Located about 80 kilometers northeast of Jizan City is Jebel Qahar, a compact group of mountains with stunning peaks that rise 2,000 meters above sea level. But it isn’t the protected green massif with soft peaks alone that draws visitors to this location close to Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen; it is the breathtaking valley below, the jewel of Jizan Province: Wadi Lajab.
The narrow entrance to the valley welcomes visitors into a lush expanse of vast greenery, a valley with enchanting streams, rocks, wildlife, small waterfalls, and freshwater ponds with fish. Explore the area under the shade of big trees such as majestic palms reaching 30 meters in height.
According to popular website Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide, Wadi Lajab is in fact a canyon that stretches on for some 5 kilometers and can be between 3 to 30 kilometers wide depending where you are. Its steep sides can reach 300 meters in height and, wherever you are, you are sure to enjoy dramatic views.
Speaking earlier this year to Arab News, Rostom Al-Kubaisi, head of the Jizan branch of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), explained that the valley had recently been approved by the SCTH and the region’s Tourism Development Council as a tourist site where visitors can explore and practice rock climbing.
“Those who come to the valley can spend unforgettable moments enjoying the nature of the area and its unique geographical formations,” he said.
The news site also pointed out that the region where the valley is located gained popularity after Saudi history researcher Hadi Ali claimed it was the area where people lived in the Arabian Peninsula in ancient times.
“The valley is characterized by its vegetation, which turns the sides of the surrounding mountains into a green carpet. The coolness of its year-round flowing water is ensured by the 800-meter high sides of the mountain, which protect it from the direct sunlight,” he said.
