Medina & Khaybar

Medina (Madinah) is the second most holy city in the Islamic world. Anciently known as Yathrib, the city was renamed Medina by the Prophet Mohammad after he and his followers were welcomed following their flight from Mecca – an event known as the ‘Hijrah’. Pilgrims recreate this journey every year as part of the Hajj. Non-Muslims are now permitted to enter Medina’s central ‘Haram’ area where the main places of pilgrimage are located (but are not permitted to enter any mosques). Medina is rich in religious sites, but in terms of significance, none can equal the Masjid al-Nawabi (The Prophet’s Mosque) where the tombs of the prophet, as well as his daughter Fatima, and the first caliph Abu Bakr are to be found.

On leaving Medina to the north, visitors generally take one of three roads. The first of these is an extremely scenic mountain drive down to the Red Sea coast. T.E Lawrence fans and railway enthusiasts will find it hard to resist following the original route of the long defunct Hijaz Railway towards AlUla. At Al Buwayr, Hadiyah, and Al Mudarraj, rusting vintage trains and rolling stock lie abandoned in the desert. Another choice is to visit the ancient oasis of Khaybar or to explore the lava fields of the Harrat Khaybar – one of Saudi Arabia’s great natural wonders – and the location of hundreds of pre-historic and enigmatic mustatil. The fabulous volcanic lunar landscape of the Harrat Khaybar extends over some 14,000 square kilometres and is complete with scoria, cones, lava domes, maars, and basalt lava flows. The white-coloured volcanoes of Jabal Abiyadh and Jabal Baydah along with the nearby black cone of Jabal Qidr make an amazing spectacle.