Mountains · Tabuk & the Red Sea
Great Arch
قوس الخرامة الكبير
Photo: The Great Arch Saudi Arabia.jpg · Remotehiker · CC0 1.0 (licence)
Before you go
8 facts, each with its source- Time needed Half a day Source: editor · category default
- Best season October–April Source: editor · category default
- Difficulty Hard — steep and exposed, and the drive is part of it Source: editor · category default
- Family friendly Older children — sheer drops are rarely fenced Source: editor · category default
- Facilities Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets Source: osm · no facility mapped within 800 m
- Drones Registration with GACA is required for any drone from 250 g, and registration alone is not permission to fly — an operational permit is also needed Source: official · national rule · General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) · checked 2026-09-05
- Dress Saudi Arabia expects modest dress in public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees. Abaya is no longer required of visitors. Layers: it runs 10–15 °C cooler up here. Proper walking shoes. Source: editor · category default
- Elevation 1320 m Source: srtm · NASA SRTM 30 m model
Not confirmed for this place: 4x4 needed · Entry fee · Opening hours · Wheelchair. Know one of these? Tell us →
Safety notes
- The escarpment roads are steep, switchbacked and used by heavy traffic; fog closes them without warning in the summer months, which are also the busiest.
- Baboons gather at laybys and viewpoints where people feed them. Keep windows up, keep food out of sight, and do not feed them — a fed troop becomes an aggressive one.
- Northern high ground gets genuinely cold at night in winter and the temperature falls faster than the light.
Editor notes, reviewed 2026-09-04
How far is it?
- 10 h 25 mfrom AlUla International Airport (ULH) · 584 km
- 4 h 57 mfrom Tabuk · 155 km
- 10 h 18 mfrom Sakaka · 622 km
Road distance and driving time from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic. Mountain tracks are often slower than the router thinks.
When to go
October–April- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
ComfortableToo hot
High ground behaves differently from the plains below it: the Asir escarpment stays usable through the summer, while the northern ranges get genuinely cold and occasionally snow in winter. The north is the cold end of the country. Winter nights drop below anything else on this site and the high ground occasionally sees snow, so a winter trip here needs different clothes from a winter trip to Jeddah.
Source: editor · category default · 2026-09-04. Category default set by the editor — a verified per-place season replaces it.
About & Sources Great Arch
Great Arch is a mountain in Tabuk & the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Entry fee, opening hours and vehicle requirements have not yet been verified for this page — the fact box says so plainly rather than guessing, so check locally before you go. For this kind of place the comfortable season is typically October–April. Nearby: Jabal an Nukhaylah, narrow canyon and Altar of the golden calf.
At a glance
- Mountains · Tabuk & the Red Sea
- Season: October–April (editor default)
- 1 open-data source · verified not yet
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Great Arch?
Typically October–April for mountains. High ground behaves differently from the plains below it: the Asir escarpment stays usable through the summer, while the northern ranges get genuinely cold and occasionally snow in winter. The north is the cold end of the country. Winter nights drop below anything else on this site and the high ground occasionally sees snow, so a winter trip here needs different clothes from a winter trip to Jeddah.
How long do I need at Great Arch?
Half a day (guidance for this category).
What facilities are there at Great Arch?
Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets (source: osm).
How high is Great Arch?
About 1320 m above sea level (source: srtm).
Where is Great Arch?
In Tabuk & the Red Sea (SA-07), Saudi Arabia, at 28.6587, 35.5983 — near Jabal an Nukhaylah, narrow canyon and Altar of the golden calf.
Who can take you there
All operators →Licensed local operators who run trips of this kind in this region. Contact them directly — we take no commission on an enquiry.
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Nearby places
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Jabal an Nukhaylah
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Information is compiled from open data and editor checks; conditions, fees and access change — verify locally before you travel.