Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra is a mesmerising and wonderfully-preserved archaeological playground for visitors to explore. Thought to have been built around the 6th century BCE, Hegra was populated by the Dadanites and Lihyanites. This settlement then flourished in the 1st century AD under the rule of the Nabataean people as it grew into a major city with dwellings, walls, more than 130 wells, irrigation channels, and reservoirs to collect rainwater.

After Petra in Jordan a couple of hundred kilometres to the north of AlUla, Hegra was the second city of the Nabataean people. Talented engineers, architects and masters of irrigation, the Nabataeans were a nomad civilisation that became wealthy thanks to their control of the incense and spice trade routes.

Their talent for masonry is clearly seen in the more than 110 tombs that form the highlight of any visit to Hegra, 94 of which are decorated. Cave drawings and more than 50 inscriptions from the Nabataean period offer an insight into how this advanced civilisation lived. Archaeologists believe the oldest tomb dates from the mid-1st century BCE, while the most recent originates from around 70 CE. Standing 21 metres in height is the Tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza, the tallest tomb at Hegra and a landmark that takes the breath away. Partially enveloped by rock, the unfinished tomb reveals not only the skills of the Nabataean masons but also the epic scale of the task they undertook.

Hegra stood largely undiscovered until the mid-2000s when excavation work began, leading to its UNESCO status being awarded in 2008. This ancient site, one of the most important and revealing in the Middle East, can be discovered on a variety of tours today.

For travellers who prefer to go at their own pace, take the hop-on hop-off bus service and hear stories about Hegra on a multimedia device. Alternatively, take a day tour on a luxury coach with a guide, or travel in vintage style with a guide and ranger in a classic Land Rover. However you choose to experience Hegra, the Nabataean city and its historical tales will live long in the memory.