The last unexplored places on earth

There are few frontiers left in the world. Explorers have scaled the tallest mountains, taken samples from Antarctica’s deepest subglacial lakes and you can even view the Great Barrier Reef from your laptop. Yet, some hidden corners of the Earth still remain essentially uncharted.

One such place that spans millennia, includes ties with Lawrence of Arabia, and holds significant artefacts will shortly be revealed to tourists for the first time.

As Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourists, previously unexplored sites such as Al Ula located in North West Saudi are set to share their complex history. Layer upon layer of history, and a wealth of natural wonders, are waiting to be explored. From dramatic rock formations and sand-swept dunes to archaeological ruins that trace the lives of the ancient cultures who built cities here.

Ready to be discovered are living museums of preserved tombs, sandstone outcrops, historic dwellings and monuments (both natural and human-made), that hold 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history. The Nabatean city of Hegra, a 52-hectare ancient city also known as Mada’in Salih, was Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site (2008). Hegra is best known for its 100+ beautiful, and remarkably well-preserved tombs with elaborate façade cut into rock formations.

Aston spoke to Phillip Jones, chief destination officer for experience Al Ula to reveal more about what we hidden secrets we expect from this unexplored destination.