Your guide to Khaybar and Tayma
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To continue your journey back in time further than Hegra, there are two more ancient cities that that visitors should add to their travel radar. Khaybar and Tayma are also cities that played a pivotal role in the civilisations that swelled along the Incense Route and the cultures that developed around them. Together with AlUla they form a triangular oasis and the world’s largest living museum of human prehistory, and are only just opening up to international visitors.
Unravelling Khaybar
Khaybar is an ancient oasis and market town of northwest Arabia located about three hours south of AlUla. Split across the volcanic landscape of Harrat Khaybar and the historic oasis rich with biodiversity and ‘wadis’ of freshwater springs, the landscape is one that has supported human life for centuries. From lava caves big enough for humans to walk through, with those in Umm Jirsan being one of the longest in Saudi Arabia, and prehistoric funerary structures nicknamed ‘Works of Old Men’, to black and white volcanic mountains, uncover the intriguing history of Khaybar.
Harrat Khaybar
Harrat Khaybar is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest lava fields, making up a craggy landscape of tunnels and tuffs. However, what makes the terrain evermore extraordinary is its two rare white volcanoes which get their appearance from the silica-rich sediments of comendite. Seen from air, they sit against a backdrop of black basalt volcanic rock, glistening under the sun and, along with a variety of craters, cones and caves, offering visitors entrancing scenery. Walking trails take visitors to the edge of the rare white volcanoes where they may camp overnight, under the open sky and bathe in 20 million years of natural history of the Earth.
Ain AlJammah and Hasat AlDabal
Ain AlJammah and Hasat AlDabal are the heart of the oasis at Khaybar. They nurtured wildlife, birds and native plants alongside the human civilizations that prospered around them. The biodiversity here offers a gateway to understanding the richness of the life that developed around the oasis. It supported one of the oldest human settlements in the Arabian Peninsula. To appreciate Ain AlJammah and Hasat AlDabal, the interactive Welcome Centre is the best starting point, followed by a tour of AIRawan Viewpoint and a self-guided walking or bike ride around the oasis trail which is surrounded by AlNizar Fort. This intersection of humanity, biodiversity and natural landscape that existed here, shaped the world we now live in.
Khaybar Old Town
Khaybar Old Town was the ground of a vibrant community of significant wealth, power and influence and its Suq was once considered one the 12 most vital markets in all of Arabia. The remains of this settlement, which was continuously inhabited until the 1980s, was protected by a fortress that dates back to around 600 C.E. The oasis also supported life outside the fortress. It was an important resting spot for pilgrims, from all over the world, on route to Mecca who stopped here for water and respite.
See Khaybar for yourself
Appreciating this monumental volcanic landscape by air is highly recommended. For it’s near-impossible to cover it all by road. Visitors can take to the skies on a helicopter ride over its black and white lava fields and admire the the craggy landscape and begin to appreciate the scale of this historic landscape. For a slower and more scenic experience you may opt for a tethered hot air balloon over Khaybar to capture its rugged beauty. If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, and immerse yourself in the natural history, then stay in Khaybar’s campsites at the edge of its volcanic sites to enjoy a more modern nomadic lifestyle.
Uncovering Tayma
Tayma’s oasis and lake connected ancient Arabia to Egypt and Mesopotamia from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean and even further beyond. Its location between the Hijaz Mountains and the Great Nefud desert saw it enjoy great cycles of power, prestige and influence. Nabonidus, the last native king of Babylon, lived here in mid 6 B.C.E. for a decade. Tayma’s wealth of archaeological sites and cultural heritage are still being understood and hold clues as to how societies in the region developed over a very long period of time. This key location is rich with clues as to how relationships with other communities were nurtured across the Arabian Peninsula.
The ancient temple of Salm
The 3,000-year-old temple of Salm complex, from the Iron Age, was uncovered at Tayma in the 1970s. Salm was the deity that the people of Tayma are believed to have worshipped and this site is thought to have been the centre of worship. Explore the ancient building, which is split into living quarters and the other for worship, for a fascinating snapshot of the everyday life of those who called Tayma home for centuries. See the ancient ruins of the temple, recalling the stories of the people who worshipped within it. The palaleolake here is 8,000 years old and would have attracted diverse wildlife and supported agriculture around it.
Bir Haddaj
Bir Haddaj, which translates to Haddaj well, dates to around 5 B.C.E. and is, at 65 metres wide and 13 metres deep, the largest well found in Arabia. It used camels to power the pulleys around it to draw water which then irrigated the surrounding area. Whilst the well is categoric evidence of the hydraulic knowledge that existed at the time, what it also suggests is a complex culture and community that flouished around the oasis in Tayma. Visit Bir Haddaj to experience the historic setting of the well which is mentioned in the Bible: “The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they met with their bread him that fled.” (Isa 21:14.7)
Souq Alnajm
Souq AlNajm was a marketplace along the incense route. Today, visitors can relive the experience of this hub where local artisans trade good crafted by hand and continue the customs of their ancestors. Browse Souq Alnajm and find the perfect reminder of life in Tayma. For an altogether more modern experience elevated shopping, gourmet dining are also scattered across the Suq. Local rawis (expert local guides) are readily available to retell the stories of Tayma, its lake and oasis. Hear the enchanting tales of life around the oasis and how it continued to regenerate life, culture and the landscape.
Qasr Ibn Rumman
Qasr Ibn Rumman is a castle that served both as a workplace and home for the Governor of Tayma. Originally built in the 1700s and modified later between 1916-1919. Sitting close to Bir Haddaj, its traditional Arabic architecture is a reminder of the more recent history of Tayma. For visitors in the 21st century hoping to relive life within the castle’s walls, an immersive, open-air exhibition brings the stories within the castle back to life.
See Tayma for yourself
There are many ways that visitors can enjoy Tayma. Self-driving is a popular option but frequent shuttles and cars also operate from AlUla and carry visitors to all its sites, several times a day. If you require the services of a Rawi to complete your experience, they will be provided and join your trip. Furthermore, visitors to Tayma can also join a hop-on-hop-off bus which connects the four main sites. Heritage tours of Tayma can also be organised via hotels or booked online.