Approximately 60km south of Tabuk, this route takes you along a sandy plain following the path of the old Hijaz Railway line. This open landscape is surrounded by low-lying mountains so it’s clear why the railway line was built here. Once you have gone through the tunnel (on foot), the rest of the route takes you past the remnants of the engineering that made the Hijaz Railway so remarkable.

Hijaz Railway Tunnel

Despite being over a century old, the tunnel still stands strong. Just over 100m in length, it is the only tunnel along the 1,320km Hijaz Railway route. Not wide enough to drive through, park at its imposing arched opening and step into the dark. Don’t forget your torch so you can appreciate the impressive architecture of its interior.

PRESERVING THE HIJAZ RAILWAY

The Hijaz Railway stretches from Damascus, Syria to the holy cities of Makkah and Al Madinah in Saudi Arabia. With over 13 refurbished buildings spread across 80,000m², visitors are able to explore a workshop, handicrafts centre and an old station that houses a locomotive, freight car and several relics. These various rail museums also contain artefacts such as manuscripts and photographs that bring the railway’s poignant history to life. The museum along this route is open weekdays from 8am to 4pm.

Al Akhdar

An easy drive, you will follow an unpaved track along what used to be the railway line to reach Al Akhdar. Here, you can explore the fort ruins and historic bridges that were once part of the railway. You can also stop at the Green Valley Heritage Museum, a desert house featuring a collection of Arabic currencies and artefacts that were used to make the perfect ‘gahwa’, or Saudi coffee.