Wadi Tayyib al-Ism

Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, the valley of the good name, cuts through dark granite in the far northwest of Saudi Arabia and comes down almost to the sea, opening onto a small beach on the Gulf of Aqaba with the Sinai mountains across the water. The gorge narrows to a slot with vertical walls hundreds of metres high, and a spring runs in the bottom feeding a stand of date palms, which is what makes it striking in country that is otherwise bare rock. Some accounts associate the valley with the biblical Elim or with the route of the Exodus, claims that are asserted locally and not supported by evidence. Walking up the gorge from the beach is straightforward for a distance.

What you'll find

• The granite slot - the narrow gorge between vertical dark walls.
• The spring and palms - the water and trees on the gorge floor.
• The beach - the shore where the wadi meets the Gulf of Aqaba.
• The Sinai view - the mountains across the water.

When to go

October to April; summer here is extremely hot with no shade in the open sections. Mornings are best. The coast road from Haql is sealed but the track into the wadi mouth is rough.

Practical notes

The biblical identifications made locally are traditions, not established. Access to the wadi mouth needs a capable vehicle. There are no facilities or water. Development along this coast has been changing access arrangements.

Nearby

Haql lies north; the Gulf of Aqaba is at the wadi mouth.