With the mid-year school break approaching, and the search for ways to spend these short winter holidays with your children, you can try hiking trips, which have become a trend in green tourism around the world.
Hiking trips and their environmental benefits
Hiking is a fun sport that connects with nature, making it a great way to spread environmental awareness, appreciate wildlife, and protect and save the land from urban expansion and deforestation.
It also supports local communities and eco-tourism that aims to reduce pollution and harmful emissions, reduce the carbon footprint of travel, reduce noise and light pollution, and preserve ecosystems.
Hiking trips are a great opportunity to teach children how to develop sustainable habits such as recycling, composting, planting trees, and taking an interest in environmentally friendly activities such as exploring and connecting with nature, bird watching, stargazing, and mountain climbing.
The winter holiday season is perhaps the perfect time to take a break from the busy life and breathe some fresh air amidst the sandstone labyrinths, colorful hills and valleys. Fortunately, the Arab region offers plenty of mountain hiking trails, suitable for all fitness levels.
Al-Ula Mountains in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A journey through time to discover the breathtaking desert landscapes and diverse wildlife that Al-Ula’s nature embraces.
Al-Ula Mountain trail is located between two parallel valleys, offering panoramic views of mountains, volcanic rocks and historical petroglyphs.
Hiking trips are available inside Al-Ula Mountain during the early morning with sunrise, or in the afternoon to watch the sunset at the end of the adventure.
Ras Shetan in the Arab Republic of Egypt
Ras Shetan is located between Nuweiba and Taba cities in South Sinai Governorate, inside the Sinai Desert, which is characterized by its picturesque natural scenery, and walking paths on the Red Sea and its turquoise waters.
It's a trip for nature and meditation lovers, with the possibility of spending the night in a hut on the beach or on one of the hills overlooking the sea to enjoy the magic of nature away from the pressures of daily life.
Rum Valley in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
If you are a movie lover, this trip is definitely the best choice for you. Wadi Rum has witnessed the filming of a number of Hollywood movies, including the American science fiction movie “The Martian.”
The valley is also known as the "Valley of the Moon" because its terrain resembles that of the moon, and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The valley's ancient hiking trails or "Bedouin routes" combine adventure and history amidst a diverse desert terrain; including narrow canyons, natural arches, towering cliffs and steep roads.
Maliha Desert in the United Arab Emirates
The Mleiha area is located about 65 km southeast of the city of Sharjah, and is considered one of the most important archaeological and cultural areas in the country.
It contains many wonderful artifacts in the Mleiha Archaeological Center, and offers a different experience for hiking lovers as it includes a large walking path among the fossil rocks, with a climbing wall and the opportunity to ride sand bikes in the sand dunes.
Wahiba Sands in the Sultanate of Oman
Located in the east of the Sultanate, Wahiba Sands is one of the best hiking spots in the region
where sand dunes are transformed into walking trails with Bedouin tribes, and you can enjoy a hiking adventure with stargazing and dune climbing, amidst a variety of terrains, plants and wildlife within the desert.
