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If you’re already around Riyadh, Edge of the World is one of those places you really shouldn’t skip. It’s not just another box to tick — it’s the kind of view that makes you go quiet for a second and just stand there, staring at the drop and all that empty space around you.
We’re not going to write this like a guidebook — this post is meant to be short and straight to the point. Instead of a long story, you’ll get the key things worth knowing before you go: what the drive is like, what to watch out for on site, and what we’d do differently if we went a second time. We’ll also drop our route map, because it’s more useful than a thousand words.
Where did the idea come from, and what is Edge of the World?
We first came across this place during our very first trip to Saudi Arabia. Classic situation: photos online look almost like a Photoshop job, the name sounds like pure clickbait — so of course curiosity won. If you’re curious what our 2023 trip looked like, we’ve linked that article here as well:
👉 Saudi Arabia – First impressions from traveling in 2023 and our practical advice
Edge of the World is actually Jebel Fihrayn — a massive cliff at the end of the Tuwaik (Tuwaiq) Escarpment, roughly 100 km from Riyadh. You’re standing on the edge of the cliffs with nothing but empty space stretching all the way to the horizon — no cities, no trees, nothing to distract you. That’s exactly where the name comes from: it genuinely feels like the world just ends there.
And since this time we were riding through Saudi Arabia on a motorcycle and were already hanging around Riyadh anyway (we had a warranty service booked at BMW Motorrad), we did the classic move: “alright, let’s squeeze this in, even if it’s just for a moment.” And honestly — even with a packed schedule, this stop makes total sense. It’s one of those views that sticks with you for a loooong time. Okay, sure — my legs were killing me as the rider after the drive… but Jadzia was very happy 😄
The Road to the Edge of the World
We also spent a good chunk of time digging through the internet before going, because there are a few different ways to get there and road conditions in this area can change faster than mountain weather. On top of that, we kept seeing minibus tours, which planted the thought in our heads: if they can make it there, it can’t be a route reserved only for hardcore off-road vehicles.
Back in 2023, this place was already on our radar, but we were dealing with the classic time crunch (a long weekend in Riyadh, a slightly ridiculous sightseeing pace). On top of that, we were driving a sedan, and honestly, we didn’t feel like gambling the car against rocks and ruts. So we left it for “another time” — and this time turned out to be that other time.
The simplest (and most commonly described) option is to leave Riyadh via road 535 and then switch to road 5762 heading toward the town of Sadus. This part is quick and straightforward — no detours, no clever tricks, just a normal drive.
From there, the key moment is around Sadus and the turn-off near Sadus Dam. In practice, you drive through the town, but instead of heading straight to the dam, you turn off one intersection earlier — that’s where the real part of the route begins. On Google Maps, that turn is marked with 📌 the pin from this link, and a bit further on, the direction you need to follow — and the exact spot where the asphalt ends — is marked with 📌 this pin.
Below you’ll find our route map from the ride on our BMW R1250GS — it should help you plan and figure out the way.
Gravel that can surprise you
From the moment the asphalt ends to the so-called “parking area”, you’ve got roughly 20 km of riding on gravel and dirt. It’s not sand where you immediately sink in — it’s mostly hard-packed surface, rocks, and sections that are uneven and heavily rutted. On top of that, the road is quite wavy, so on a motorcycle — especially at lower speeds — it can really toss you around.
And that’s where my personal dilemma kicked in: how do you even ride this? Sitting? Standing? Half-squatting like on a dirt bike? What worked best in the end was picking up a bit of speed and riding in a light squat — around 30–35 km/h — letting the bike smooth out the bumps on its own. But… guess how my thighs felt. I honestly thought I was going to die. My idea of “sport” is mostly scrolling Instagram on the toilet 😅 I can pick the bike up if I drop it — no problem. But an hour in a squat? Absolute misery.
And don’t forget — we were riding two-up. Jadzia got a complimentary Thai massage out of it, and while she tried standing up as a passenger a few times, she quickly gave up. In that position, it honestly felt like she could get launched off the seat pretty easily.
If I’d been riding solo, I probably would’ve picked up a bit more speed and gone a little wild — the bumps would’ve been much less noticeable. And next time… I’d seriously consider leaving the side panniers behind. But more on that in a moment.
What kind of car should I take there?
The honest version: a SUV with decent ground clearance is ideal, and 4×4 gives you real peace of mind. This isn’t the kind of route where you want to be wondering, “am I about to shred a tire?” or “will I even be able to turn around here?”
But… it is possible without 4×4. We even saw a tour bus out there, so it’s not like access is limited to hardcore off-road monsters. With a sedan, it really comes down to two things: ground clearance and how sensibly you drive. If the car isn’t ridiculously low and you don’t do anything stupid behind the wheel, you’ll get there — slowly, but you’ll get there.
The most important rule I’d stick to: plan it so you’re back on asphalt before it gets dark. You’ll feel that moment of relief around Sadus, where the gravel ends and a proper road begins.
Navigation
We’ll sign this with both hands: if you’ve got a Garmin or use mapy.cz, you’ll have far fewer nerves. Google Maps on gravel like this can lose the plot — sending you down weird shortcuts or drawing a “road” that’s really just tire tracks.
There’s also another popular approach via the so-called Acacia Valley, but that route often comes with the issue of a gate and access restrictions. Many people mention that the gate is usually open mainly on weekends (the local weekend — Friday and Saturday), and can be closed during the week, meaning you might end up having to turn back. We didn’t test that route ourselves — we weren’t exactly keen on turning the trip into an adventure called “looking for a tire repair shop in the middle of the desert” if we happened to get a flat.
Jak jest na miejscu?
You eventually reach a larger open area, and that’s the moment it becomes clear: pushing further by car or bike is a bad idea. Warning signs start popping up — basically saying “don’t go any further or you’ll fall”. It sounds a bit like a meme, but the message is simple: there are no barriers here, and the edge is very much a real edge.
From there, it’s just a short walk to the first viewpoint — maybe a symbolic hundred meters or so. And right away, you get exactly what you came for: the view is unreal, and all around you… silence. Real silence. Not “a city at 3 a.m.” silence, but that deep, total desert quiet.
If you’ve still got the energy (and your legs aren’t crying yet), you can keep going toward the main viewpoint — the path between viewpoints goes up and down a bit. And here comes my dramatic subplot: after that hour of riding in a half-squat, my thighs were begging for a massage and total surrender. I stopped at the first viewpoint and told Jadzia, “I’m good, you go on without me.” I even added that if she started falling, she should yell — peak romance 😅 (It sounds worse than it actually is; I was just completely out of steam for any more climbs.)
One thing was still stuck in my head: getting back to asphalt before dark. This place is perfect for sunset — but only if you manage the timing and don’t end up riding back on gravel after nightfall. If we’d arrived earlier, we probably would’ve walked more and checked out additional viewpoints, but even so, we timed the golden hour pretty much perfectly.
What is worth keeping in mind?
- 📶 Signal: it can be really hit-or-miss. One moment you’ll have 4G/LTE, the next it drops to 2G or goes completely quiet. Mobily worked sometimes for us, but we definitely didn’t treat mobile internet as something to rely on.
- 🛰️ Plan B: on the bike we had a Garmin Montana as a backup (navigation + satellite, just in case). Honestly, simply knowing we weren’t completely cut off from the world made a big difference mentally.
- 💧 Water & snacks: there’s no shop, café, or any kind of facilities on site, and it’s very easy to stay out there longer than you planned.
- 🚻 Toilets: this is the desert, not a tourist attraction with facilities. Seriously — it’s good to know this before you leave Riyadh.
- ⏰ Timing: plan it so you’re driving back on the gravel roads while it’s still daylight. Sunset here is amazing — just not at the expense of a night return.
- 🌬️ Wind & temperature: it can get seriously hot during the day, but after sunset it cools down quickly — a light jacket or windbreaker actually makes a lot of sense.
- 🥾 Shoes & the edge: rocks, loose gravel, and no barriers. You really don’t need to step that close to the edge just for a photo.
- 🛞 Tyres & repairs: there are plenty of rocks, so if you’re driving, it’s worth having at least a basic puncture kit. On a motorcycle, this matters even more.
Check the fastenings on your motorcycle
On those corrugated gravel roads (washboard is the perfect term), vibrations can really do their thing — even properly tightened parts can slowly work themselves loose. In our case, a few bolts from the Givi side pannier rack came off, and the front navigation mount on the rider’s side also loosened up.
- 🔩 Quick bolt check: before hitting the gravel (and again after you’re done), it’s worth doing a quick hands-and-eyes check of key mounts — pannier racks, crash bars, footpegs, and your navigation or phone mount.
- 🧰 Basic tools: a few Allen/Torx keys and a small ratchet can absolutely save the day — tightening “just two bolts” out there can be the difference between a relaxed ride back and a stressful one.
- 🧷 Spare hardware: a couple of extra bolts, nuts, and washers for racks and mounts take up almost no space, but can save the day — because if something falls off, you’re definitely not finding a replacement in the desert.
- 🧴 Threadlocker: if something has a habit of coming loose, a medium-strength threadlocker (the “blue” kind) often works better than just cranking it down as hard as possible.
- 🪢 Emergency fixes: zip ties, small tie-down straps, and duct tape are classic travel hacks. They won’t fix everything, but sometimes they’re enough to get you back to asphalt without losing your nerves.
One small note so you don’t overdo it: this isn’t about cranking everything down like a maniac. It’s about regular checks and sensible securing — vibrations can slowly work fasteners loose over time.
Organized tours
It’s completely understandable if you don’t feel like planning everything yourself, hunting for “the right” route, or stressing about whether Google Maps will send you into the middle of nowhere again — in that case, an organized tour makes a lot of sense. In practice, most of these trips look pretty similar: pickup in Riyadh, a drive out in a 4×4 (or minibus), a short hike along the cliffs, and then back — often timed for sunset, sometimes with dinner or Saudi coffee, and occasionally with extras like camels or stargazing.
If you want to take the easy route, you can pick one of the options on GetYourGuide — there are both group and private tours available. And if you use our affiliate link, you’ll also be throwing a small brick toward keeping the blog running — thanks!
