These are the best places to travel this summer

Northern Saudi Arabia

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Madain Saleh

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Overview

Northern Saudi Arabia is the region with the richest pre-Islamic sites in the entire country. While Madain Saleh will rightly continue to take all the headlines, with its Petra-like carved tombs in spectacular desert settings, the lesser-known town of Al Ula is also an impressive ode to ancient civilisations. It sits hemmed in by a forest of palms and stunning red cliffs.

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