Ski-Free Season: Winter Mountain Breaks in Saudi

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026 0

As Winter approaches and European peaks become dusted with snow, Saudi’s mountainous highlands are redefining what a winter escape can be. Frost-phobic travellers seeking crisp air and dramatic views without the winter chill can explore regions such as Aseer, Al Baha and Taif for their Alpine fix, each offering temperatures in mid-teens-to-twenties, perfect for outdoor adventure and authentic culture at high altitude.

Aseer welcomed around eight million visitors in 2024*, marking a near 49% rise in tourism** and signaling a new era for Saudi’s highland destinations. New infrastructure and hospitality investment are rapidly transforming the region, including an expanded airport [DE1] due to open by 2028 and multiple luxury resort developments.

Al Baha, a city perched in Saudi’s Sarawat Mountains is another highland destination to watch: Mantis Al Baha, a 100-room eco-luxury mountain resort featuring a spa, fine dining and an adventure park is currently under development, bringing a new level of sustainable sophistication.

Meanwhile, later in the season Taif’s famed Rose Festival returns in April 2026, filling the mountain air with the scent of millions of blooming Damask roses, drawing visitors for its flower carpets, artisan markets and perfume-making workshops. Just inland from Jeddah and the Saudi Red Sea shores, you can travel from white-sand beaches to lush mountain-scapes in just two hours.

Aseer: The Highlands of Culture and Cloud

Rising above 3,000 metres in the country’s southwest, Aseer has become one of Saudi’s most distinctive mountain destinations. Its mist-shrouded peaks, juniper forests and ancient stone villages are ideal for those seeking a slower, more soulful pace of travel. Visitors can explore the terraced heritage village of Rijal Almaa, known for its vividly painted Qatt art, or ride the cable car down to the hanging village of Al Habala, which clings to the cliffs below.

Trails through the Soudah highlands offer views across cloud-filled valleys, while clear winter nights are perfect for stargazing and mountain camping. If you’re lucky, you may even spot wolves or a family of baboons. The region’s surge in tourism comes following a multi-billion-riyal investment plan aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which includes plans for new developments, such as Soudah Peaks, as well as increased accommodation and infrastructure. Yet Aseer continues to retain a deep sense of heritage that captivates everyone who visits: during a trip to Saudi in 1999, King Charles III was inspired to paint “Overlooking Wadi Arkam” after visiting Aseer and described its shifting mountain light as among the most inspiring he had ever seen.

Al Baha: Forested Valleys and the New Face of Highland Luxury

Tucked between Aseer and Taif, Al Baha is an oasis city in the Sarawat mountains – home to pine-clad hills, hidden waterfalls and terraced farms. Often described as Saudi’s [DE2] most “European-feeling” region, its cool winter temperatures, remarkable biodiversity and peaceful forests make it an emerging favourite for nature-based travel. The nearby Shada Mountains meanwhile are home to cool caves inscribed with ancient markings, while Thee Ain – the striking village built is of polished volcanic stop, atop a white rocky outcrop which dates back to 10^th Century, offers a glimpse into centuries-old mountain life.

For nature lovers, Khairah Forest and Raghadan Park invite visitors to wander beneath shady canopies alive with birdsong. Twitchers will delight at sightings of Arabian Waxbills, Yemen Linets and Philby’s Partridges… and if you look closely, you may even spot a tiny Saudi Treefrog.

The coming years will see a new chapter for the region with the opening of the upcoming Mantis Al Baha, part of a global collection of eco-resorts known for their sustainable design and wildlife-inspired luxury. The resort will blend contemporary comfort with a strong sense of place, offering mountain trails, wellness treatments, and fine dining inspired by local ingredients – a fitting addition to a region long celebrated for its serenity and beauty.

Taif: Roses in Bloom and a Season of Celebration

Just a two-hour drive from Jeddah but a world away in terms of climate, Taif has been a mountain retreat for centuries, where orchards and rose gardens thrive on its cool plateaus. Every spring, in April the city bursts into colour for the Taif Rose Festival, when more than 900 farms from the surrounding valleys harvest the famous Damask rose. In 2026, the festival will once again fill Al Ruddaf Park with intricate floral carpets, rose sculptures and artisan workshops, while perfumers distil rose oil using traditional methods passed down for generations.

If you decide to hold off your trip until Summer, the annual Okaz festival is the definitive celebration of traditional Saudi culture. Taking place in July or August, the extravaganza includes a camel march, falconry and horse-riding displays, a poetry competition, as well as the opportunity to learn about and buy traditional Saudi handicrafts and gorge on local delicacies.

Beyond the festivities, Taif’s Al Shafa and Al Hada highlands are perfect for hiking, scenic drives and cable-car rides over the valleys below. You can visit local fruit farms or markets to sample locally produced honey, figs and pomegranates, or learn about the town’s history on trade and pilgrimage routes at Shubra Palace Museum, a former palace built by the Saudi royal family in distinctive Hijazi architecture 1904. It’s a softer, more fragrant take on the winter escape – where the scent of roses replaces the chill of snow.