SA
Abha
Misty green mountains and stone villages of the south
Misty green mountains and stone villages of the south
⚠️ Travel advisory: check before you go
In September 2026 the US raised its advice to “reconsider travel” for this region because of tensions involving Iran. Flights and tourism are operating normally, but airspace closures and cancellations can happen at short notice, so keep plans flexible and travel insurance in place.
Latest official advice: UK FCDO · US State Department · Reviewed September 2026
The highest point in Saudi Arabia, this misty escarpment above Abha is cloaked in juniper forest and often wrapped in cloud, with a cable car dropping to the valley below.
Mornings are clearest before the afternoon fog rolls in.
A stunning restored heritage village of multi-storey stone-and-quartz houses on the old trade route to Yemen, a UNESCO-tentative site rich in Asiri architecture and colourful interiors.
The village museum shows the vivid painted Al-Qatt interiors.
The dramatic ‘hanging village’ clings to a cliff ledge once reachable only by rope, home to the Flower Men; a cable car now descends to the abandoned stone dwellings.
Take the cable car down for the cliff-edge village and views.
Several cable cars string across the Asir valleys, gliding over forested slopes and cliffs between the city, Al Souda and mountain parks for spectacular aerial views.
Ride on a clear day for the best mountain panoramas.
A striking white-and-ochre mudbrick palace in the city centre, now a museum of Asiri heritage, standing amid Abha’s bustling streets and markets.
Combine it with the lively Tuesday market nearby.
Asir’s cooking is mountain food. Try areeka, a dense bread dough mashed with ghee and local honey, aseedah, a similar porridge-like dish, and haneeth or mandi, slow-cooked lamb with rice. Asir honey, especially from sidr and wildflowers, is prized across the Kingdom and sold at markets and roadside stalls.
Cafes serve Saudi coffee (gahwa) with cardamom and dates, and the cooler climate makes open-air dining pleasant much of the year. Al Souda and the viewpoints along the escarpment have cafes and restaurants with views over the clouds. Alcohol is not available in Saudi Arabia.
Abha International Airport, about 20 km from the city centre, has frequent domestic flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, plus some international routes. Khamis Mushait, next door, is the region’s other hub. Taxis and ride apps such as Uber and Careem operate, but a rental car is the easiest way to explore, since Rijal Almaa, Habala and Al Souda are spread out along steep mountain roads. Mountain fog is common, so drive carefully.
Abha is a domestic summer escape, so hotel prices peak in the June to September high season. Estimates are per person per day in USD.
Three days covers Abha, the painted heritage villages and the highlands above the clouds.
Explore Shada Palace and Abha’s markets and painted Al Muftaha district, then ride a cable car over the green valleys for mountain views.
Market days bring the most atmosphere.
Drive down the escarpment to the stone tower houses of Rijal Almaa, then visit Habala, the hanging village reached by cable car.
The road to Rijal Almaa is steep with hairpins; take it slowly.
Head up to Al Souda, the Kingdom’s highest area, for juniper forests, cool air and views above the clouds, with coffee at a cliffside cafe.
Mornings are clearest before the clouds roll in.
Asir catches monsoon cloud in summer; mornings are clearest, and afternoons often turn misty and cool.
At altitude Abha is cool even in summer and can be cold at night; bring warmer clothing.
Modest dress is expected, as across the Kingdom.
Cards work in the city, but keep riyals for village stalls and rural areas.
Quick answers for visiting Abha in Saudi Arabia's Asir mountains.
It sits high in the Asir mountains, so summers are far milder than in Riyadh or Jeddah.
March to October. Summer is popular with Saudi families escaping the heat of the lowlands.
It is a historic village of multi-storey stone houses decorated with colourful Asiri patterns, a short drive from Abha.
Three days covers Al Souda, Rijal Almaa, Habala and the cable car.
Download the Arabic offline pack and use camera mode for menus and signs.
Free
Skyscraper Riyadh, Red Sea Jeddah, the Nabataean tombs of AlUla, misty-mountain Abha and the reefs of the Farasan Islands — five faces of Saudi Arabia.
Planning a wider trip? Our Saudi Arabia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.