Madakhil Campsite at Madain Saleh is Far from the Madding Crowd

Madakhil campsite at Madain Saleh is far from the madding crowd. It’s a good retreat from the world and into the heart of the desert.

Two weekends ago, together with some colleagues from work, we went on a camping trip to Madain Saleh. We stayed at the fabulous Madakhil Campsite where it’s away from the madding crowd but very close of the natural, grand formations of sandstones and rocks that soar up the sky. These boulders look like sleeping giants that no dared to wake them up for centuries.

Madakhil Camp is close to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site at Madain Saleh. It’s a less than 15-minute drive to go there, crossing shortcut and off-the-beaten tracks in the desert. And oh, the views are breathtakingly stunning, too! It’s something you’d never expect in the desert.

Related Read: Things to do and see at Madain Saleh 

This is my second to be camping in the desert. My first was at Jordan’s Wadi Rum.

The campsite is surrounded by these solid landscape of sandstone beauty. 

If these towering rocks are forts, you’d be safe there. 

In the afternoon, everything around the camp turns gold. 

This camping tent for two people is neat and clean. 

The ones on the right are the tents for men and on the left are for women. 

Inside our tent, it looks like this. 

It is a comfy room to be in and the beds are soft, way softer than my bed right now. 

Don’t miss the sunrise and the sunset spectacle at the camp. You’ll be amazed. 

Before the sun goes down, ask the staff to guide you at the nearby hiking trail. 

Don’t forget to bring your hiking shoes that would last in the sandy and rocky trails. 

When you’re back from that little hiking excursion, gather around the big tent.

Everyone here mingles and relaxes with a cup of tea or a bowl of dates. 

And while the weather is cooling down, an outdoor bonfire is great, too! 

The staff here are friendly and nice. 

They’ll give you authentic Saudi hospitality to make your stay an unforgettable journey to remember. 

Madakhil Camp has a clean bathroom with cold and hot shower. I didn’t really expect this amenity as I am used to going camping with no hot water at all. The rooms are not air-conditioned but we went there on the last weekend of October, so the weather was great! It was a bit cool in the evening which was perfect for a light sweater. The moon shone brightly clear up there and the stars are, of course, visible anywhere.

I’d definitely recommend this desert camp for everything I’ve experienced here. For convenience, you should book here in advance. If camping in the desert is not your thing, you can always stay at Al Ula Arac Hotel downtown.