By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Banyan Tree AlUla is a resort of tented villas hidden in the Ashar Valley, among towering sandstone cliffs and dunes in north-western Saudi Arabia. Inspired by the nomadic life of the Nabataeans, who carved the tombs of nearby Hegra, it opened in 2022, and most of its villas have their own pool, looking out at the rock walls. It is one of the most dramatic places to stay in the Arabian Peninsula.
Banyan Tree AlUla is a resort of tented villas hidden in the Ashar Valley, among towering sandstone cliffs and dunes in north-western Saudi Arabia. Inspired by the nomadic life of the Nabataeans, who carved the tombs of nearby Hegra, it opened in 2022, and most of its villas have their own pool, looking out at the rock walls. It is one of the most dramatic places to stay in the Arabian Peninsula.
Location: the Ashar Valley, AlUla
AlUla is a vast desert region of canyons, sandstone mountains and oases in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, home to Hegra, the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with more than a hundred monumental Nabataean tombs carved into the rock. The Ashar Valley, a wide sandy valley enclosed by cliffs, is also home to Maraya, the mirrored concert hall.
Banyan Tree AlUla is about 50 minutes by car from AlUla International Airport, which has flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and some international routes, and about 22 minutes from Hegra.
Villas at Banyan Tree AlUla
The villas are tented pavilions with high, canopied ceilings, inspired by Bedouin and Nabataean camps, spread across a large site against the cliffs, with one-, two- and three-bedroom villas. Most have a private pool and a terrace facing the rock formations, and interiors use warm earth tones, natural textiles and local craft. Guests travel around the resort by buggy.
Facilities at Banyan Tree AlUla
The Banyan Tree Spa offers treatments outdoors among the sandstone, as well as a rock pool set between two mountains with views over the valley, and there is yoga and a fitness centre. Dining includes Saffron, serving Thai cuisine, and Harrat, an all-day restaurant, as well as in-villa dining.
The team can arrange visits to Hegra, Elephant Rock and AlUla's old town, as well as hot-air balloon flights, helicopter and vintage plane flights over the canyons, hiking and stargazing.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is the evening, when the sun sets behind the cliffs of the Ashar Valley and the sandstone glows red and gold, seen from your own pool.
Afterwards, as the desert sky fills with stars, take a sound bath or simply sit by the fire in the silence of the valley.
Why Banyan Tree AlUla is one of the best mountain hotels
Banyan Tree AlUla earns its place for its extraordinary setting, among the sandstone mountains of one of the world's great archaeological landscapes, and for its private, pool-villa style of stay.
For more mountain hotels in the region, see Desert Rock in the granite mountains near the Red Sea, Alila Jabal Akhdar in Oman, and Six Senses Zighy Bay in Musandam.
When to go to Banyan Tree AlUla
The best time to visit AlUla is from around October to March, when days are warm and sunny and nights can be cool, even cold in midwinter. Winter is also the season of AlUla's festivals and events. From around May to September, temperatures are extremely high, making sightseeing at Hegra difficult in the middle of the day.
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Questions, answered
- Where is Banyan Tree AlUla?
- Banyan Tree AlUla is in the Ashar Valley, AlUla, in north-western Saudi Arabia, about 50 minutes by car from AlUla International Airport.
- How far is Banyan Tree AlUla from Hegra?
- Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is about 22 minutes by car.
- Do the villas at Banyan Tree AlUla have private pools?
- Most villas have their own private pool, facing the sandstone rock formations.
- Does Banyan Tree AlUla have a spa?
- Yes. The Banyan Tree Spa offers outdoor treatments and a rock pool between two mountains.
- When is the best time to visit AlUla?
- October to March, when days are warm and nights cool.
