Rijal Almaa Gingerbread Village (Asir Mountains)

Nestled in a dramatic mountain pass forty-five kilometers west of Abha in the Asir region, Rijal Almaa is one of the most visually stunning heritage villages in the Islamic world. Dating back over nine hundred years, this hillside fortress settlement served as a major regional trading capital linking Yemen, the Levant, and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The village is renowned for its striking multi-tiered stone towers—some rising up to eight stories high—constructed from local dark basalt stone and embellished with bright white quartz stones framing the wooden window casements, earning it the affectionate moniker 'the Gingerbread Village'. Inside, the living chambers are decorated with vibrant geometric wall murals known as 'Al-Qatt Al-Asiri', an indigenous female art form inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Rijal Almaa received the UN World Tourism Organization's 'Best Tourism Village' award. Exploring its stepped stone pathways, visiting the community heritage museum, and watching the evening lights illuminate the vertical stone ramparts against the misty mountain backdrop is a highlight of traveling in southern Saudi Arabia.