Saudi Gazette report

THE Shada Mountains, the highest summit in Al-Baha province, features rare rocky formations that attract adventurists as well as amateurs from around the region.

Situated close to Al-Makhwah, a town about 800 kilometers southwest of Riyadh, the towering mountains surrounded by several villages add beauty to the scenic landscape of Al-Baha.

The famous mountain has two main portions — Shada Al-Asfal (Lower Shada) and Shada Al-Ala (Upper Shada), both 2,400 meters above sea level. In addition to its captivating beauty, the mountains feature environments that suit different sporting activities, including long-distance trekking, hiking and mountain biking. There are also several sites fit for picnicking and camping.

Al-Riyadh newspaper accompanied Zaher Al-Sheheri, director of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage's office in Al-Baha province during a visit to the mountains.

The Shada is also known for its biodiversity. There are many caves in the mountains with drawings and inscriptions engraved on their walls. Some the drawings, which date back to thousands of years, are of animals that have died out long ago while others resemble, according to local archeologists, animals found in North Africa and southern France. Some of the caves have inscriptions dating back to prehistoric periods.

The ancient village houses were built of granite stones while their interior walls were decorated with magnificent drawings engraved by skilled designers. Windows also have beautiful drawings and decorations.

Al-Shehri called on the authorities to complete the road infrastructure in the region so that tourists and visitors can easily reach the top of the mountains and enjoy the mesmerizing beauty and breathtaking views of the villages in the scenic valleys below.

People going up the summit will definitely spend time enjoying the picturesque view of the surrounding scenery. At the foot of the mountain, there are interesting monument carvings.

“One of the focused goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is to develop the tourism and national heritage sector. The Shada Mountains boast a unique environmental diversity and mind-blowing caves that can attract a large foreign number of tourists who are fond of the ancient inscriptions on the walls that point to various phases of human history. These mountains are considered a global tourist destination because of those engravings that go back to prehistoric periods and most probably to the cave man,” Al-Shehri explained, noting that the mountains will give biologists and anthropologists a great chance to explore the wildlife and biodiversity of the region.

As for the weather, it is mild in winter and warm in summer despite the fact that both mountains stand thousands of meters above the sea level.

The area is a nature reserve, which requires visitors to bring with them everything they need including water, since the nearest places services are available is 15 kilometers away in the town of Qalwah.

The tourism commission is planning to organize numerous adventurous sports, like mountain climbing, hang gliding and zip line, catering to all segments of society, according to Al-Shehri.

The SCTA will help farmers grow the well-known Shada coffee again and will even give them loans from the Agricultural Fund, he said.