Faisal's finger camping site, riyadh, saudi arabia.

Saudi Arabia is probably not the destination that would come to one's mind when thinking of tourism or adventure, but it is one of the most globally mysterious countries that is under-explored. Each of its major cities has its own subculture and character, that so far, I've only barely began to discover and experience, even though I lived in Dammam most of my life, in Jeddah for over a year, and in Riyadh for a few months.

I was lucky to have the chance to explore Riyadh, thanks to some awesome people (you know who you are!), and have come up with this list of things you can do when in the area (and it's not too hot!):

Trekking in Edge of the World

A day trip to the Edge of the World is definitely better than spending your day at the mall... Leave the confinements of the city, and escape to this open space for a breathtaking scenery. Have a quick look in the video below:

A quick google search on Edge of the World will give you abundant information and images of the place and how to get to it, and this article by Blue Abaya is a good start: Guide to The Edge of The World.

Desert Camping

Basically, going out to the desert is most of what you can do as an adventure around Riyadh, so if you feel like *upping* the game, why not camp out! Sleeping under the stars, in that serene environment, is sure to lift your spirits. Check out my Facebook Albums here and here for more photos!

There are various camping locations that you can go for; some are commercially established camps that you can rent for the weekend, or you can choose to get your own equipment and set your own camp somewhere secluded.

Aerial Tour Across Thumama Desert

I bet you didn't know that, while women are not allowed to drive in Saudi, they can get a flying licence! One of the places you can do that is in Land & Space Aviation School (www.lnsas.com).

While you may not be keen on getting a licence, you can still go check out the awesome plane collection they have, and take an aerial tour over the Thumama desert, or go for paramoure, trike, etc. You can find details and more photos of the school in my Facebook album here.

City Trips

If you do want to enjoy your time without having to leave the city, there are some attractions worth visiting, if you just want to look at interesting things or know more about the history of Riyadh, such as The National Museum of Saudi Arabia:

Check out more history about Riyadh in a visit to AlMasmak:

Or go for a drive around Wadi Hanifa:

Regardless of what you choose to do around Riyadh and where to go, one thing is certain, your experience depends on the people you surround yourself with... So get yourself with a couple of interesting people, and every day can be an adventure!

Have you been to any of those places in Riyadh or have other interesting suggestions?! Let me know in the comments so I can put it in my plan!