Wadis · Najran
Mundafan
Photo: Figure 2. Newly discovered archaeological sites (by period) overlain upon the palaeohydrological reconstruction of the Mundafan area.png · Rémy Crassard , Michael D. Petraglia, Nick A. Drake, Paul Breeze, Bernard Gratuze, Abdullah Alsharekh, Mounir Arbach, Huw S. Groucutt, Lamya Khalidi, Nils Michelsen, Christian J. Robin, Jérémie Schiettecatte · CC BY 4.0 (licence)
Before you go
8 facts, each with its source- Time needed 2–4 hours Source: editor · category default
- Best season November–March Source: editor · category default
- Difficulty Moderate — wet rock, uneven ground Source: editor · category default
- Family friendly Yes, with close supervision near water Source: editor · category default
- Facilities Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets Source: osm · no facility mapped within 800 m
- Drones Registration with GACA is required for any drone from 250 g, and registration alone is not permission to fly — an operational permit is also needed Source: official · national rule · General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) · checked 2026-09-05
- Dress Saudi Arabia expects modest dress in public: loose clothing covering shoulders and knees. Abaya is no longer required of visitors. Quick-dry clothes and shoes with grip. Modest swimwear at village pools. Source: editor · category default
- Elevation 860 m Source: srtm · NASA SRTM 30 m model
Not confirmed for this place: 4x4 needed · Entry fee · Opening hours · Wheelchair. Know one of these? Tell us →
Safety notes
- A dry channel is not a safe one. After rain anywhere upstream — including rain you cannot see, on high ground hours away — water can arrive fast, and in the south-west it does so most years.
- Do not camp on the bed of a wadi, however dry and however clear the sky.
Editor notes, reviewed 2026-09-04
How far is it?
- 5 h 59 mfrom Abha International Airport (AHB) · 475 km
- 3 h 8 mfrom Najran · 246 km
- 6 h 10 mfrom Abha · 491 km
Road distance and driving time from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic. Mountain tracks are often slower than the router thinks.
When to go
November–March- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
ComfortableToo hot
Most channels are dry most of the year. Where they are not, rain anywhere upstream is the thing to check before going in.
Source: editor · category default · 2026-09-04. Category default set by the editor — a verified per-place season replaces it.
Paleolake in Saudi Arabia
Short description from Wikidata (CC0) · Q111952063
About & Sources Mundafan
Mundafan is a wadi in Najran, Saudi Arabia — Wikidata describes it as "paleolake in Saudi Arabia". Entry fee, opening hours and vehicle requirements have not yet been verified for this page — the fact box says so plainly rather than guessing, so check locally before you go. For this kind of place the comfortable season is typically November–March. Nearby: 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid, Minshaf and Bir Hima Rock Petroglyphs and Inscriptions.
At a glance
- Wadis · Najran
- Paleolake in Saudi Arabia
- Season: November–March (editor default)
- Has a Wikipedia article
- 1 open-data source · verified not yet
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each with its author and licence.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Mundafan?
Typically November–March for wadis. Most channels are dry most of the year. Where they are not, rain anywhere upstream is the thing to check before going in.
How long do I need at Mundafan?
2–4 hours (guidance for this category).
What facilities are there at Mundafan?
Nothing mapped nearby — bring water, expect no toilets (source: osm).
How high is Mundafan?
About 860 m above sea level (source: srtm).
Where is Mundafan?
In Najran (SA-10), Saudi Arabia, at 18.5600, 45.3400 — near 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid, Minshaf and Bir Hima Rock Petroglyphs and Inscriptions.
Who can take you there
All operators →Licensed local operators who run trips of this kind in this region. Contact them directly — we take no commission on an enquiry.
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Claim your listing →Operators are listed from open data and Ministry of Tourism's public directory. Ranking places paying operators first; everything else is by relevance and distance, and the badges say exactly what has been verified.
Nearby places
More in Najran →
'Uruq Bani Ma'arid
Protected area in Saudi Arabia
Minshaf
archaeological site in Saudi Arabia, part of world heritage site Ḥimā Cultural Area
Bir Hima Rock Petroglyphs and Inscriptions
Ancient settlement in Saudi Arabia
Qaryat al Faw
ancient village and the capital of Kinda
Information is compiled from open data and editor checks; conditions, fees and access change — verify locally before you travel.