GUNUNG · Arab Saudi

Jabal Sawda

جبل السودة

Jabal Sawda (Al Soudah, ~3.015 m), titik tertinggi Arab Saudi di Pegunungan Asir dekat Abha. Photo: source

Information

Elevation: 3.015 m
Country: Arab Saudi (SA)
Location / Range: Pegunungan Asir (Sarawat), Provinsi Asir, dekat Abha, Arab Saudi barat daya
Mountain type: Puncak dataran tinggi Asir yang secara resmi diakui sebagai titik tertinggi Arab Saudi — tepi escarpment berhutan juniper di atas Kota Abha, kini pusat proyek wisata Soudah Peaks
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 18.2672, 42.3681
Difficulty: Menengah–menantang: jalur kuno menuruni/menaiki escarpment barat sepanjang ~14,5–15,4 km dengan tanjakan ~1.050 m; medan berbatu terbuka, sering berkabut
Best Season: Sepanjang tahun relatif sejuk (dataran tinggi); paling nyaman musim semi dan gugur — udara segar dan sering berselimut kabut
Permits & Rules: Umumnya bebas untuk pendakian jalur; kawasan wisata Al Soudah dengan kereta gantung (cable car) dan fasilitas; sebagian area dalam pengembangan proyek Soudah Peaks
Hazards: Kabut tebal dan jarak pandang rendah di tepi escarpment, tebing curam, medan batu lepas, dan perubahan cuaca cepat di ketinggian ~3.000 m

Description

Jabal Sawda (Jabal Soudah, ~3,015 m) is a broad mountain in the Asir Mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia's Asir Province, officially recognised by Saudi authorities as the country's highest point — though a 2018 survey measured about 2,999 m, marginally below Jabal Ferwa. It forms a dramatic escarpment edge separating the high plateau, where the city of Abha and Al Soudah village sit, from the Red Sea coastal plain to the southwest. Moist sea air rising along this cliff frequently shrouds the summit in dense cloud, nurturing juniper forest and creating an 'above the clouds' atmosphere that has made it one of the Kingdom's most popular nature destinations. Unusually for Saudi Arabia, Jabal Sawda has a genuine hiking trail: a centuries-old path descending the western escarpment, once used by traders linking the coast with the plateau before modern roads. The area now has a cable car to the top and forms the heart of the Soudah Peaks tourism megaproject announced in 2023.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Jalur Escarpment kuno — puncak Al Soudah menuruni/menaiki tebing barat

Menengah–menantang: ~14,5–15,4 km dengan tanjakan ~1.050 m; medan batu terbuka, tepi tebing, sering berkabut

Sekitar 6–7 jam (point-to-point/loop, tergantung varian)

Jabal Sawda's main route follows a centuries-old path descending the western escarpment from the Al Soudah summit — once used by traders to link the Red Sea coastal plain with the Asir plateau before modern roads. Running roughly 14.5–15.4 km with about 1,050 m of gain, it traces the steep cliff edge amid juniper forest with sweeping panoramas when the cloud lifts. Dense fog frequently cuts visibility along the escarpment edge, making navigation and caution important. A cable car from the Abha side also reaches the summit area, offering access for non-hiking visitors.

Route Segments

1

Puncak Al Soudah → tepi escarpment atas

⏱ 1–2 jam 3.015 mdpl

Titik tertinggi Arab Saudi; awal turunan menyusuri tebing barat, sering berkabut
2

Tepi escarpment → lereng tengah (hutan juniper)

⏱ 2–3 jam

Turunan/tanjakan curam di medan batu terbuka dengan hutan juniper
3

Lereng tengah → dasar jalur (arah dataran pesisir)

⏱ 2–3 jam

Bagian bawah jalur kuno; total tanjakan ~1.050 m untuk arah sebaliknya

Source

Climbing Experiences

Jabal Sawda (Al Soudah) above the city of Abha is one of Saudi Arabia's most popular nature destinations — a juniper-forested escarpment edge often wrapped in cloud, with an ancient trail descending the western cliff. The footage and write-ups below show real experiences at the summit, on the trail, and across the 'above the clouds' panorama.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.