Located out in the desert sixty miles northwest of the Saudi Arabian capital city of Riyadh is the incredible Edge of the World also known as Jebel Fihrayn which is a 1131 metre high cliff along the five hundred mile long Tuwaik Mountain Range. It is somewhere that I remember seeing a few years ago whilst scrolling through social media and I always wanted to visit but never thought that I would ever get the opportunity. Well earlier this month it finally happened when I found myself in Riyadh for work so I knew that I had to firmly grab this amazing opportunity with both hands and finally visit after waiting for so long.

Now that I have visited the amazing Edge of the World in Saudi Arabia, I have written this blog and travel guide and tried to include everything that you need to know before your visit as well as all up to date information as of 2025, advice, photos, tips and tricks to help you make the most of your trip and make it an unforgettable experience.

When to Visit the Edge of the World

Whilst the Edge of the World can be visited all year round, the absolute best time to visit is during the cooler winter months from October to March as the temperatures are very comfortable which will allow you to enjoy your time there. Try to avoid visiting during the hot summer months when the temperatures will be extremely high (it would feel like being in an oven) as there is absolutely no shade from the hot sun out in the desert making it very difficult to enjoy and impossible to hike between each of the viewpoints.

It is also best to visit on a weekday as it will be much quieter and less crowded than on a weekend which in Saudi Arabia is on a Friday and Saturday. I visited the Edge of the World on a Monday afternoon during the first week of April and it was peaceful and perfect. The temperature was pleasant (it was warm but not too hot) and we nearly had the entire place to ourselves as there was only one other car there that day.

How to Get to the Edge of the World

Whilst it is possible to visit the Edge of the World by yourself by renting a car, I believe the best way to visit is by booking a private tour with your own driver which myself and my colleagues did. Whilst I am usually someone who says to rent a car and drive yourself everywhere you go and to avoid tours, this is not one of those times and there is no public transport available to get there either. The Edge of the World is located far from the main roads out in the remote desert so a 4×4 vehicle is essential as the journey out there includes a lot of off-roading on unmarked, rocky and uneven dirt roads making it a very challenging drive where it is very easy to get lost.

The drive from Riyadh to the Edge of the World will take approximately two hours depending on traffic conditions and having a driver who is knowledgeable, experienced and knows the area (especially the desert) well will allow you to sit back, relax and enjoy the view all around you as someone else deals with the tough terrain.

Sunrise or Sunset at the Edge of the World

The best time to visit the Edge of the World is in the afternoon for sunset as the light as this time of the day is absolutely perfect as the cliffs start to turn the most wonderful warm orange colour as the sun goes down which you would not get at sunrise as the sun would be hidden behind them. Also by visiting in the afternoon, you can then join in with the stargazing after dinner once all the lights at the camp are turned off and seeing a sky full of stars in the middle of the desert is a memory I do not think I will ever forget.

What Edge of the World Tour Did I Book

Along with my colleagues, we booked a private tour (which was recommended to us) for six people to the Edge of the World through Viator and Riyadh Hiking which included the journey to and from Riyadh (along with being picked up and dropped off back at our hotel so we did not need to travel to a different meeting point on the other side of the city) along with snacks as well as dinner out in the desert. We were picked up at our hotel by our incredible driver Ahmed (who knew all of the best photo spots as well as being a great photographer) at 2:30pm and had the most wonderful afternoon and evening before arriving back just after 8:30pm.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Edge of the World

Whilst there is no entrance fee to visit the Edge of the World itself, you will obviously need to pay for your tour to get you there which can vary depending on whether it is a private or group tour as well as if dinner is included or not. Our private tour for six people worked out to £53 each.

Visiting the Viewpoints at the Edge of the World

Once you arrive at the Edge of the World after a long and very bumpy drive, the view from where the car is parked is incredible but that is nothing compared to what is to come. The short “hikes” between the various viewpoints are easy albeit a little rocky and as it was so quiet the day that we visited, we could take our time and not rush as there were no crowds of people waiting at any of the most popular photo spots.

It really does feel like you are standing at the edge of another world as the breathtaking and uninterrupted view stretches all the way across the endless horizon and the vast desert in front of you as far as your eyes can see. It was peaceful, perfect and it really was like something from a dream or a movie as it did not seem real especially as the sun started to set. I took so many photos of the different views although pictures really do not do the view justice at all as you cannot even begin to imagine the gigantic scale of it all until you have seen it in person.

How to Dress When Visiting the Edge of the World

The one thing I was very conscious of before visiting Saudi Arabia was what to wear when I was there. Even though as a female tourist you are no longer required to cover your hair or wear an abaya (though you can if you choose to), you should wear loose fitting clothing that covers knees, shoulders as well as the tops of your arms. I wore linen trousers and a long-sleeved black jumper along with trainers which I found to be very comfortable especially as you will be hiking between the various viewpoints. I also wore similar clothes when I was in Riyadh itself and I did not feel like I was standing out at all which I thought would happen before I visited. The most important thing I found when visiting Saudi Arabia is just to be very respectful and dress modestly and then you will have no worries at all.

What to Bring to the Edge of the World

As you will be walking and climbing up various trails to get to the different viewpoints, make sure to wear comfortable and supportive shoes such as trainers as you will need them as the ground is uneven, rough and rocky. Shoes with grip are essential and you will struggle if you are wearing sandals or flip flops.

Also make sure to wear sunscreen with a high SPF and sunglasses and bring a hat with you as there is no shade at all from the sun at the Edge of the World.

If visiting during the winter months, make sure to bring something warm to wear with you as the temperature in the desert will drop significantly once the sun goes down.

Remember to bring your camera or phone with you along with a powerbank, spare batteries or extra memory cards as you will take so many photos whilst you are there!

Also bring a bottle of water with you along with any snacks that you want for the long drive – our driver even stopped at a petrol station on the way so we could stock up!

Other Information to Know When Visiting the Edge of the World

Whilst at the Edge of the World itself, there are no toilets available (you are in the middle of nowhere) however there was several places where we could stop on the way there and on the way back if we needed to go – and yes they were normal toilets and were also spotlessly clean.

There are no fences at the Edge of the World (and it is a long way down) so be careful whilst you are there and listen to any instructions that your guide gives you especially if you are unsteady on your feet and remember to keep an eye on any children that you have with you.

Once the sun had set one of the guides had set up a camp complete with fairy lights ready for our dinner. Despite marking on our booking that I was vegetarian, the only food that was available was Chicken Kabsa (traditional Saudi Arabian Chicken and Rice) which I could not eat so if you have any dietary needs, make sure to bring some extra snacks with you. Thankfully I had eaten before we left the hotel so I was not feeling too hungry but I did have to go out and get food as soon as we got back to Riyadh that night as I was starving by that point.

As Saudi Arabia is a dry country, no alcohol is served during dinner but there was plenty of tea, Arabic Coffee, water and soda.

We had mobile data for almost our entire afternoon and evening at the Edge of the World and only lost signal for a few minutes as we were driving through the desert.

If you need to access mobile data whilst visiting Saudi Arabia, you can purchase a travel E-Sim through Airalo. If you would like to use my referral code NIKKI8866 when signing up, you will receive £2.50 / US$3 off your first purchase.

Make sure to take any rubbish with you as I saw so many discarded water bottles when we were there. Remember to take only photographs and leave only footprints.

I truly loved my very first visit to Saudi Arabia and was so happy that I could visit the Edge of the World whilst I was there. It really was one of the most incredible views that I have ever seen and a world away from the skyscrapers, hotels and shopping malls in Riyadh and there is nowhere else on earth like it – I can definitely see why it is the most popular things to do when visiting the city.

A few years ago I never thought I would ever get to visit Saudi Arabia and now I am already looking forward to going back again one day in the future – I have so much more that I want to see!

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