Taif is located at an altitude of more than 1,700 meters above sea level in the heart of the Sarawat Mountains in western Saudi Arabia, giving it a mild and pleasant climate throughout the year. “The Bride of the Summer”.
It is characterized by its picturesque nature, mountainous terrain, clean air, and rich historical and cultural heritage.
Surrounded by a range of famous heights that offer panoramic views, some of the most beautiful are Huda area which is located northwest of the city.
Tourists can drive through the winding Huda Mountain Road or take a cable car The cable car that connects the peaks of the mountains to the village of Al-Kar at the bottom of the valley. Riding the Huda cable car is a unique adventure in itself, as you float Cable car Above the views of green valleys and plains along the Taif Mountains. At the top of Jabal Al Huda, a cooler climate and stunning views of the city below await you, along with resorts and cafes serving hot drinks in a cooler atmosphere throughout the year, even in summer.
To the south, the Shafa mountainous area as one of the most popular resorts.
It is characterized by its farms and orchards stretching on the slopes of the mountains and its fresh, clean air. You can drive to the peaks of Shafa – about 45 minutes from the city center – to enjoy panoramic views of the plains and mountains, where temperatures drop significantly the higher you go. Shafa is dotted with fruit farms such as peaches, figs, grapes, and the famous Taifa rose gardens. Don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures above the clouds at Shafa’s peaks by day, and watch the city lights twinkle at night from this high altitude.
As for its heritage aspect, it cannot be discussed without mentioning Okaz market famous. Located northeast of Taif, this historic market was the greatest Arab market in the pre-Islamic Jahiliyah. Arabs used to gather at Souk Okaz during the Haram months to display their trade of ghee, honey, leather, textiles, and more, and to show off with poetry and oratory in the presence of the tribes of Arabia. After a centuries-long hiatus, the market was located in the Al-Arafa area of Hawiya – about 40 kilometers from Taif – and revived as a tourist archaeological site that celebrates the glorious past. When you visit Souk Okaztoday, you will find a vast square with a huge gate, columns and inscriptions inspired by ancient Arabic heritage, making you imagine the bustle of the market 1,500 years ago.
If Taif is mentioned, roses are mentioned.
The city is famous for producing the finest quality roses, known locally as sectarian rose with a fragrant aroma. The rose harvest season reaches its peak in the spring every year (March-April), when more than 300 million roses bloom in Taif’s farms scattered in Huda, Shafa, Wadi Muharram, and others. To celebrate this precious aromatic wealth, a festival is held every spring Taifa Rose Festival which has become one of the Kingdom’s most popular festivals. The festival usually starts in late March or April for about two weeks, and its events are centered on Rudaf Park and some of the city’s historical sites. When you attend the festival, you will literally be amazed by the pink atmosphere; the streets and squares are adorned with millions of natural roses in beautiful arrangements. There are Parade of Roses Flower-decorated carts roam the streets of Taif to celebrate the season. You’ll also find Rose market where everything you can think of from rose products is on display: Bouquets of blooming flowers, bottles of pure rose water, the most expensive rose oil concentrate, rose-scented soaps and cosmetics, and even rose-flavored foods and desserts. Visitors can learn about the rose distillation industry up close through workshops and live demonstrations that show the stages of picking roses and then extracting their oil and fragrance.
Finally, you can’t leave Taif without taking some of its aromas and flavors with you. Pick up a bottle of Communal rose water Use it as a refreshing facial mist in the summer heat or add a few drops to your tea and coffee to sweeten the taste. You can also buy Rose fat This is a concentrated essential oil extracted from sectarian roses and is one of the most valuable souvenirs (a few milliliters of it is worth its weight in gold!). And don’t forget to taste Sectarian Rose Jam Deliciously pink in color – a local product they make from rose petals, sugar and lemon juice – is perfect for dipping bread for breakfast. You’ll also find in the markets Dried rose It retains its aroma and can be used to garnish dishes or make refreshing herbal teas.
