Desert Safari Evening
An evening escape from the city to the Makkah desert
Makkah is surrounded by desert, but almost nobody goes into it. Visitors fly in, taxi to their hotel, shuttle to the Haram, and never see the landscape that shaped the city's history. This evening safari takes you out of the urban density and into the silence. You'll be back by Isha — but the headspace shift lasts longer than that.
- Anyone who wants a break from the intensity of the Haram without wasting a full day
- Families with kids who need an energy outlet that isn't walking Haram corridors
- Adventure seekers who didn't expect to find desert driving on an Umrah trip
- Groups looking for a shared experience that creates a different kind of memory
Logistics: Most safari operators offer hotel pickup and drop-off. Expect to pay 150-300 SAR per person depending on group size and what's included. Book through your hotel or a local operator — avoid the overpriced packages marketed to tourists online. Wear clothes you don't mind getting sandy.
Late Afternoon Departure
Meet your driver and leave Makkah behind. The transition from city concrete to open desert happens faster than you'd expect — within 30 minutes, the skyline disappears and the sand takes over. Bring sunglasses, a light scarf, and water.
Hotel pickup
Desert Drive Through Rocky Terrain
This is the adrenaline part. Your driver takes the 4x4 across the rocky desert terrain at speed — sharp turns, steep descents, dust and gravel flying behind you. The landscape around Makkah is volcanic and rugged, not the sweeping sand dunes you might expect — but it's loud, bumpy, and genuinely thrilling. If you get motion sickness, sit in the front and look at the horizon. Budget: included in safari package.
Makkah desert outskirts
Read more →Camel Riding Experience
After the drive, things slow down. The camel farm at Hudaibiyah — on the Makkah–Jeddah highway near Al Hamra Umm Al Jud, about 30 minutes west of the city — is where most operators stop. You can feed the camels, watch the babies, and then climb onto one for a guided ride across the terrain. Camels are surprisingly gentle once you're up — the hard part is the mount and dismount. Hold on during both. A guide walks alongside you the whole time.
Hudaibiyah Camel Farm, Makkah–Jeddah Highway
Maghrib Prayer on Open Sand
There's something about praying Maghrib in open desert that resets you. No walls, no ceiling, no marble floors — just sand beneath you and sky above. Your guide will indicate the qibla direction.
Desert camp
Traditional Campfire Dinner
Sit around the fire on low cushions. The meal is usually grilled lamb or chicken with rice, fresh bread, dates, and Arabic coffee. The food is simple but the setting makes it extraordinary. Stars start appearing as you eat — Makkah's light pollution doesn't reach out here.
Desert camp
Return to Makkah
The drive back is quiet. Most people doze off. You'll be back at your hotel around Isha time — just plan ahead the return time with the operator. The contrast between the desert silence you just left and Makkah's energy is jarring — in the best way.
En route to Makkah
