Built on the slopes of steep mountains that are enveloped by clouds in the winter, Rija Alma village, dating back to the 8th century, contains some of the finest examples of the fort-like stone architecture of the Asir region. The fee-paying section (SR20) has a useful museum but feels sanitised, whereas nearby, several decaying versions of the tall, grey houses with tiny windows and wooden balconies are far more interesting to explore, though be aware that many are still lived in.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
15.43 MILES
Start at the eastern edge of this area for a wonderful vista of the old mud and slate houses backing onto a fertile patchwork of greenery: this is what…
14.59 MILES
This cultural village really embodies the artistic spirit of Asir. A mosque with stunning calligraphy graffiti sits surrounded by a series of small art…
7.99 MILES
Rising some 3000m above Sarawat Valley, covered in juniper forests and famous for misty, cold weather, the Kingdom's tallest mountain is everything you…
14.78 MILES
Once a village on the outskirts of Abha, Al Bastah is now one of two neighbourhoods with a healthy number of old fort-like houses. These tall properties…
14.81 MILES
A remnant of the Ottoman era, this small bridge made of stone could well be the oldest bridge in Saudi Arabia. Measuring 32m across and 6m high, it spans…
Nearby Saudi Arabia attractions
7.99 MILES
Rising some 3000m above Sarawat Valley, covered in juniper forests and famous for misty, cold weather, the Kingdom's tallest mountain is everything you…
14.59 MILES
This cultural village really embodies the artistic spirit of Asir. A mosque with stunning calligraphy graffiti sits surrounded by a series of small art…
14.78 MILES
Once a village on the outskirts of Abha, Al Bastah is now one of two neighbourhoods with a healthy number of old fort-like houses. These tall properties…
14.81 MILES
A remnant of the Ottoman era, this small bridge made of stone could well be the oldest bridge in Saudi Arabia. Measuring 32m across and 6m high, it spans…
15.43 MILES
Start at the eastern edge of this area for a wonderful vista of the old mud and slate houses backing onto a fertile patchwork of greenery: this is what…