The Little Explorer’s Guide To: Haql & Alwasel

Eid-ul-Adha 2017 was the second year in a row that we went on one of those crazy 5,000+KM road trips and it was also the second time I visited the beautiful coastal cities of Haql and Alwasel.  Do check out my facebook page for photos from the whole trip.

I’ve said this before, but, it’s worth repeating: the North-Western coast of Saudi Arabia is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! Seriously, it really is.  The drive from Magna all the way to Haql is just so serene and relaxing.  Not only that, but along the way there’s a lot of scenic stopovers and things to do.  Here, I’ll speak about 2 of them with more to follow in future blog posts if Allah so wills.

Haql

Not only does Haql lie off the coast but it also borders Jordan and indeed, there is a land border crossing between the countries located here too.  What’s more, from various locations in Haql, you can actually see the coasts of Egypt, Palestine and Jordan! How cool is that?

Although small in size, Haql has some beautiful spots to sit down and enjoy the coast.  Among the places we visited, some of my favourite spots are: Palm Garden, Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Park, Durra Park and Prince Fahd bin Sultan Mosque.

I particularly enjoyed the Palm Garden around sunrise time.  You could just sit there with a cup of tea (or coffee if that’s your thing), enjoying the sea breeze and letting your thoughts wander.  One thing I would say is not to rush through things in Haql.  Take your time and relax.  There are a number of water sports and activities on offer in and around Haql.  Which brings us nicely on to: Alwasel.

Ok, Alwasel isn’t really a city so to say, I don’t know what it is really… a town?  But whatever it is, it is beautiful.  It is literally a few minutes’ drive from Haql but the view is spectacular!  There is a point when you’re driving from Haql and you come across a steep uphill road when you get to the top, you just have to pull over and admire the view in front of you! Beautiful crystal clear water, sand and an island.  Truly has to be seen to be appreciated.

As you drive down, you’ll come across an area with speedboats, jet skis and all-sorts of other water sports and activities.  We stopped over to see what was going on.  Needless to say, jet-skiing will cost you an arm and a leg, but, do enquire about a boat ride which will last anything from 30mins-1 hour and will bring you close to Ruwayjil island.

But the most amazing part of the boat trip is when the driver suddenly stops the boat, hands you an orange cone (a massive magnifying glass) and asks you to look down.  The view below is beautiful!  What lies below you is a beautiful reef with a lot of brightly coloured fish swimming by.  I’ve always wanted to dive but never gathered the courage to do so, so, I guess this was the closest I could get and believe me it was a sight to cherish.  The pictures don’t do it justice.  I’ve been told that this area is a diving hotspot.

Costs

Accommodation-wise, you’d want to stay in Haql.  There are a number of options ranging from water chalets to hotels to furnished apartments.  Price varies depending on the season and peak/off-peak periods.  Most of the places are family only.  Depending on your taste, I would say the places are reasonably priced.

If you’re in to jet-skiing, be prepared to pay up to 250 sar for 30 mins.  Whereas a 30 min boat ride with the reef view will cost you around 50-60sar.  All prices are of course negotiable.

These are two destinations I would highly recommend.  The closest airport is Tabuk and the rest you can do by driving.  Or you can be as crazy as us and drive all the way from Riyadh.  Why not?  Especially when you have so much to do along the way.  Check out some of my other Saudi Travel related blog posts for ideas!

The Little Explorer's Guide To... aims to give you a taste of some beautiful places I've had the pleasure of visiting.  Check out some of the other posts in the Travel section.  If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, or, connect with me on social media.