Overview
Elephant Rock is a 52-metre sandstone outcrop weathered into the shape of an elephant with its trunk to the ground, standing alone on open sand.
Why visit Elephant Rock
Known in Arabic as Jabal AlFil, it is the most photographed natural landmark in AlUla, and the shape is genuinely unmistakable rather than a matter of imagination - the trunk, the body and the raised head all read from the approach road.
Late afternoon into dusk is when it is worth being there: the sandstone turns deep red as the light drops, and sunken seating areas have been cut into the sand around the base so you can wait it out. There is no entry ticket.
Known in Arabic as Jabal AlFil, Elephant Rock is particularly magical at dusk when the fading sun casts a bewitching deep crimson light over the trunk and body of AlUla’s famous geological pachyderm.
Tours that include Elephant Rock
Winter in AlUla
5 days, 4 nights in AlUla, timed for the cool season: Hegra, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and the Old Town.
Riyadh, AlUla, Madinah & Jeddah
7 days, 6 nights. Riyadh, AlUla, Madinah and Jeddah, taking in Hegra, At-Turaif and the old quarter of Al-Balad.
Riyadh & AlUla
6 days, 5 nights. Two nights in Riyadh for the founding sites, three in AlUla for Hegra and Dadan.
Jeddah & AlUla
6 days, 5 nights. Two nights in Jeddah for Al-Balad and the Red Sea, three in AlUla for Hegra.
AlUla & Tabuk
6 days, 5 nights. Three nights in AlUla for Hegra, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, then two in Tabuk for the sandstone country.
AlUla & Madinah
6 days, 5 nights. Three nights in AlUla for Hegra, Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, then two nights in Madinah.
Travel Tips Before Visiting
- Listed as suitable for ages: All.
- Elephant Rock: You don't need tickets to enter
- The tourism authority lists it as suited to Nature, Families, Friends.
Elephant Rock is in AlUla.
Plan your visit to Elephant Rock
Want to include Elephant Rock in your trip? Browse our journeys or ask for a custom plan.