While temperatures in many Saudi cities approach 40 degrees Celsius during summer, the highlands of Asir offer a completely different experience: fog passing between houses, sudden rain, hailstones sometimes covering the roads, farms producing fruit and coffee, and apiaries offering various types of mountain honey.

Al Soudah, Al Namas, and Abha top the list of the most prominent and highest inhabited tourist destinations in the Kingdom, with altitude varying from one location to another within each destination; cities and parks extend over the peaks and slopes of the Sarawat Mountains.

Summer at 3,000 Meters Altitude

Al Soudah is located about 20 kilometers from Abha, and its highest peaks reach approximately 3,015 meters above sea level, making it the highest mountain tourist destination in Saudi Arabia. Juniper trees cover large parts of it, while slopes sometimes disappear behind low clouds and thick fog.

The Al Soudah experience is not limited to the cool weather; visitors can enjoy mountain overlooks, hiking trails, and views of Tihama villages from above, in addition to tasting honey, ghee, local bread, coffee, and Asiri farm products. Seasonal fruit trees and apiaries thrive in the region's highlands, benefiting from rainfall and diverse vegetation.

The City of Fog and Fruit

At an altitude ranging between 2,200 and 2,700 meters, Al Namas sits atop the Sarawat Mountains north of Abha, overlooking the Tihama plains from steep cliff edges. The city is known for its moderate summer climate, widespread fog and rain, and nighttime temperatures that can drop to around 15 degrees Celsius at times.

Among its most notable sites are the Fog Walkway, which rises over 2,400 meters, along with Jabal Murir, parks, forests, and ancient stone villages. The province's farms produce varieties of grapes, figs, pomegranates, plums, and apricots, as well as grains and honey, turning a visit into a journey through nature, markets, and rural products.

The Capital of Saudi Summer

Abha sits at an altitude of about 2,200 meters above sea level and is the largest and most famous mountain tourist city in the Kingdom, with hotels, restaurants, parks, markets, and an airport connecting it to several cities. Its most notable sites include the Fog Walkway, the Green Mountain, Al Soudah, Asir National Park, and surrounding heritage villages.

Asir's summer of 2026 will bring new experiences including the 'Housak' adventure center, the 'Sawt Abha' festival, a zone for following the 2026 World Cup matches, in addition to concerts and cultural, artistic, sports, and family events. The season's experiences run from June to September, taking advantage of the region's climate, where average temperatures in August do not exceed about 24 to 25 degrees Celsius.

Thus, the three destinations offer a rare equation in the Saudi summer: mountains and clouds and hail, coffee and fruit and honey, at altitudes that bring visitors closer to the sky and farther from the heat of the cities.