Maraya is a mirrored building set in AlUla's Ashar Valley, and the point of it is what happens on the approach: the walls of the valley are thrown back at you across the whole face of the structure, so the building reads as rock until you are close enough to see the seams. It changes completely with the angle of the sun, which is why the timing of the drive matters more than the time you spend standing there.
The rest of the half day is spent at viewpoints along the valley, with stops where the road opens up over the sandstone. The day finishes in AlUla Old Town, which is at its quietest before 3pm and stays open into the evening if you would rather end late.
Day by day
Morning
Pick-up from your hotel and the drive into Ashar Valley. The approach is the shot, so the vehicle stops where the reflection first lines up, and there is time on foot around the outside of the building to work the angles as the light moves across the mirrored panels.
Afternoon
Viewpoint stops along the valley road, with time out of the vehicle at each. The day closes in AlUla Old Town before drop-off at your hotel.
What is included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in AlUla
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking driver
- Timing planned around the light on the mirrored facade
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- All fuel and parking
What is not
- Meals and drinks
- Tickets for any event or performance held at the venue
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
The places on this trip
Send us your dates
We come back with the itinerary written out and one clear cost.