AlUla Skies Festival returns this...

Night hikes, hot air balloon rides and after-dark adrenaline pursuits are part of the programme

One of Saudi Arabia’s most highly anticipated festivals will draw tourists to AlUla's skies this September.

The 11-day AlUla Skies Festival, starting 26 September 2024, will provide visitors with a chance to experience the ancient Oasis city from the air, taking in landmarks such as the glass-sided landmark concert hall Maraya, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra and Elephant Rock.

Up to 60 hot air balloons will take off at once and floating across the skies over AlUla. Visitors can choose between a tethered flight, which floats straight up, or an untethered flight, which drifts across the sky.

The tethered flights take off between 7am to 8.30am and last around 45 minutes, while the untethered flights set off between 4pm to 5.30pm and last up to 15 minutes.

Chopper enthusiasts can book AlUla Helicopter Tours for an alternative sky-high view. For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, tourists can marvel at the Hot Air Balloons Glow Shows, take part on in Stargazing and Astrophotography at Gharameel Nature Reserve, join Meditation Under the Sky sessions, or go on Night Hikes at Madakheel Reserve and Hidden Valley.

Drone shows are new to the programme this year, as are the adrenaline-inducing Night Giant Swing and AlUla Stairway at Night experiences that are certain to keep the heart-rate pumping. These experiences are the first of their kind in the region and feature a ladder suspended 45 metres in the air and a swing 85 metres above the ground.

For foodies, there's a luxurious Dining Experience Under the Stars featuring a gourmet menu inspired by the heavens, served picnic-style in the heart of the oasis.

Elsewhere, there will be an outdoor concert, with a top-tier headliner to be announced soon.

For more information, visit www.experiencealula.com

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