When temperatures drop across the Kingdom, the Al Shafa highlands rise up the list of places to go. Above two thousand metres, morning mist wraps the mountains and the winding roads between farming terraces become a landscape unlike anything else in the peninsula.
What to do
- The road itself: the climb from Taif to Al Shafa is a trip in its own right, with lookouts over valleys and hillside villages.
- Local markets: Al Shafa honey, seasonal fruit and handicrafts.
- Mountain cafés: tea and coffee at viewpoints in the mountain cold.
- The farms: in season, strawberry and berry farms open to visitors.
What you need
Proper winter clothing — the gap between Taif and Al Shafa can be several degrees, and evenings are much colder than midday — and a car in good shape for the mountain road.
Where to stay
Shafa Road sits on the road up to the highlands, in the quiet Al-Sadad district, four minutes from Al Ruddaf Park. A room with a private balcony for a cold morning and a coffee, a jacuzzi studio after a day in the mountains, or a two-bedroom suite for a family. Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:30 before you set off.
Request a booking at Shafa Road for your winter break.