Description

Complementary to our new book A Traveller's Guide to Saudi Arabia, this colour picture book brings the amazing sites of this elusive country to life. Recently opened for tourism, Saudi Arabia is a revelation for discerning travellers and intrepid explorers. This vast country has a wealth of hidden treasures. Much more than empty desert, its truly astonishing sights include ancient mud cities and archaeological sites, Neolithic rock art, towering mountain ridges and exotic oases. Off-limits to non-Muslims, the holy shrines of Islam have seen a never-ending stream of pilgrims over the centuries. The vast empty desert has a special enchantment: strange outcrops, whispering dunes and eerie canyons lie silent under luminescent starry nights. The people are very welcoming; many live in the ever-growing modern cities, in contrast to the Bedouin who cling to older traditions. Oman also has rich traditions laced by colourful markets, forts, castles and historic old cities. Sadly Yemen, one of the most traditional cultures, is off-limits - its amazing sights are the Arabia of our imagination. This pictorial guide aims to open a colourful window on the Arabian peninsula, a region steeped in history, much of it still waiting to be discovered.