Ta'if

A summer retreat in the Hejaz Mountains, famed for its rose gardens and rose oil distilleries, where the Al Hada mountain road, the Al Shafa highlands and the ancient Souq Okaz reveal a different side of the Arabian Peninsula.

Taif lies in Makkah Province in western Saudi Arabia, on a plateau about 1,700–2,000 m above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Hejaz Mountains, some 90 km from Mecca. Thanks to its cool highland climate, it has long been a summer retreat for residents of Mecca and Jeddah, with summer temperatures more than ten degrees lower than on the coast, and the Saudi royal family once kept a summer palace here. Taif is also famous for its roses: during the rose season in Mar–Apr, more than a thousand farms on the city's outskirts harvest Damask roses, which are distilled into precious Taif rose oil. Sightseeing falls into three areas: in the city, Shubra Palace (the regional museum), the Abdullah ibn Abbas Mosque and the old markets around it, and historic buildings such as the Kaki House; to the northwest, Al Hada Mountain, Taif's signature landscape, where a road winds along the cliffs toward Mecca, with viewpoints, rose farms and a cable car down to Al Kar resort at the summit, and baboons are often seen; and about 30 km south, the higher Al Shafa highlands (above about 2,200 m), with orchards, terraced fields and mountain resorts. About 40 km northeast, Souq Okaz was the site of pre-Islamic Arabic poetry gatherings and hosts a cultural festival in summer. Southeast of the city, Al Rudaf Park is known for its unusual granite rock formations. The best times to visit are the Mar–Apr rose season and the Jun–Sep summer escape season; winter nights are fairly cold. Getting there: Taif Airport has flights to and from Riyadh and other cities, and it's about a 2-hour drive from Jeddah. Sights in the city are spread out, so renting or hiring a car is recommended. Note: non-Muslims may not enter the restricted area of Mecca, so from Jeddah you must take the road that bypasses Mecca; dress conservatively when visiting mosques, and women must cover up. Plan to stay 2 days.

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