TELLBY
English
Activity

AlUla

Saudi Arabia

10 story sections

- Old Markets Tour

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Orientation

    Welcome to the historical heart of AlUla, a mesmerizing intersection of geological wonder, deep antiquity, and enduring human resilience located in the vast, arid expanses of the Arabian Peninsula. I am honored to act as your…

    Listen in the app
  2. 2The Incense Road Gateway

    We begin our scholarly exploration at the formal southern gateway of the Old Town, standing exactly where countless weary travelers, wealthy merchants, and devout pilgrims once stood after grueling weeks crossing the unforgiving…

    Listen in the app
  3. 3The Revitalized Main Street

    Having passed through the ancient gateway, we now find ourselves strolling down the primary commercial artery of what is affectionately known as the New Old Town. This bustling, vibrantly restored street presents a fascinating…

    Listen in the app
  4. 4The Labyrinth of Mudbrick Homes

    We now step away from the brightly lit, bustling thoroughfare of the revitalized street and cross a physical barrier into the deeply restricted, unrestored heart of the Old Old Town. The atmospheric shift is immediate, profound,…

    Listen in the app
  5. 5The Tantora Sundial

    Deep within the twisting, silent corridors of the unrestored mudbrick labyrinth, we arrive at a small, seemingly unassuming open plaza. At the center of this deliberately cleared space stands the Tantora, a simple, obelisk like…

    Listen in the app
  6. 6The Musa bin Nusayr Fort

    We now face the most physically demanding, yet intellectually rewarding, portion of our exploration within the Old Town. We are about to ascend the steep, unevenly carved stone stairways that wind their way up the sheer rock face…

    Listen in the app
  7. 7The AlUla Oasis Gateway

    Descending from the arid, windswept heights of the fort and carefully exiting the dusty, sun baked perimeter of the Old Town, we now walk eastward toward a profound environmental boundary. We are about to cross the threshold into…

    Listen in the app
  8. 8The Date Palm Canopy and Citrus Groves

    As we journey deeper into the shaded, tranquil heart of the AlUla Oasis along the Orange Trail, we are granted an intimate, scholarly view of the incredibly sophisticated agricultural mechanics that power this valley. What…

    Listen in the app
  9. 9The Abandoned Mudbrick Farmhouses

    Hidden deep within the dense, vibrant greenery of the agricultural groves, we stumble upon a fascinating and deeply evocative sight: the completely abandoned, crumbling ruins of ancient mudbrick farmhouses. These structures are…

    Listen in the app
  10. 10Closing

    As our walking trail gently leads us out of the dense, shaded canopy of the oasis and back toward the periphery of the modern world, it is time to pause and reflect upon the monumental, scholarly journey we have just undertaken.…

    Listen in the app

What is AlUla?

AlUla is a place in Saudi Arabia with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationSaudi Arabia
TypeActivity
Story sections10
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates26.6028, 37.9286
Last updated
Listen in the app