Abha / Soudah Mountains/ Rijal Village

At 3,000 meters, perched on the side of Saudi Arabia’s highest mountain, the juniper-covered Soudah is the unofficial outdoor adventure capital of Saudi Arabia. With its network of hiking routes, part of the vast Aseer National Park is an area of cool mountain air, wild nature and mist-cloaked valleys. While hiking and guided camping trips are quintessential activities, this is also an area of ancient tribal culture — especially in the historic village of Rijal Almaa west of Soudah. Here, the annual Flower-man Festival showcases the culture of the indigenous Aseri tribe, including the men wearing flower wreaths as headpieces.