After a cold winter, what every Riyadh resident needs is a camping trip outside the boundaries of their overcrowded city. They need a place where they can camp, meet their friends and return home refreshed and full of energy. This is exactly what Rawdat Khuraim provides at this time of year. It welcomes visitors with refreshing fragrant smells plus a calm and relaxing atmosphere where the moon replaces the harsh street lights of the city.
Rawdat Khuraim is one of the Kingdom’s favorite camping spots. It gained its reputation because of its pleasing weather and location. On top of that, it became even more famous when King Abdullah went there on a “spring retreat.” What distinguishes Rawdat Khuraim from other sites is its location, only 100 kilometers from Riyadh. It is easy for people to camp there for a day or two. relax and then return to the city and their normal life. It is characterized by its delightful scenery and pleasant weather. A variety of trees also grow there and in the spring, such flowers as lavender and trefoil fill the air with sweet aromas. Nor is the desert itself far away — the Al-Dahna Desert is right at hand. There are also a number of nearby valleys — Wadi Khuwaish, Watheelan, and Al- Thumama — which are easy to get to and interesting to visit. Saudis come here to recall their rural traditions and their past, to live a simple life and to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. They come here to walk on the sand, to taste new food and to look their fill into the night sky, bright with moon and stars.
Arab News talked to a number of people who were all happy to be there and were enjoying the weather and the joys of camping out in tents for a few days.
Sulaiman, a university student with his family, said that they had not come only to flee city life. Instead, he said, they had come to enjoy sleeping in tents, eating food cooked on hot coals and experiencing bedouin life. “This is an easy way to clear your mind, relax your body, and get ready for city life once again,” he explained.
Fahad, a teacher, was with his friends. They were busy pitching their tents and making the place as comfortable as possible. “We come here every weekend. We enjoy being together, taking walks, sitting around the fire, talking, playing cards and chatting all night.”
Salih and his friend were at Rawdat Khuraim with their families. They said that they came every weekend and have been doing so for 15 years. “We feel relieved when we come here and break our routine. We sleep in tents and cook for ourselves. We love it when we see our children playing happily here.”
As well as many visitors and campers, there are plenty of people selling a variety of items — foodstuffs, cooking utensils, tents, fresh milk and butter and handmade materials. An old woman was there, looking for customers for her fresh milk, cheese, butter, handmade food and wool. She said, “I come here from my home which is 180 kilometers away. I usually make about SR1500 every day on the weekend. Everything I sell is fresh and I prepare them at home and bring them here.”
Mubarak, a shop owner, was busy serving his customers and said that he spends three months of the year here, selling his goods day and night. He added that he has been doing this for six years. “I make about SR2000 every day on weekends. I sell water, drinks, snacks and wood.”
And there is Mansour who specializes in selling tents and related items. “We rent tents for visitors. We have different kinds of tents and the prices vary according to size and type. We also pitch the tents for our customers. Pillows and covers are also for rent; they can cost anywhere between SR200 and SR300.” He also added that he makes around SR8000 every day during breaks. “We have some loyal customers who call us before they arrive and we prepare tents for them before they get here,” he said.
