Edge of the World (Jabal Fihrayn) Tuwaiq Escarpment

Located roughly ninety kilometers northwest of Riyadh along the massive Tuwaiq mountain range, Jabal Fihrayn—famously known as the 'Edge of the World'—is one of the most breathtaking geological vistas on Earth. Here, the precipice drops three hundred meters vertically onto an ancient dried seabed that once formed the floor of the prehistoric Tethys Ocean 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Standing on the narrow rocky promontory, the vista appears infinite. Dry riverbeds (wadis) snake across the vast desert plain below, and camel caravans moving across the distant sand tracks look like tiny specks against the epic scale of the landscape. The limestone walls are rich in marine fossils, allowing hikers to pick out fossilized coral heads and sea snails embedded directly in the stone. The expedition requires a sturdy 4WD vehicle and about two hours of off-road driving through Acacia valleys. Arriving two hours before sunset ensures optimal photographic conditions as the low sun carves deep dramatic shadows into the serrated cliffs before yielding to an unforgettable starry sky.