ThePlace: Saudi Arabia's Wadi Lajab

The valley is about 80 km northeast of Jazan and is 2,000 meters above sea level. (Shutterstock)

Wadi Lajab, northeast of Jazan city, has been described as “heaven in the desert” because of its majestic beauty.
Access is through a pass on the eastern side of the Qahr mountain. After 3 km the pass gradually widens to 30 meters, and Wadi Lajab appears between the two high, rocky peaks.
At the entrance to the valley, visitors are greeted by a dense, verdant area with streams, small waterfalls and freshwater ponds.
Palm trees dot the valley and the fresh water found there is more reliable than in any other valley in Saudi Arabia.
Adventurous souls will find the area has many activities to offer, including rock climbing, hiking and fishing.
Caves and jagged mountain peaks are waiting to be explored, and visitors can also enjoy unforgettable views of the surrounding landscape.
Researchers believe the site was home to some of the Arabian Peninsula’s earliest inhabitants, while one legend claims that Majnun from “Layla and Majnun” — the famous tale of a 7th-century Bedouin poet — came from Wadi Lajab.
The valley is about 80 km northeast of Jazan and is 2,000 meters above sea level.