Abha

View of Abha

Abha is a city in Saudi Arabia. The capital of Asir province, its high altitude makes it a popular summer getaway for Saudis.

Get in

By plane

There are flights to Abha from Riyadh and Jeddah.

By road

The drive to Abha from Khamis Mushayt can be very interesting trip, but as usual drive carefully. The road from Sharourah via Najran is daunting, but interesting - up and down ribbon across the dunes, with an old version off to one side for many km. There were camel warning signs along it, but some were single hump silhouettes, others had 2 humps!

You can also drive in from the west coast, with lots of winding roads, bypassing old washed out bridges, lots of signs of floods, some picturesque villages etc., or from the north from Taif - lots more twisty roads, and not as interesting as going to the coast. Neither trip offers much in the way of accommodations, so be prepared to camp out.

By bus

The national bus company SAPTCO has multiple daily services from all major cities in Saudi Arabia. 1 Abha bus station is located just north of the city centre.

Get around

A novelty in Saudi Arabia: Green mountains!

See

Lookout at Mt Sooda. Trip to Habala Hanging Village - couple of hours. Trip to Turkish Fort - also couple of hours - fabulous views down a valley towards Yemen. Many older houses made of mud brick, with slates sticking out to fend off the water. Many nests in bushes of weaver birds. Most hotels will put on tours if enough people interested. One trip in August it actually hailed very hard!

Try driving down the road from near Jabal Sawda (it's insane-see picture), almost as good 'Monkey Road' heading to Mohayil or the road to Taif over the mountain range all the way.

Do

Cable car

The cable car.Climb up Jabal Sawda. Try to visit the airbase.

Buy

Buy traditional Asir clothes for the children from the museum. And traditional 'silver' ware in the Khamis sook.

Eat Kabsa

Sleep

View from the Palace Hotel at night

• 1 Abha Palace Hotel (فندق قصر أبها). (updated Sep 2017)

Go next

• Najran — well worth a visit, esp the old Governor's Palace in mud brick.