DESERT TREKS FROM RIYADH wae ea eee ae eeThis book has been produced with the encouragement, support and sponsorship of the Arriyadh Development Authority Cott pal Sop date ty dat HIGH COMMISSION FOR THE au DEVELOPMENT OF ARRIYADH redefining / insurance cal J dayne 45) Desert ‘Treks from Riyadh Published by Gilgamesh Publishing in 2013 Email: info@gilgamesh-publishing.co.uk wwwgilgamesh-publishing.co.uke ISBN 978-1-908531-30-8 © Gilgamesh Publishing 2013 All piccures by the authors except: p.50 The Fort at Al Ugair—Thamer Al Hassan p.76 Idmi gazelle ~ Kevin Dunham p.82 Fresco at Qaryat al Fao — John Herbert Ail rights are reserved. No parc of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photographic or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder. CIP Data: A catalogue for this book is available from the British Library Princed by Arabian Printing and Publishing House, Riyadh / KSA Cover image, Jebel Baloum (see page 63) Title page and back-cover images, both Tuwaig escarpment (se page 18) RWYRR VPP eRe ea aaa atoUTA Le eet Desert Treks from Riyadh by lonis Thompson, updated by Ellie Whittaker maps by Jim Stabler. ®hNH Contents Introduction 4 Safety Hints 5 = Permits to Visit Sites 7 Ds Ryad Vicinity Diplomatic Quarter 8 fz 3 Diriyah and Wadi Hanifah 10 3 Old Trading Towns on the Caravan Routes 3 z= 4 AlHa‘irand the Riyadh River 5 & North of Riyadh 5 Acacia Valley and Edge of the World 18 z= 6 Darb Buwayb and Darb Towqi 21 7 Huraymila and the Forts 24 & 8 Tumair and the iris Fields 27 - z West of Riyadh si 9 Graffiti Rock | and Tumulus 29 fr 10 Lake Karrarah 32 11 Quway’'iya and the Arabian Shield 35 = 12 Wadi Masil 37 Ez East of Riyadh 13 Abu Jifan Fort 40 is — BI ia)h, Khurais t Khuraym Hofuf and the Oara Caves South of Riyadh amel Trails jadi Nisah 21 Graffiti Rock || 22 Jebel Baloum 23 Pools of Sha'ib Luha 24 Sand Dunes 25 Sha’ib Awsat 26 Wadi Howtah and the Natural Arch 27 Wildlife Research Centre and Ibex Reserve Longer Treks 28 Madain Saleh and the Hejaz Railway 29 Qaryat Al Fau 30 Wahba Crater and old Muwayh Regional Maps Further Reading 52 57 61 63 66 68 n 4 76INTRODUCTION his reprint of lonis Thompson's Desert Treks from Riyadh responds to a demand from off-roaders based in Riyadh for an up-to-date version of the original directions, many of which have changed during the years since the book was first published in 1994. Between 2009 and 2012 Ellie and lan Whittaker retraced all the routes in the book. They have now rewritten the directions where necessary and added, most importantly, GPS coordinates. A few of the original destinations are no longer accessible. There is one new destination. Jim Stabler has updated his maps where needed. As before, all distances are given in kilometres, measured on the odometer of the Nissan Patrol. The timings in hours given, e.g. DAY TRIP (2% hrs), refer to the average estimated motoring time between Riyadh's Ring Roads and the destination, except where it makes more sense to give the time for the whole journey, (e.g. 5 hrs round trip.) ” = ee op pe ™ c ~~ om ™ m@Safety Hints + When you travel off the roads, always go with at least one other vehicle. + Sleep off the ground if possible. If not, sleep inside a tent sealed against scorpions and snakes. + Use 2 flashlight/torch for night walking. + Take special care where you sit, place your hands etc. + When accompanied by children, be constantly vigilant of them. + Take plenty of water and, in summer, head covering. + Tell someone where you are going. + If you break down NEVER walk away from your vehicle to seek help: it is too easy to get lost and dehydration in summer occurs very rapidly. + Never take your shoes off in the sand dunes as the horned viper can lurk just beneath the surface: always wear high-topped, protective lace-up boots Warning + When driving in the desert always stick to the best track available. These are established local tracks that avoid damage to local flora and preserve the environment. + When camping avoid wadi beds during the rainy season as there is a real danger of flash floods. + Be careful when driving over sabkha (dry-looking mud lakes) as the terrain can be treacherously soft under the crust. If you must travel on a sabkha, stick to the best track available, + Be careful when exploring old mudbrick towns. The surface may appear stable but may crumble as you put your foot down. The compilers of this book accept no responsibility for any adverse consequences to its readers as a result of following the directions in them. Equipment We strongly recommend you take with you on your desert trek: + Shade (awning or side cover) + Compass + Spade/shovel + Spare tyre(s) + Sand ladders and tow rope + Vehicle engine spares * Oils and coolant + Air compressor for reinflating tyres For more advice on off-road driving, see: http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/offroadingtips/a/aaozogorf.htmWhere to Buy Equipment. Rehiati 24° 40.749'N, 46° 46.685'E Exit 15 East Ring Road, heading south, beside the Al Rajhi Mosque (just before IKEA at Exit 16). Limited supply of camping equipment, but reasonably priced. Jarir Bookstore Many locations throughout Riyadh, but best are on North Ring Road, Khurais Road and Olaya Street. Jarir has a good selection of Saudi maps by Farsi Maps. Al Rimaya 24° 48.161'N, 46" 42.999'E. East Ring Road by Airport, beside Sultan Garden Centre, just past the Imam University. 24° 44.883'N, 46° 44.724'E. Between Exits 10 and 11 on East Ring Road. Also Khurais Road (Route 4oE). Al Rimaya stock ARB (Australian) off-road car accessories, camping kit, tents and sleeping bags. Al Khadi Tents 24° 44.786'N, 46° 44.769'E. Between Exits 10 and 11 on East Ring Road, a few shops down from Al Rimaya. Al Khadi have traditional Saudi tents (large and square) and self-pitch tents that are ready to peg in seconds - ideal for getting caught in a sandstorm. They also have a selection of sleeping bags, including very thick and super-warm Saudi sleeping bags, as well as general camping supplies, GPS and satellite phones. Olayan, Khurais Road Desert Wolf, Kuwaiti Souq, just off Olaya (North end) Also: SACO, Carrefour, Geant, HyperPanda, Tamimi, Go Sport!, Hayat Mall, Granada Mall NOTE: Most of the local petrol stations carry some Saudi camping basics throughout the year and especially during the winter. Though it pays to shop around, location dictates price! Pertwee ae eee ese OOP ae Oss. WWPERMITS TO VISIT SITES 3. Te wisit Al Uaair, forts in Al Kharj, Hofuf and Qaryat Al Fau, apply to the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). Address: POB 66680, Riyadh 11586. Tel po. 9661 8808855; fax 9661 8808844. Email:info@scta.gov.sa. Website: wwwscta.gov.sa 2 To visit the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre at Thumamah and the Ibex Reserve, apply to: The Secretary General, NCWCD, PO Box 61681, Riyadh 11575, Tel no. 9661 4418700; fax 9661 4410797. 3 To visit Madain Saleh, apply to the Museum in Riyadh, (address: POB 3734, Riyadh 11481), or obtain a permit through one of the hotels in Al Ula if you are staying there. 4. Haya Tours in Riyadh will organize group and individual trips and help you get permits. Email:info@hayatour.com; Website: www.hayatour.com; Mobile tel. no. 966 504166323. Please respect the natural history of the Kingdom. Do not damage vegetation or kill wild animals, When visiting an archaeological site, do not remove artefacts and be very careful not to damage the remains. Take only memories: leave only footprints@ RIYADH VICINITY z r 1 Diplomatic Quarter P DAY TRIP (less than | hr) 2WD : ww There are green and pleasant places to walk within a short drive of the centre of town. The path that runs round the edge of the Diplomatic Quarter is one such. This path has been constructed from the natural rock of the escarpment and follows the contours of the escarpment, overlooking the palm gardens of the Wadi Hanifah on its west and north-west sides. It has been attractively landscaped with native plants and in the winter months the whole area is fragrant with the scent of the acacia mimosa. The path follows a stream for part of its course and passes ponds. At various points along the way there are well- designed playgrounds for children and small gardens with fountains and shady spots for picnics There are several gardens within the D.Q, The Al Khuzaimi Garden just off Al Idrisi Street wm iw m WwRIYADH VICINITY past the US Embassy. The Diplomatic Quarter is open to the public but during the week it has few visitors. It is quite safe for women to walk there on their own, without an abaya, and many go to jog, roller- de oF bicycle. At the time of writing visitors to the DQ are asked to present their iqama or p2ssport to the personnel on duty at the entrances, to undergo a vehicle search and state their destination. DIRECTIONS » The main entrance [24° 41.233'N, 46° 37.932'E] to the Diplomatic Quarter is. on the new Makkah Road (Route 40W) just past the King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital [24° 41.361'N, 46° 37,964'E]. Alternatively, take route 522W (which becomes the 40W further down) just past King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre. Take the off ramp [24° 40.522'N, 46° 59.0308], turn right at the bridge across Route 522 then left on to King Khalid Street at the lights [24° 40.704'N, 46° 38.881'B].Mf RIYADH VICINITY 2 Dir’iyah and Wadi Hanifah DAY TRIP (less than! hr) 2WD The ruined town of Dir'iyah (or Diraiyah) in the Wadi Hanifah was the capital of the First Saudi Kingdom, the base from which the Al Saud conquered much of the Arabian peninsula in the late eighteenth century. First settled in 1446, Dir'iyah achieved prominence after Mohammed ibn Abd Al Wahhab, the religious reformer and teacher, settled here as adviser to the ruling al Saud family and promoted the religious reforms which have prevailed to this day. In Its heyday Dir'iyah had 5,000 residents and 500 guests daily were fed in the ruler’s palace. Revenues poured in from conquered lands and more than 100,000 fighting men were available to do battle for the ruler, The Ottoman Empire considered the conquests of this First Saudi Kingdom a threat and sent an army from Egypt under Ibrahim Pasha to destroy the power of the Al Saud. Diriyah was laid waste in 1818 after a six-month siege and the ruling family captured. After Prince Mushari escaped and attempted to revive the city, it was all but razed in 1821 and all the palm trees were cut down. The surviving Al Saud later settled in Riyadh. Dir'iyah was deserted until this century when afew families settled among the ruins. In the 1970s these people were relocated and the government started to restore and rebuild the old city. The narrow old streets of Dir'iyah with their ruined houses give an idea of the traditional design of Nejdi houses. Rooms open off a central courtyard, partially open to the sky and WHerePenwawwFrteanraweyearnnraAasa syRIYADH VICINITY partially covered by an upper storey, the women’s area, supported on limestone pillars. The men’s Sting room, or majlis,is usually on one side of the entrance and the outer windows are so placed that 2 passing camel rider cannot see in. ie 2008 the Al Turaif area of Dir'iyah was made 2 UNESCO World Heritage site. A major reconstruction project has been undertaken since then, in which the most important buildings of the city have been completely rebullt, as have the city walls. These buildings include: + the Salwa Palace, residence of the Al Saud Amirs and Imams during the First Saudi State. In its heyday the palace was four storeys high and served as an administrative as well as residential centre. + the palace of Sa’ad ibn Saud. One of the largest palaces on the site, it is famous for its courtyard, which was used as a stable. + the Guest House and Al-Turaif Bath House. This traditional “Turkish” bathhouse has cold and hot rooms. Water was brought from the wadi below by donkeys. + Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque. Here Mohammed ibn Abd Al Wahhab taught his reformist ideas and, when it became a centre for religious education, students came from all over Arabia to study. A new Visitors’ Centre on the wadi bank opposite the main entrance describes the history of the city and is well worth a visit. Admission to the old city is free. Abayas must be worn. The city is closed on Fridays. DIRECTIONS » ‘Take the North Ring Road to Exit 1A, Route 40 intersection with Route 535 — Salbukh Road [24° 44.163'N, 46° 36.421]. From here you can take one of the following routes: ‘Through the new town of Dir’iyah + Head north along Salbukkh Road (Route 536) to the first exit [24° 45.240'N, 46° 34.9368]. + Go across the bridge / overpass into the town of Dir'iyah (on your left). + Turn left at the intersection of King Abdulaziz Street and King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Street [24° 45.093'N, 46° 34.624'E] and head south. + At the T-junction turn right [24° 44.385'N, 46° 34.901'E] * At the roundabout [24° 44.250'N, 46° 34.622'E] turn left and follow the brown signs towards the old city. You will catch glimpses of it from here, notably the high towers of the Visitors’ Centre, but take a wrong turn and you will end up wandering the back lanes of the local farms. + Follow the lane and take the right turn at 24° 44.145'N, 46° 34.626E towards the Visitors’ Centre [24° 44.129'N, 46° 34.588'E]. + The bridge to the old city will be straight ahead with parking just to the right of the City Gate [24° 44.073'N, 46° 34.5135].MM RIYADH VICINITY ‘Via outskirts of new town of Dir’iyah - The Tourist Route * Following the North Ring Road, take Exit 1C (Route 40) [24° 44.138'N, 46° 35.535] following brown signs to Old Dir'iyah . * Take first exit on roundabout [24° 44.244'N, 46° 35.059], at next roundabout take 2nd exit [24° 44.384'N, 46° 34,999]. + Ab Srd roundabout go straight [24° 44.355'N, 46° 34.901'R). + At 4th roundabout take 2nd exit [24° 44.250'N, 46° 34.5228]. + Follow the lane and take the right turn at 24° 44.145'N, 46° 34.6268 towards the Visitors’ Centre [24° 44.120'N, 46° 54.588'B]. Then as above. Through the wadi and farms + Head south on the West Ring Road. + Just before the bridge across the road turn right [24° 43.617'N, 46° 34.9753] + dust before the bridge over Wadi Hantfah [24° 43.590'N, 46° 34.5805], swing off right and down into the wadi. * At the T junction [24° 43.965'N, 46° 34.698'E] turn right through some farms until you reach a 2nd T-junction [24° 44.153'N, 46° 34.638'R] just next to the Visitors’ Centre [24° 44.120'N, 46° 34.588'E]. Then as above. Wadi Hanifah The wadi is named after the ancient Banu Hanifa tribe which inhabited the wadi in pre-Islamic times when the area received more precipitation than it does today. The rambunctious tribe first opposed the rise of First Caliph Abu Bakr but later pledged peace and joined the new Islamic state. The beautification of Wadi Hanifah Is now complete. The ten-year restoration project has transformed the valley into a vast park with lakes attracting cool breezes, limestone slab steps to the valley floor and nature trails and picnic areas under acacia and palm trees. DIRECTIONS » Turn left at the bridge over Wadi Hanifah [24° 43.590'N, 46° 34.589'R] and follow the signs. + After you have wandered around the ruins of the old city, take a minute to drive north up to the Al Elb Dam [24° 46.478'N, 46° 31.816'] about 6m, or meander south to the Wadi Hanifah Dam [24° 39.480'N, 46° 36.845'5] mW wt Ec py Wy mom E WTPRIYADH VICINITY Old Trading Towns on the Caravan Routes DAY TRIP (5 hrs round trip) 2WD The picturesque mudbrick remains of towns which lined the old trade routes across Arabia can be visited on this day trip. Dhurma was an important trading town on the ancient east-west route across Arabia. It lies at the foot of the camel trails (see trip no. 19) and was a western gateway to the region of Wadi Hanifah. in 1818 it was besieged by the forces of Ibrahim Pasha on their way to take the Saudi capital of Diriyah. As the town offered stout resistance to the Ottoman army, it later suffered harsh retribution from the Ottoman troops. It revived after that but was bypassed by the modern Riyadh-Makkaha highway. As you drive into Dhurma, if you look to your right, you will see several old farms that are accessible and deserve investigating. Continuing into the town centre and turning right at 25km, you will see old mud houses tucked in behind the new concrete ones and a large farm (or caravanserai) behind some palm trees that deserves exploring as well.Mf RIYADH VICINITY Marat, the next town you come to on this trip, was visited by Thomas Barger, one of the early pioneers who came to Arabia in 1937 to explore for oil. He retired 32 years later as CEO of Aramco. His letters to his wife during his early years were collected and published in a book entitled Out in the Blue, Letters from Arabia - 1937-1940. He said “The sand in the backcountry is the reddest five ever seen; it practically glows in the red dawn. There are high, bold hills with real cliffs on them rising six to eight hundred feet above the plains on the westward faces. We did not pass through many towns, but one, Marat, was as picturesque as you could wish. The earth is a reddish clay, and just outside the town is a high jabal (Jebel Kumait) that we climbed. We took pictures of the town spread out below us with its red-turreted walls, green gardens scattered cover the plain, and the great pool in which they gather rainwater by a system of ditches.” DIRECTIONS For Dhurma »Take the new Makkah Road west (Route 40W) past the entrance to the Diplomatic Quarter and down the escarpment. At the junction with the old Makkah Road (Route 605) turn right towards Dhurma. The old farms are at 24° 35,162'N, 46° 14.179" about 1-2 km off Route 505. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0. For Qasoor al Moqbil + At the junction with the old Makkah Road (Route 08) take the second exit marked "Qasoor Al Moqbil/Dirab". Take the first left turn and you will arrive at Qasoor Al Mogbil, with mud walls, deep wells, towers and arches. For Marat +Go back to Route 805, turn right and carry on down this road and the next town is Marat, 86km after Dhurma. Behind the old town, under the trees you can still see the outline of the mediaeval town of Marat. These ruins are easily seen from the top of Jebel Kumait in the centre of the town. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0. For Shaara + Continue along Route 505 towards Thermada and Shaqre. Thermada,is reached at 9km after Marat, Shaqra is reached at 35km. You can see the ruins if you look down the alleyways. Follow the road to the north (Joining Route 50N) to see the old town of Shaqra [ 25° 15.540'N, 45° 15.283°5]. For Majma’a + Follow Route 646/5N towards Majma’a, reached at 95km after Shaqra. The ruins are to the north of the city [2 25° 55.478'N, 45° 20.4628). For Jalajil +¥rom Majma'a you can take Route 65S back to Riyadh or route 8558 to Jalajil. Jalajil consists of two old towns, divided by a road. From Jalajil you can continue south through Howtat Sudair and Audat Sudair, to join Route 658. THTehirtTtwT PPP eee ae rte ee eoRIYADH VICINITY 4 AlHa’ir and the Riyadh River DAY TRIP (ihr) 2WD AlHa’iris an old village beside a new town in the Wadi Hanifah. This is probably the best place to get close to the Riyadh river to observe the wonderful birdlife attracted by this new body of water. The river is, in fact, the city’s treated waste water which runs for some 50km down the Wadi Hanifah until it peters out, forming lakes in places where it widens out, and creating along its banks a profuse growth of reeds and other plants. The water attracts an astonishing variety of migrating and nesting birds, particularly in December and January. We have seen grey herons, squacco herons, little egrets, a scrub warbler, a pair of snipe, lots of moorhens and large flocks of black-winged stilts. In the winter of 1992/3 pelicans were spotted and in the following year a pair of greylag geese. It is a birdwatchers paradise, even today. Do not be put off by the origin of this water: it is quite clean enough for goldfish to thrive and the only odour is a slightly chemical smell. You can walk along the left-hand bank of the river for miles. Here herons rise silently out of the casuarina bushes on heavy wings likeWi RIYADH VICINITY pterodactyls rising out of a primaeval swamp and fly squawking overhead. White egrets perch in the trees. There is a certain amount of debris left by picnickers, but unsullied spots can still be found for a picnic. The right-hand bank can be reached by fording the river at the shallowest parts (by 4-wheel drive only) and this is worth doing as it is cleaner than the more accessible left bank, A section of the Wadi Hanifah beautification project can be accessed by following signs, on . your right just after the prison and just before you reach Al Ha’ir. Te Wnetica with Rao ode A AuHalie ” ToShatb Rueat, 6 Er Gs ee) ee) ee) rr) r,sRIYADH VICINITY DIRECTIONS » Take the South Ring Road (Route 500) to exit 21 [24° 35.650'N, 46° 44.2245] and head south to Al Ha’ir, This is Route 509. SET YOUR, ODOMETER AT 0. +Follow Route 509 past, the prison [24° 27.324'N, 46° 48.993'R] on your right until you reach the new town of Al Ha’ir. ~At the beginning of the new town you will pass @ petrol station on your left. Turn left at the new roundabout [24° 25.058'N, 46° 50.261 B]. Ibis 24km from the South Ring Road. SET YOUR ODOMETER. AT 0. “Take the next right at 24° 25.164'N, 46° 50.573'H, about 1.75km. Head past the ruined brick factory on your left. + At the crossroads by the sheep farms turn left [24° 24.226'N, 46° 50.977]. + At about 6.3km the river appears below you to the right. + At 8.4icm you pass the bird-ringing project [24° 22.777'N, 46° 64.168'E]. +Soon after that you will see several places where you can easily approach the river in 2 wheel-drive and park. You can walk along the east bank of the river for sore way. «To reach the west bank turn right at the illegible black “No Fishing or Hunting” sign [24° 22.527'N, 46° 64.4175]. + As long as the water level is low enough you can ford the river at 24° 22.278, 46° 54.3465. You can also ford it at 24° 20.919'N, 46° 85.751'E. For the Riyadh Dam + Just past the prison you can take the track [24° 28.704'N, 46° 49.941 E] and head to the dam at 24° 25.226'N, 46° 48.862'H. You can walk across the dam and down the west bank. Make sure you take some time to watch the turtles and jumping catfish at the foot of the dam. For an alternative route back to Riyadh you can go through the new town, down a steep hill and across a bridge into the old town. If you turn right after crossing the bridge, you can continue through old farm roads to reach Sha’ib Luha and henee back to Riyadh.Wi NORTH OF RIYADH 5 Acacia Valley and Edge of the World DAY TRIP (2%hrs) 4wp eons The thick green line of trees along Acacia Valley has made this a very popular picnic spot, especially after rain when you will find the wadi full of flowers and flowering shrubs, butterflies, lizards, dragonflies and birds. A wadi spur leads off the main valley to the edge of the escarpment. Here the cliffs drop away giving splendid views over the plain below. Edge of the World, a rock- framed “window” in the escarpment is one such point: here the drop is dramatic and sudden but there are other places where the vista is even better. Acacia Valley is part of the old Darb Al Hijaz, which ran between Nejd and the Hijaz, using the course of the Wadi Hanifah to cut through the Tuwaiq escarpment. Darb means “way” and this route was used for centuries by travellers moving east-west across Arabia. Ibrahim Pasha came this way when he moved to attack and destroy Dir'iyah in 18:8. For centuries there have been settlements along the bed of Wadi Hanifah and the valley has always been heavily cultivated. You can still see, on the rock terraces above the villages, the round stone watchtowers which used to guard the approaches. One of these settlements, Al Uyanah (sometimes Ayenah or Oyaynah) was the home of Mohammed ibn Abd Al Wahhab, the religious reformer, who was born there in 1705.The valley is still a rich agricultural area today: fields of fruit and vegetables line the road which runs through the villages. In Acacia Valley itself you will come across a number of small encampments near the start, of the wadi and a certain amount of rubbish, which can deter the picnicker. Take the side wadi leading to the Edge of the World, to escape this and you will find less-frequented and prettier picnic spots under tall and shady acacia trees. PrrHRFaryrFP ewe wees APPS oe "NORTH OF RIYADH DIRECTIONS » Leave Riyadh by turning right at the King Khalid Bye Specialist Hospital [24° 41.751, 46° 58.1268]. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0. Head north towards Salbukkh( 2 lovely old town with a full dam even in August) on Route 538N. ~Go past the turning to Dir'iyah. +At S2km turn left towards Jubaylah [24° 58.010'N, 46° 29.082'B] along road 5762. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0. ~Continue straight in the direction of Sadus [24° 69.408'N, 46° 12.564'E]. Go through the villages of Jubaylah and Uyanah. Note: both Sadus and Uyanah have old ruins that beckon. +At 29km turn left on the good track marked by green kilometre marker (route 5762/29) [24° 57.368'N, 46° 13.696'E]. (Note: at the time of writing this was correct but as the road to Sadus was being twinned, it may now be necessary to go into Sadus and do a U-turn to reach this point.) Near the start of this track you pass a sun-bleached blue sign in Arabic “Leave No ‘Trace’. You soon enter a wooded wad. + Keep an eye on the top of the cliffs as you drive through the wadi. You will see remains of cairns formerly used to guide travellers to the nearest caravanserai. If you are adventurous, you can hike up a camel trail to view the valley from the top and see the ruins of such a caravanserai and its accompanying cairns [24° 56.108’N, 46° 08.195'E] + At 37km you will see the new dam [24 55.126N, 046 10.945E]. Take the track up over the dam on the rigat. *At the gate [24° 54.858'N, 46° 10.496'E] in the middle of the valley, there is a, National Guard post. They allow you to access the wadi leading to the Edge of the World, During the rains of late 2009 the main entrance into Acacia Valley was washed out and at the time of writing we were guided through the National Guard encampment, by the guard, to a new track into the valley a few metres away [24° 64.886'N, 46° 10.4725]. *Once you have negotiated the detour, continue along the wadi until 37.5km when you take the right fork on to the good traci which leads straight to the Bdge of the World. + SET YOUR ODOMETER, AT 0. You will pass tracks on your left but you must always bear right resisting the temptation to follow side wadis. *At 11.3km turn right along a track which leads you away from the trees of the wadi and into more barren terrain. Follow this track straight to the Bdge of the World [24° 56.695'N, 45° 59.534’E] which is reached at 21.9km. + Return to the main valley track and back to Riyadh along the reverse route. s.9 NORTH OF RIYADH Sa ern To Saibukh Pevetien Forest. FPP eae eee we6 parb Buwayb and Darb Towgi DAY TRIP (1% hrs) 2WD Two ancient trading routes through the Buwayb escarpment north of Riyadh are now tarmacked but worth using if only to reach picnic and walking spots along the top of the escarpment or down below where, after rains, pools of water collect and flowers and bushes appear. The routes (darb means way or route) used to lead to Rumah where the wells and the lush spring grass attracted herds of camels and their owners. The Rumah suq used to be famous but nowadays the town’s importance has declined. In a wet spring the surrounding area Is still covered by thick grass and vegetation fed by rainwater carried down the deeply-incised wadis from the Buwayb escarpment. The Darb Buwayb cuts through the escarpment at the point known as Indian Head because of the distinctive profile of the headland seen as you look back at it. The road continues to Rumah. To vary the return, take the other road to Riyadh from Rumah, past Rawdhat Khuraym (see trip no.6). Continuing past the tuming to Buwayb along Route 550 you pass the entrance to King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre at Thumamah (see trip no.27). The Banban Sands which run along beside this road to your left are now less congested with permanent and temporary tents and invite exploration if you have 4 wheel-drive. 2Wj NORTH OF RIYADH The next turning on your right is the old Darb Towgi which now continues north to As- Summan. !fyou stop at the top of the escarpment (1skm from the turn-off) you will see a deep weadi at right angles to the road whichis one of the channels which carries water off the plateau down to the edge of the Dahna dunes at Rumah. In spring it is often full of water and consequently bordered by greenery but is also a popular picnic spot and rather rubbish-strewn near the road. Returning to the main road, turn right for about 2km, then head off right across the plain towards an attractive wadi, usually known as Wadi Khafs, which opens up before you between two conspicuous headlands. It runs back deep into the escarpment and makes a good base for walking and for an overnight camp. DIRECTIONS =» ‘Take Route 550 past the Janadriyadh Cultural Festival site [24° 57.870'N, 46° 47.500'5]. + You can join this road by turning off the North Ring Road (Route 40E) at exit 8C [24° 47,558'N, 46° 43.337'E] by SABIC, passing the Imam University. Follow the signs to Janadriyadh and Thumamah turning onto Road 857 (locally known as Roundabout Road) at 24° 49.073'N, 46° 42,908'E. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0 as you join route 850 [24° 56.454'N, 46° 48.593'H] + Take route 40E and follow the signs to Thumamah. Exit at 24° 80.380'N, 46° 61.061'. This is now Route S50N. This will take you past the Camel Suq and the Janadriyadh Cultural Festival site [24° 57.870'N, 46° 47.599] Alternatively +take Khurais Road to Dammam, follow the signs to Thumamah, until you reach the exit at 24° 49.838'N, 46° 50.902'R. This is now Route 550N. This will take you past the Camel Sug and the Janadriyadh Cultural Festival site [24° 57.870, 46° 47.3998]. +At 20km turn right to Buwayb opposite a petrol station [25° 04.555'N, 46° 42,782'E]. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0. Trip 1 At 17iam you will pass “Indian Head”, best seen at 25° 11.054°N, 46° 49.106’E, around the 15km marker. The quarry is also on your left [25° 11.178°N, 46° 48.852’E]. You can continue up this road and through the town of Rumah [25° 33.694’N, 47° 09.248'H] to the north, before looping south, past Rawdat Kburaym [25° 25.548'N, 47° 14.705'E] and back to the 40W and Riyadh [24° 57.128'N, 47° 1.158'5). Trip2 Or you can return to Route 550. SET YOUR ODOMETER AT 0. Turn right and at 11km you will pass the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre (KKWRC) at ‘Thumamah [26° 9.239'N, 46° 38.981'E] on your right. 2 Crit eeeeaeeNORTH OF RIYADH ips A&S4 Fem [25° 24.185'N, 46° 20.226'E] the road to AsSumman, Hafar Al Atsh and At Towqui (Tookee), is on your right [25° 24.185’N, 46° 29.226"); is im fect a continuation of Route 550. At the roundabout by ArRuwagheb [25° 24.185'N, 46° 29.225’B] you can ‘urn east and head to Rumah across the Summan, home to several sinkholes and cave systems, or you can head west and through the village of Al Hifnah [25° 41.451'N, 46° 33.403'H] looping down to join Route 585 [25° 25.491'N , 46° 9.900F ] and then turn east and back to Riyadh. *Ifyou head north past Hafr Al Atsh you reach Rawdat Tannat [26° 4.454'N, 46° 51.514'B] at the edge of the Dahna dunes, + Turning west and past Hafr Al Atsh you can loop south and join the road. from Al Hifnah at 25° 59.589'N, 46° 21.824'H and follow the road to Route 535 and back to Riyadh, But be warned the area is flat and without any remarkable features to pass the time. DAR BOWAYB, INIAN HEAD , Daa’ Tog! Anh BANBAD SANDS. Te kaeraie 231 NORTH OF RIYADH / Huraymila and the Forts DAY TRIP (5 hrs round trip) One of the old caravan routes through the escarpment, Wadi Huraymila makes a pleasant day's outing with scenery ranging from acacia-covered wadi to dramatic escarpment and wide plains. You will pass several good fossil sites. The wadi runs east-west, almost parallel to Wadi Hanifah but further north. You descend through a cut in the escarpment into the town of Huraymila. At this point if you look along the ridge on either side of the road good fossils of many types can be found The old town of Huraymila with its mudbrick buildings can be seen as you pass through This was the place where Shaykh Mohammed ibn Abd Ai Wahhab first taught his reformist doctrine. Beyond Huraymila is an enormous dam for flash-flood water. The tarmac ends soon after this and the trees in the wadi become thicker. This part of the wadi is very well used as a picnic 24 rnntat oe ww