Travel

#TheSoloDrifter in Saudi Arabia | Al Bahah’s Generosity Trace: A Welcoming Place

By on Monday, April 15, 2024

Welcome to Al Bahah, a province nestled in the heart of Saudi Arabia, where the rugged beauty of the landscape is matched only by the warmth of its people. Here, amidst the rolling hills and verdant valleys, hospitality isn’t just a tradition—it’s a way of life.

From the moment I set foot in Al Bahah, I was enveloped in the genuine kindness and generosity of its residents. Join me on a journey through Al Bahah, where the beauty of the land is rivalled only by the warmth of its people.

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide
Asir Region
Hejaz, including Jeddah
Eastern Region

What you need to know about Al Bahah

  1. The region includes Al-Baḥah City, Al-Mikhwah and Baljorashi.
  2. The capital is Al-Bahah.
  3. Baljorashi has a famous traditional market known as Sūq as-Sabt (Saturday Market)
  4. Al Bahah as many meanings but it is commonly translated as the courtyard of the house.
  5. Al-Baha National Airport receives flights from all cities of the Kingdom and is located in Aqiq Province 45 km (28 mi) from Al-Baha city itself.
  6. The city is known for its healthy and nutritious traditional meals brought by local farming such as Daghābīs.

During the Founding Day of Saudi Arabia in February 2024, I had the opportunity to visit Al Bahah city and some parts of Al Bahah province. I took a flight via Saudia.

If you recommend me some places, give me a chat in any of my social media pages. I will try to visit them.

Al Bahah city is considered the capital of the Ghamdi and Zahrani tribes in Saudi Arabia, and most of its inhabitants are from the native tribes.

What to do

Rich nature and culture of Thee Ain Historical Village

The village dates back about 400 years, and it witnessed the battles between the Ottoman Turks and its inhabitants. The village was named after an ʿAyn (water spring) continuously flowing from the nearby mountains to several reservoirs and each particular pond has its own name.

We had a lunch under a shady tree with a view of the village waterfall. Something that’s in my Saudi bucketlist.

Thee Ain village welcomes visitors every day of the week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visitors can continue their journey to “Tuesday Market,” located 10 km from the village in the center of the Al-Makhwah Governorate. It is one of the largest local traditional markets that preserve its original landmarks.

Family Weekend at Raghadan Forest

This is work I actually celebrated the Founding Day. I wore their traditional thawb. Locals were taking photos and videos of me. I think, this way I am able to give back to them and show my appreciation to their community.

Raghadan Forest supplies you with a sense of adventure such as: thrilling and adventurous experience walking on a bridge hanging between fog and nature that overlooks Aqabat Al Baha and Raghadan Forest, plus you can try zipeline and other activities.

Every year, Raghadan Forest prepares itself to hold many musical and cultural events and festivals in summer, and is considered a favorite destination for families.

Experience a one-of-a-kind rural tourism with Al Baha caves

The locals have transformed abandoned mountain caves once inhabited by their ancestors in Jabal Shada Al-Asfal in Al-Makhwah Governorate into modern, fully-equipped accommodation with all modern amenities.

Here, I was able to get to know more my two tour guides, especially their childhood – Abu Fahad, a retired geologist from Aramco, and Abu Saad, a businessman. They both are mountaineers from their young age to date. Abu Fahad gave a brief about the history of the cave resort we visited and its owner.

Picnic in the Al Baha lakes and falls

End your day with the greenery and blues of Al Bahah. They are everywhere!

Other activities

Bin Raqoush Palace

Its construction dates back to 1834 and it was considered a complete residential system consisting of several family homes and guesthouses headed by the “Zahran” council.

Al-Zaytouna Farm

The farm includes more than 4,000 olive trees, in addition to three tanks for storing rainwater, a bird breeding garden, and a horse stud. The farm is open every day from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Tickets start from SAR 20 per person and children over 3 years old.

Where to stay

Albaha Domes

Imagine glamping with a view of the mountains. I did that here. Each dome costs SAR450 per night. The dome is a smart-room with simple yet elegant design.

Cloud City Hotel

If you are not a fan of this kind of accommodation, then try Cloud City Hotel. At SAR400 per night, you have a room and a breakfast.

Where to eat

Boulevard

If you are looking for a trendy place where young Saudis convene, this is the place! Just visiting this, there are a lot of restaurants to choose from.

Tawala

If you want some shisha, then this is for you. Plus, they serve hot drinks, perfect for Al Bahah’s weather, while you are chatting with your friends.

The Pan

It offers burgers and snacks. The restaurant has big servings.

Al Bahah is now one of my favorite provinces in Saudi Arabia. I really enjoyed the trip with the generosity of its people – Abu Fahad and Abu Saad are clear manifestation. Our trip did not stop there, a gift from them was a stop at the Ministry of Culture’s event. Would like to thank also Dr. Osama AlQahtani of Abha for connecting me with Abu Fahad. If interested to have them with you during your trips, let me know so I can connect them with you.

During my journey, a profound realization struck me: the importance of embracing life’s adventures while we’re young. Witnessing the passion and zest for life exemplified by individuals like Abu Fahad and Abu Saad deeply inspired me. Their dedication to their passions serves as a reminder to pursue what ignites our souls, regardless of age or circumstance. This realization fuels my desire to explore the world, immersing myself in its diverse cultures and realities. By accumulating experiences and wisdom along the way, I aspire to contribute to the tapestry of history and offer guidance to future generations, ensuring that the flame of curiosity and passion continues to burn brightly.

My Saudi Arabia does not stop here. Look for more adventures in the Kingdom by visiting my Saudi Arabia Travel Guide.

Saudi Arabia Travel Guide
Asir Region
Hejaz, including Jeddah
Eastern Region

Connect

VisitSaudi.com
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AlBaha Domes

Cloud City Hotel thru Booking.com

About the Author

Paul Michael Jaramillo
Paul Michael JaramilloChief Executive Editor
PJ is a CPA, writer, storyteller, environment and youth advocate. As a writer, his articles on national development were published in a Spanish newspaper and local news network Rappler. As a storyteller and environment advocate, his documentary films on mining and environment were featured by ABS-CBN News and GMA News. He launched his career as a CPA at KPMG in the Philippines in late 2015. He started his professional journey as an external auditor of a global workspace provider (the largest audit client of KPMG in the Philippines), global bank, leading MFCG in the Philippines and a number of shared service centres. As an auditor, his team won the KPMG Asia-Pacific Data & Analytics Challenge and coached the Philippine team that placed third to the KPMG GlobalRunner Cup. More than two years later, he led KPMG in the Philippines’ Network of Audit Innovators and Data & Analytics Champions and its academic arm, while serving as a member of the KPMG Asia-Pacific Audit Digital Transformation Workstream. He served as a member of the Audit Methodology Group and Root Cause Analysis Team of KPMG in the Philippines. He was a regular training facilitator of KPMG on audit methodology, innovation, data and analytics, professional standards and regulatory updates. He also served as a coach for newly promoted supervisors. PJ was also the Firm’s System of Quality Management Implementation Manager and a Workforce of the Future Champion. He was also a Sampling Specialist of the Firm. In 2019, PJ was a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)’s Technical Working Group on Audit Methodology. PJ led in developing some of the innovative solutions of KPMG in the Philippines. Above all, PJ is a people investor. He invests on people who have potential and talents. That makes him a coach and mentor to some young professionals in the profession and served as a People Committee member of KPMG in the Philippines. He leads advocacy projects that help communities. He produces vlogs thru his YouTube channel, PJspirations which features stories of different individuals. As a volunteer, he is the Academic Master and Head Coach of PREMIER International Learning and Development Center, which provides coaching, mentoring, training and learning programs and platforms that promote growth and development in every individual’s life and career. He is also with the Middle East and Caspian regions of KPMG as a member of its Professional Practice group and Audit L&D for the Saudi Levant Cluster, providing subject matter knowledge and guidance on audit methodology, and learning and development programs to its offices. He is a proud Ilocano and a graduate of Northwestern University.

He also conducts #IamRemarkable sessions, a program initiated by Google for women and underrepresented groups.
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