Jabal Al-Lawz (Mountain of Almonds) Snow Peak

Reaching an elevation of 2,580 meters near the border with Jordan in northwestern Saudi Arabia, Jabal Al-Lawz ('Mountain of Almonds') is one of the highest and most climatically distinctive peaks in the kingdom. Named for the wild bitter almond trees that cling to its rugged granite slopes, the mountain is renowned for receiving heavy winter snowfall that transforms its desert summits into a surreal alpine landscape. The mountain's upper slopes are dominated by dark, igneous basalt boulders that contrast dramatically with the lighter granite bedrock below. Scattered across these rock fields are remarkable petroglyphs and petroglyphic cattle figures dating back thousands of years to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, when the Arabian climate supported lush savannah grasslands. During the winter months (December to February), local families and adventure travelers journey up the winding mountain roads to experience snow in the Arabian desert, enjoy outdoor winter campfires, and behold panoramic views stretching toward the Gulf of Aqaba.