Al Awjām

Day Trips

Begin with a scenic coastal drive from Dammam to Al Awjam, admiring azure gulf waters and swaying date palms. Check in at a local guesthouse adorned with traditional architecture where welcoming hosts offer fragrant Arabic coffee. Take an orientation walk around the neighborhood to absorb the first glimpses of village life and coastal vistas.

Visit the community center to meet local artists and learn about regional crafts such as pottery and weaving. Sample refreshing Saudi coffee and succulent dates on a shaded terrace overlooking the sea. Wander through cobbled lanes as vendors display vibrant textiles and handmade souvenirs.

Enjoy a sunset stroll along the waterfront promenade as fishing boats return laden with the day’s catch. Dine at a seaside terrace restaurant serving freshly caught fish with spiced rice and seasonal salads. Relax under star-studded skies as palm fronds rustle in the gentle breeze.

Set off on a guided walking tour through Al Awjam’s historic quarter to admire mud-brick houses with coral stone accents. Photograph intricately carved wooden doors and winding alleyways bursting with bougainvillea blooms. Feel transported back in time by the atmosphere of narrow lanes and simple desert charm.

Meet a local historian at an ancestral house-turned-museum and uncover stories of pearl divers and caravan traders. Savor a lunch of saffron-infused lamb kabsa served on a communal platter. Participate in a hands-on calligraphy workshop to learn the basics of elegant Arabic script.

Attend an intimate poetry recital under lantern light in a secluded courtyard. Taste sweet rosewater desserts and piping hot cardamom tea served in delicate porcelain cups. Mingle with residents as they share tales of ancient maritime routes and cultural traditions.

Cycle through lush date palm groves at dawn while birdsong fills the air and sunlight filters through fronds. Join farmers to harvest plump Khistawi and SAGAY date varieties, marveling at their sweet aroma. Learn about age-old irrigation channels that sustain this thriving oasis.

Enjoy a picnic beneath palm fronds with freshly baked khobz, creamy labneh and garden-fresh vegetables. Visit a working farm to press sugar cane juice by hand and sample its refreshing tang. Explore a fragrant herb garden where mint, za’atar and basil flourish in neat rows.

Take part in an outdoor cooking session over a charcoal pit, grilling kebabs and flatbreads together with local chefs. Sample crisp salads tossed in tangy sumac and olive oil. Relax by lantern-lit tables as farm workers share falconry stories and desert legends.

Depart before sunrise in a 4x4 for an exhilarating dune-bashing adventure across the golden sands of the Rub’ al Khali’s fringes. Watch the desert landscape transform as dawn breaks, casting long shadows on the dunes. Spot signs of wildlife, from gazelle tracks to desert fox dens.

Pause at a hidden desert oasis to sip mint tea under a date palm and watch camels grazing nearby. Try sand boarding on a steep dune for an adrenaline-packed slide down golden slopes. Relish a picnic lunch of shawarma wraps, fresh dates and cooling laban.

Settle into a traditional Bedouin jaima camp under a vast desert sky dotted with countless stars. Feast on slow-cooked lamb stew served in communal platters around a crackling fire. Drift to sleep lulled by soft desert winds and stories recounted by a desert storyteller.

Return to Al Awjam for a traditional dress workshop and try on thobes and abayas embroidered with regional patterns. Learn from local tailors about the symbolism behind each colorful stitch and motif. Pose for photos in period-style attire while listening to tales of Gulf heritage.

Attend a music session featuring the melodic oud and rhythmic tabla under a shaded pavilion. Practice simple folk melodies with veteran musicians and join in a communal drum circle. Savor a lunch of spicy samboosa, date syrup, and refreshing tamarind juice.

Enjoy a lively folk dance performance in a lantern-lit courtyard as elders clap along to the beat. Taste warm halwa and saffron-infused tea served on low wooden trays. Join in the dance floor to experience jubilant steps passed down through generations.

Catch the morning ferry to Tarout Island and walk through fishing villages lined with weathered docks. Explore the imposing Tarout Castle perched on a bluff above scattered archaeological remains. Gaze out over the Arabian Gulf from its ancient ramparts.

Wander through tiny seaside hamlets and sample freshly grilled sardines at a beachfront shack. Visit the shrine of Al-Shaikh Al-Ghumayda to observe centuries-old devotional rituals. Relax on quiet sandbanks as gentle tides lap at your feet.

Return to Al Awjam for a sumptuous seafood banquet under swaying palm fronds. Feast on garlic-lime prawns, shrimp biryani, and tangy mango salad. Cap the meal with a storytelling session about maritime legends and pearl-diving adventures.

Drive to the nearby Al Qarah rock formations in Al Ahsa for a dawn hike through dramatic canyons. Marvel at limestone caverns glowing with filtered sunlight and natural stone arches. Spot rare wildflowers peeking through rocky crevices.

Descend into a verdant valley irrigated by ancient aflaj channels that feed date palms and citrus trees. Picnic beside a spring-fed pool on fresh flatbreads, cheese and ripe fruit. Cool off by wading in shallow pools where mountain streams trickle over smooth stones.

Return to Al Awjam for a soothing sunset walk amid the village’s date groves. Indulge in slow-baked khubz stuffed with sweet cheese and drizzled with honey. Sip carob coffee beside a tranquil courtyard fountain as the sky turns rose-gold.

Depart early for the mineral-rich hot springs near Al Ghawthiyah, soaking in warm, therapeutic waters among rustling palms. Feel tension melt away as steam rises from emerald pools. Inhale the earthy scent of natural hot springs set in a desert oasis.

Enjoy a restorative spa treatment using local clay masks, date oil scrubs, and eucalyptus steam. Relish a light mezze platter of hummus, baba ganoush and crisp vegetables. Lounge in shaded cabanas with soft fabrics and gentle music creating a calming ambiance.

Meditate by lantern-lit pools as the sun dips behind distant dunes. Partake in a serene yoga session on wooden platforms overlooking the springs. Drift into a peaceful mood over cups of herbal mint tea and sweet dried figs.

Head north to Dammam’s Corniche for a refreshing jog along the palm-lined promenade at sunrise. Explore the Heritage Village’s life-size dioramas depicting coastal life before the oil era. Capture photographs of colorful dhows bobbing in calm waters.

Browse the bustling Gold Souk and textile markets for silk scarves, amber incense and intricately beaded handbags. Sample street-food delights like crispy kibbeh, luqaimat and smoky shawarma. Rest in a shaded café overlooking the gulf with a glass of iced karak chai.

Watch the sun set beside King Fahd’s Fountain, the world’s tallest water jet sparkling against dusky skies. Dine at a modern fusion restaurant blending Saudi flavors with international techniques. Raise pomegranate mocktails in a toast to your journey.

Return to Al Awjam for last-minute shopping at the weekly souq, bartering for handwoven mats, glass lanterns and stirring sticks for gahwa. Pack souvenirs alongside fragrant spice jars and date honey. Bid heartfelt farewells to friendly shopkeepers.

Gather for a farewell feast of majboos, grilled fish and crisp vegetable salads at a family-run eatery. Share memories and photographs over cups of aromatic gahwa served in ornate dallahs. Take a final stroll through sun-dappled date groves as a gentle breeze stirs the fronds.

Relax on your guesthouse terrace as lanterns flicker across the courtyard, casting warm golden light. Savor last bites of zataar-enriched flatbread, labneh and sweet honey. Reflect on your immersive Saudi adventure beneath a galaxy of desert stars.