KAUST Government Affairs recently took a group of 26 explorers to Umluj, a city in Tabuk Province that spreads over an area 150 kilometers and is located north of Yanbu. It also contains 104 islands. The archipelago there is magnificent, featuring clear turquoise waters and white silk-like sandy beaches. No wonder Umluj is also known as the “Saudi Arabian Maldives!”
On a warm and sunny day, the group of travelers left KAUST on the bus, with people happily chatting about the swimming, snorkeling, diving and activities they would do on the trip. The bus finally arrived at a camp after a four-hour drive, where the visitors were to have dinner under the starry sky. The excitement about the trip was building, as Umluj is a dream destination for nature lovers. The visitors from KAUST could not wait for the morning sun to rise, as marine life in the location is so abundant that you do not have to venture far from shore to see it.
The next day, the KAUST explorers woke up to the sound of the waves ebbing ashore. After having breakfast on the beach, they took the bus to Umluj dock, where they then took a boat to Um Almalik Island. Time to dive in! Snorkel mask and fins on, they swam above the multicolored coral reefs and were mesmerized by the colorful fish and marine life.
They then went the back to the shore and took a ride to a seafood restaurant to have lunch. In the afternoon, some explorers had the opportunity to ride horses on the beach nearby the camp until the sun went down. When the night arrived, the KAUST explorers gathered around the campfire to drink some after-dinner tea before going to sleep under the stars.
The explorers were very surprised about the natural treasures Umluj offered them. One enthusiastic explorer noted, “Away from the sand, the local people you will meet are extremely laid back and hospitable, and there are many natural springs.”
On the last day of their trip, the more experienced divers geared up to explore reefs in open water, while the others went snorkeling in the turquoise waters in a different area than they had explored the day before. After many hours of excitement and wonderful experiences, it was time to go. The explorers went back to the camp to pack their bags while the sun was setting. Umluj was a trip to remember!
