An Unforgettable Day Trip to Saudi Arabia’s “Grand Canyon”: The Edge of The World, Riyadh

Introduction

Jebel Fihrayn is Saudi Arabia’s incredible Grand Canyon, also known affectionately as ‘The Edge of the World’ amongst locals and beguiled visitors. This dramatic geological wonder is part of the Tuwaiq escarpment which stretches for over 600 km and is best accessed from Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh.

Its 300 metre high cliffs rise dramatically from the desert, which in actual fact was once a thriving seabed. From atop this sheer wall of rock, you’ll have uninterrupted views of the horizon, whilst keen spotters will see goats and their shepherds, camels traversing an ancient caravan route and the paths of winding dried rivers below. This remarkable escarpment splits the country of Saudi Arabia into roughly two geological zones: sand to the east and mountains to the west.

I visited The Edge of the World as part of my 5 day ultimate ‘best of’ Saudi Arabia trip, which you can read to help plan your itinerary! Don’t forget to visit the soon to be opened Al Turaif ancient palace in Diriyah while you’re in Riyadh. This was once the remarkable home of the first Saudi Arabian royal family.

Where is the Edge of the World?

The Edge of the World is located roughly 150km north east of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The drive will take approximately 2-2.5 hours. All departures leave from Riyadh. You’ll eventually find yourself driving by some of the highest and longest stretching powerlines in the world which roughly delineate the escarpment edge.

How to get there

Visitors have two options to reach The Edge of The World: self drive or private tour.

Self-Drive

If you are going to plan your own itinerary and hire a car, best make it a 4×4. The terrain is unforgiving and Saudi Arabia is largely underdeveloped in rural areas. I’d also plan to go in tandem with another vehicle for safety and ensure your GPS is working well prior to heading off. (NB: the Google maps route is poorly sign posted). Make sure you have a spare tyre as there’s a high chance you could hit a pothole or sharp rock!

Private or Group Tour

I’d highly recommend going by private or group tour for 4 reasons:

1. The roads to the Edge of The World are rough and if not careful or experienced, can lead to catastrophic consequences (sadly including a very recent fatality). Particularly at night time, visibility is limited to a few metres ahead and there is no signage to indicate the impending cliff face just a few metres away from your car. Be very careful if you choose to self-drive.
2. Investing into local tourism is a great way to assist Saudi Arabia in its endeavours to become more visitor-friendly and promote the country to the world.
3. Local guides will also show you some incredible hiking trails that you may otherwise miss.
4. Finally, most private tours will surprise you with a traditional mezze platter, including dates and Arabic tea, while rolling out a red carpet for you and some comfortable desert seats at sunset. You can’t beat this!

Which ‘Edge’ should I go to?

In general terms, there are two major ‘edges’ which tourists can visit.

Edge 1 (via Acacia Valley or Sadus Dam)

The most iconic ‘Edge 1’ is only open to the public on weekends and displays a dramatic narrow ridge of rock that projects out into the desert below, with incredible 360 degree views. This the famous Instagram spot which many tourists line up for, with 20 or so visitors cramming onto the last segment of rock at any one time (NB: there are no barriers so assess the situation before stepping onto this spot!). For sheer remarkability, Edge 1 has the wow factor, with its pillars projecting out boldly into the desert along a thin ridge. Sadly I visited midweek so the road to Edge 1 was closed but I have kindly received photos of this magical spot by Matthew Starling Photography.

Edge 2

Another reason why you should go with a guide is if you find yourself wanting to see The Edge of The World on a weekday! Most of the main routes are closed and we found ourselves at a few roadblocks in Riyadh before our savvy driver revealed another back route that could take us there.

Edge 2 is slightly south of Edge 1 and is absolutely marvellous. Not having seen the famous Edge 1 but having heard about it, I can say that this was much less populated and a more private experience, with more pathways and hikes to explore. Our guide also took us to a few viewpoints, rather than just the traditional one stop shop at Edge 1. It was also great for photos, with way less people vying for space.

Is it dangerous?

As mentioned above, The Edge of The World can be extremely dangerous if traversing its landscape as a novice. For this reason, I’d highly recommend going with an expert guide from a registered tour company who is intimately familiar with the ‘paths’ around the cliff edge. I had full faith in our guide and he took us to some spectacular viewpoints. We only encountered one other tourist and guide during our few hours of hiking and exploring. Note that we went to ‘Edge 2’, the lesser visited but larger and more remote of the two main viewing platforms.

What to expect

Fossils! Seashells! Seabed relics! Coral! Wildlife! Sheer cliff faces!

The previous life and vitality of this incredible region is on full display as you walk amongst the paths and various hiking trails along the escarpment. Just take a moment to peer down and you’ll find all manner of shells and coral that would otherwise go crunch underfoot unnoticed.

With a private tour of Edge 2, expect to be taken on some exclusive and personal tracks with minimal fuss from other tourists!

Cap this all off with a stunning sunset, complete with an Arabian picnic and coffee and you’ll want to look at the pastel pink and purple horizon forever.