To escape the relentless stress, pressure, and information overload of modern life, there is nothing quite like hiking through the forests of a majestic mountain range, savoring never-ending vistas by day and camping under canopies of countless stars by night.
As if by magic, all thoughts of work and the future disappear. All that matters is the next step, the next view, and the next meal. Far from cell phone service and the internet, hikers discover a new connection—with themselves.
“Life today moves so fast that you can’t focus on anything,” says Abdulaziz Alnemer, a mountain guide from Saudi Arabia. “When you are in the mountains you focus only on what you are dealing with. You are forced to be in your mind, to focus on the now and to be at peace with yourself.”
Few mountains are as undiscovered as those of the Middle Eastern kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has only fully opened to international tourists in the last few years. Travelers who venture to the little-visited south and west of the country are coming home with stories of cloud-capped mountain ranges home to lush forests, Arabian leopards, and ruins carved out of the rocks by civilizations that vanished long ago.
Abdulaziz, who comes from the flat and arid region of eastern Saudi Arabia, says that discovering hiking in the mountains has given new meaning to his life.
“A lot of places are still unexplored in Saudi Arabia. You feel like the first person to go there.”
Abdulaziz Alnemer, founder, SIRU Adventures
A devotee of mountain trails from the West Coast of the US to the Alpine peaks of Switzerland, Abdulaziz is using all his experience to help travelers explore the mountain ranges and ancient sites of his home country. After quitting his day job in digital marketing, he founded one of the first licensed tour operators SIRU Adventures , which now employs hiking guides across the kingdom.
These guides are taking travelers from around the world on spectacular hikes through the country’s mountains and deserts, uncovering the histories, cultures, and customs of the people who live there.
“People are amazed by what they find,” Abdulaziz says. “Our country is teeming with wildlife and history, from rock art and tombs to the relics of historic trade routes and pilgrimage sites.”
With Saudi Arabia investing billions of dollars into tourism across the country, the kingdom’s mountains won’t be secret for long. The time to visit, Abdulaziz says, is now.
“Saudi Arabia is changing fast, but the mountains are unspoiled and ancient. When you hike these hills, you connect to something timeless. Our mountains give visitors a renewed sense of peace and energy.”
How did a young man from eastern Saudi Arabia discover mountain hiking?
I was born in a flat part of the country, near the coast and surrounded by sand dunes. I didn’t know the world of hiking existed until I moved to Arizona for university. I was feeling homesick and couldn’t connect easily with others, so I spent a lot of time alone. To fight depression, I started going to the mountains and fell in love with them. I kept going back for more. When I came back to work in Saudi Arabia, I always went hiking when I was on leave. I learned skills such as hiking in the snow, being alone for long periods in the mountains, and managing water and food. That gave me the confidence to launch my own hiking business.
What inspires you about hiking in Saudi Arabia?
The environment is incredibly diverse. The southern mountains are covered in thick juniper forests. They are the greenest places in the country, high up in the clouds. Elsewhere there is barren desert, where you can see for miles in every direction and where you can visit stunning rock tombs from hundreds of thousands of years ago. There are inscriptions from pilgrims and traveling merchants from a bygone age. It’s like traveling back in time, into a different world.
Tell us about the people who live in these parts of Saudi Arabia.
Our mountains are tough. That makes people more hospitable. When people lived in these places long ago, they would help one another. That’s built into the DNA of Saudis, because we have been living with this nature for thousands of years. When you are in the desert on your own, the first person you see will offer you help. Our guests from abroad are always amazed by the hospitality of the people. I tell them that our house has been closed for a long time and now it is open. So we want to take our guests to every room and show them everything we have. We are proud of our country and want to show it off.
What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
Quitting my job in 2018 was more difficult than finishing the Pacific Crest Trail. Everyone was against it. I was doing well at my job but I wasn’t happy. I knew I didn’t want to work in an office. It would not have been easy to leave before all the social changes in Saudi Arabia, but now we have many more options.
I think people should listen to themselves and try as many things as they can until they find what they enjoy. If you find that thing it will enrich your life
Published as branded content in Conde Nast Traveler.
