Abha is the main town of the Asir highlands in the south-west, high enough in the mountains to stay cool when the rest of the country is not.
The Asir escarpment catches monsoon cloud, so the ground here is green, terraced and farmed - juniper forest rather than desert. That climate is the entire reason Saudis themselves travel here in summer, and it is why the region reads nothing like the rest of the country.
Around Abha are cable cars down the escarpment, the trails of Asir National Park, and Al Habala Park, named for the rope ladders once used to reach the village on the cliff below. Rijal Almaa, the painted stone village, is down the escarpment road.
Getting there and when to go
Abha has its own airport. Summer here is the high season, which is the reverse of everywhere else in Saudi Arabia.
What is here
- Rijal Heritage Village
- Al Habala Park
What the tourism authority says
Enjoy Aseer's mild climate and diverse natural landscapes and begin your journey from Abha and Khamis Mushait to discover the region's most remarkable attractions. Explore the towering Sarawat Mountains, lush forests, and scenic valleys, and visit Al Soudah, the highest peak in Saudi.