Lecture by Hansjörg Franz: Through Saudi Arabia on a motorbike

Travelling through Saudi Arabia on a motorbike

On my trip, I travelled 12,000 kilometres in 10 weeks through Saudi Arabia, which is still largely unknown to tourists. I am completely overwhelmed by the diversity of the country and the hospitality of the people. I spend the first few weeks of my tour in the north-west of the country in the Tabuk region. The region consists of thousands of sandstone formations, rock labyrinths with ancient rock engravings, sandy canyons, stone cathedrals and hidden, green wadis.

In Al-Ula, I marvel at the monumental rock tombs of the Nabataeans, a trading culture from the 3rd century BC, and make my way to Medina, one of the holiest sites in Islam.

I continue south, past mysterious key tombs to the 14,000 kilometre Harrat Khaybar volcanic field, a stretch of land dotted with lava fields and volcanic craters.

In the southwest of the country, I finally see a completely different Saudi Arabia. In the province of Asir, green mountains up to 3000 metres high with lush vegetation and old mountain villages made of clay and stone await me.

To round off the trip, I will visit the 250 metre high dunes of the Rub-al-Khali, the largest sand desert in the world.

Date: 24.04.2025
Location: Going village hall
Time: 19:30 hrs