From April 26th to May 13th AlUla is set to come alive with the AlUla Skies Festival, a celebration of the sky’s wonders and a showcase of the region’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a nature lover, a photography or cultural enthusiast, the festival has something to offer for everyone.
Here are the top ten unmissable activities during the AlUla Skies Festival.
- Soar high with hot air balloon rides
One of the main highlights of the AlUla Skies Festival is the opportunity to take a breathtaking hot air balloon ride over the stunning landscapes of AlUla. The untethered hot air balloon tour is set to take visitors on a 45-minute ride through AlUla’s clear morning skies capturing the unique rock formations, vast deserts, and ancient heritage sites. Visitors can also choose the option to go on a tethered hot air balloon evening ride, which is a 10/ 15-minute experience that offers amazing views of AlUla’s landscape while the balloon is attached to the ground. Tour dates will run until May 13th.
- Explore the cosmos with stargazing and astrophotography.
AlUla’s clear skies and minimal light pollution make it a perfect destination for stargazing and astrophotography. During the festival enjoy a guided stargazing and photography experience surrounded by the impressive Gharameel rock formations. Visitors will get a chance to learn more about the cosmos from an astronomy expert learning about the constellations, planets, and celestial events before learning how to capture stunning photos of the night sky. The activity will start from April 28th until May 12th.
- Embark on a mind-blowing helicopter tour over AlUla’s spectacular landscape
Get a birds-eye view of AlUla’s natural wonders and historical sites with a 30-minute helicopter tour. Witness AlUla’s monumental landmarks from above including Elephant Rock, Hegra, Hijaz Railway, Maraya, Jabal Ikmah, Dadan, and finally AlUla Old Town. Tour schedule is daily with slots a 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 5:00 PM
- Take in the bird’s eye view of the ancient city from Harrat viewpoint.
Sat atop an ancient mountain, a trip to this elevated outlook offers not only spectacular views over AlUla’s landscape, but also a huge canopy of night sky with exciting new additions to the specifically for the AlUla Skies Festival
- Embrace the thrill and amazing scenery on AlUla’s Giant Swing
An alternative way to get airborne, AlUla Skies Festival will feature a 70-metre swing, one of only seven in the world. The heart pumping experience involves leaping from a mountain’s edge and flying between canyon walls, taking in the views as you swoosh dramatically through the air. The Giant Swing will be open from 4pm to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday.
- Catch a movie under the stars at the Outdoor Cinema
Relive the classic movie-going magic at this new AlUla Outdoor Cinema experience. The family-friendly cinema will be full of fun, vintage-style touches, set amongst the backdrop of AlUla Studios. Sit back and enjoy a drive-in style movie experience throughout the AlUla Skies Festival.
- Fly high with AlUla Kites
From May 4th, hundreds of colourful kites will be taking to the air for a fabulous sky-themed celebrations. Watch in wonder as expert fliers sail and twirl their kites gracefully through the air, before trying out your own kite-flying skills
- Witness spectacular drone show in the AlUla skies
Prepare to be mesmerized by the cutting-edge drone shows at the AlUla Skies Festival. Watch as drones create dazzling displays of light and colour in the night sky, a one-of-a-kind visual spectacle. Watch the drone shows daily 7.45pm to 8.00pm throughout the festival.
- Marvel at the enchanting glow show
While anchored to the ground, dozens of hot air balloons will glow in a colourfully synchronized spectacle accompanied by atmospheric music. The glow shows will take place Thursday-Saturday during the festival from 8.00pm to 9.00pm.
- Go up the 45-meter ladder and swift down the zipline from AlUla stairway.
Go for a climb on the AlUla Stairway, the first of its kind in the region. Climb up a 45-metre suspended ladder, ascending AlUla’s majestic mountain, with an exhilarating 150-metre zipline back down to the valley floor.
In addition to these activities, visitors will have the option to choose from an array of food and beverage experiences. Whether it’s fine dining, casual eats, or local flavors, the restaurants available at AlUla will cater to different taste buds and preferences. Some of these F&B outlets are available permanently in AlUla like Entrecote, Asfar, Acme, Alfa’s Lounge along with other restaurants and cafes.
For more information on AlUla Skies Festival 2023, please visit the website here.
