Why this ride
From Al Hufūf it runs 149 km to Al Hufūf; allow about 2 h 13 of riding. It goes by way of `Ain Qinas archaeological site, Al-Asfar Lake and back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site. Lakes are the scenery here.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
As-Seef and Al-Asfar Lake
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 149 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 13
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Scenic road chapters
As-Seef → `Ain Qinas archaeological site
The ride follows As-Seef → `Ain Qinas archaeological site for 34 km.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 34 km
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. As-Seef
Al-Ahsa is the biggest natural oasis on the planet, and it looks like a mistake in the middle of the Eastern Province: a dark green carpet of date palms, millions of them, spread across a flat plain of pale desert. The oasis exists because springs rise from deep underground and water the whole area. Hofuf, the main city, and Mubarraz, its neighbour, sit within the palms, and the two together hold close to six hundred thousand people. UNESCO listed the oasis in 2018.
Read the complete As-Seef write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
As-Seef is where the day begins. Next is `Ain Qinas archaeological site.
2. `Ain Qinas archaeological site
Ain Qinas is a spring, one of many that bubble up through the oasis of Al-Ahsa, and it is one of the reasons for the place's long life. The water emerges warm from deep rock, at a steady temperature, and has been channelled for centuries into stone-lined pools and a network of canals that irrigate the groves. For people crossing an arid peninsula, this must have seemed like a miracle, and the springs and their surroundings are part of the oasis's World Heritage listing. The site is a pleasant, shaded corner where palm trees lean over the water and the sound of running water is constant.
Read the complete `Ain Qinas archaeological site write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
`Ain Qinas archaeological site comes up about 34 km into the recorded legs. Next is Al-Asfar Lake.
3. Al-Asfar Lake
The Al-Ahsa oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia is a green island in a very large desert. Under the sand lie huge aquifers, and springs rise to the surface to feed an area of about eighty-five square kilometres of date palms, said to be the largest oasis in the world, with perhaps two and a half million trees. It lies not far from the Gulf coast, near the city of Hofuf, and it has been settled for thousands of years, from the Bronze Age through the ancient Dilmun culture and into Islamic times. UNESCO listed it in 2018 as an evolving cultural landscape.
Read the complete Al-Asfar Lake write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 91 km into the recorded legs you reach Al-Asfar Lake. Next is back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site.
4. back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete `Ain Qinas archaeological site write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site, late in the day. Next is As-Seef.
5. As-Seef
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete As-Seef write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at As-Seef. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
As-Seef to `Ain Qinas archaeological site
As-Seef → `Ain Qinas archaeological site is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
`Ain Qinas archaeological site to Al-Asfar Lake
`Ain Qinas archaeological site → Al-Asfar Lake is 57 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Al-Asfar Lake to back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site
Al-Asfar Lake → back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site is 24 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site to As-Seef
back through `Ain Qinas archaeological site → As-Seef is 34 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.