESCO
- Inscribed 2008, Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage Site
What you will see
- Qasr al-Farid — the “lonely castle”, a single four-storey tomb carved from one outcrop and left unfinished. The image on every AlUla poster.
- Jabal al-Ahmar and Qasr al-Bint — clusters of large façade tombs, some with inscriptions naming their owners and the year they were carved.
- Jabal Ithlib and the Diwan — a narrow siq and a rock-cut hall thought to have been used for gatherings and feasts, recalling Petra’s Siq on a smaller scale.
- The Hejaz Railway station — Ottoman-era buildings from the early 1900s line that once linked Damascus and Madinah.
Which tour should you choose?
- First visit, limited time: the standard heritage tour covers the headline tombs with a Rawi guide.
- Photographers: choose the first morning or last afternoon slot. Midday light flattens the sandstone.
- Deeper history: a longer or premium tour spends more time at Jabal Ithlib and the inscriptions.
- Combining sights: a half-day tour with Old Town or Elephant Rock saves driving and parking.
Mistakes to avoid
- Turning up without a ticket. You will be turned away.
- Booking a midday summer slot. Temperatures can pass 40°C from May to September.
- Planning Hegra and a Maraya evening back to back with no buffer. Allow at least an hour of driving and a break.
- Assuming it is like Petra. You do not hike between tombs; the tour moves between stops by vehicle.
Questions travellers ask
Can you visit Hegra without a tour?
No. All visits to Hegra are on timed, ticketed tours from the visitor centre.
How long does a Hegra tour take?
Standard tours take about two to three hours. Premium and combined tours can take half a day.
Is Hegra the same as Petra?
Both were built by the Nabataeans. Hegra is smaller, but its tombs are exceptionally well preserved and it sees a fraction of Petra’s visitors.
What is the best time of day to visit Hegra?
Early morning or late afternoon, for softer light and cooler temperatures.
How far in advance should I book Hegra?
For winter weekends and holidays, book as soon as your dates are fixed. On weekdays outside peak season a few days ahead is usually fine.
Is Hegra suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes. Transport between stops is by vehicle and walking at each stop is short, on sand and gravel.
Can I go inside the tombs?
No. Tombs are viewed from outside to protect them.
