Experience
Historic Trails
Walk the lanes of the old town between its walls and mud-brick houses, where some buildings are more than six hundred years old.
Sadus Historic Village
Sadus, where heritage becomes today's experience
A living heritage village 70 km from Riyadh: walks through mud-brick lanes and farms, Najdi hospitality and programmes all year.
Sadus is a historic village in Diriyah Governorate, Riyadh Region, 70 km north-west of Riyadh, and one of the oldest known human settlements in the Arabian Peninsula.
- 70 km
- north-west of Riyadh
- Diriyah
- governorate, Riyadh Region
- 600+ years
- the age of some village buildings
- 21
- heritage and natural sites
Activities
What to do in Sadus
Choose from trails, experiences and programmes, then book your visit directly.
Program
The Open Museum
An open route where architecture, lanes and storytelling become one experience, under the Saudi sky.
Experience
Farm Trails
Between palms, mud walls and irrigation channels, walk through the oasis that Sadus has always lived from.
Program
The Samri Season
When the Najdi nights turn cool, the Samri season celebrates a living folk art among the mud-brick walls.
Experience
Cycling Trails
Explore the countryside around Sadus by bike, from the village where the second stage of the 2020 Saudi Tour began.
Program
The Monthly Village Market
A monthly market under the old name of Sadus, Al-Qurayyah: crafts, farm produce, Najdi food and workshops.
Your day in Sadus
From a morning arrival to an evening farewell: a full day of lanes, farms and Najdi hospitality.
MorningArrival
Arrive at the village, 70 km from Riyadh.
MorningDiscovering the village
Walk the lanes, mud-brick houses and heritage landmarks.
MiddayThe farms
Wander through the palm groves and farms.
MiddayHospitality
Najdi hospitality in the setting of the village.
AfternoonCultural activities
Crafts, folk arts and cultural programmes.
EveningMemorable moments
Moments to remember, between history and nature.
EveningDeparture
Farewell, until the next visit.
Landmarks that tell the story
Five heritage landmarks that hold the memory of Sadus, from the fort and walls to the old mosque.
All year round
Seasons and programmes that bring the village to life, from the winter Samri to the monthly market.
The Open Museum
An open route where architecture, lanes and storytelling become one experience, under the Saudi sky.
BookWinter season
The Samri Season
When the Najdi nights turn cool, the Samri season celebrates a living folk art among the mud-brick walls.
BookMonthly
The Monthly Village Market
A monthly market under the old name of Sadus, Al-Qurayyah: crafts, farm produce, Najdi food and workshops.
BookThe Values Academy
Where young men and women learn to tell the story of Sadus and to welcome its guests.
BookThe Trails
From mud-brick lanes to the edge of Tuwaiq: a cultural route that links the stops along the way.
BookAl-Duwaikhla Cinema
Screenings, workshops, exhibitions and ongoing programmes in the historic village.
Book
A village between history and nature
Sadus lies in Diriyah Governorate, in a landscape of historic village, farming oases, valleys and ravines, built in a Najdi style adapted to its setting.
- Memory
- Building
- Farming
- Hospitality
- Folk arts
A history across the centuries
Early settlement
Part of the ancient history of the Al-Yamamah region.
Banu Sadus
They settled in the area, and the town came to bear their name.
Early Islam
The town was part of the early Islamic world, and men of Banu Sadus took part in the transmission of hadith and in the early conquests.
Trade and pilgrimage routes
Sadus was a stop on the historic routes that crossed central Arabia.
Farming and building
A farming and building tradition grew here, reflecting the local community's ability to build and adapt to its environment.
Nature around Sadus
Mountains, valleys, ravines and old tracks around the village, next to the King Khalid Royal Reserve and on the way to the Edge of the World.
- As-Sab' Al-Milaf, the Old Hajj Road
- Shajarat Al-Hajj
- Jabal Fahrain
- Darb Abkain
- Dahl Ibn Rashid
- Shaib Al-Luhaysiyah
- Dahl Al-Rakzah
- Darb Habudal
- Darb Aba Al-Ghubtan
- The Trade Routes
In the memory of travellers
They passed through Sadus, and it left a mark on their accounts that is still told today.
Whenever I return to Sadus, I feel I am returning to my roots. It is the story, and here is where it begins.
Prince Sultan bin SalmanFormer President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage “Sadus is one of the oldest settlements in Najd, and it holds a prominent place in the history of the Arabian Peninsula.”
Hamad Al-JasserHistorian and scholar of the history of the Arabian Peninsula “In its remains, Sadus carries an ancient history that bears witness to the depth of civilisation in Najd.”
Lewis PellyBritish explorer and writer
Before you visit
Where is Sadus?
Sadus Historic Village lies in Diriyah Governorate, Riyadh Region, north-west of the city of Riyadh.
How far is Sadus from Riyadh?
About 70 km north-west of Riyadh, which makes it an easy day trip from the capital.
What can I do in Sadus?
Walk the historic trails through the mud-brick lanes, follow the farm, cycling and hiking trails, enjoy Najdi hospitality, and join programmes such as the winter Samri season, the monthly village market and the Duwaikhla cinema.
Who is Sadus for?
Families, schools and universities, young people and adventurers, heritage and culture lovers, tourists, and creatives and researchers.
How do I book a visit?
Fill in the visit request form on the Plan your visit page and the village team will contact you to confirm the date and details. We welcome individuals, families, groups, schools and universities.
Is there accommodation in Sadus?
The Village Inn, heritage accommodation at the heart of Sadus Historic Village, is coming soon. Until it opens, a visit is planned as a day trip from Riyadh.
Become part of the story
Join our trial tours and walks, and discover a village that is still full of life.