Banyan Tree AlUla

Dream

Banyan Tree’s 79 luxury dune villas are what really elevate the resort to super luxury status. All accommodation types are covered by tented canopies, the colour of which has been matched to the surrounding sand in order to allow each villa to blend into the desert landscape. The benefits for this are two-fold: preserving the untouched, vast beauty of the AlUla desert, but also to ensure total privacy within each villa. Terraces and pools are not visible from any other neighbouring villas, granting unparalleled privacy in the heart of the desert. Interiors are adorned with Arabian-inspired antiques and a blend of natural woods and handsewn Arabian textiles.

One bedroom pool villas come with glorious king-sized beds, an external fire pit and, of course private swimming pools while two bedroom villas provide this with even greater space and are excellent for families and groups. Finally, Banyan Tree AlUla’s accommodation offering peaks with the Dune Three Bedroom Pool Villa which features a large living area, a ten-seater dining table with access to a secluded terrace and a private swimming pool facing the Ashar Valley sandstones and dunes. These villas are truly the pinnacle of luxury; feel like an ancient Nabataean king pontificating and enjoying enjoy good times with friends and family around the fire as you feast your eyes on the spectacle of the desert.

Eat

Banyan Tree is home to two of AlUla’s top dining venues: Saffron and Harrat. If you’re planning a short trip to AlUla, then this is a great way to combine trying out restaurants in AlUla town with the fantastic flavours on offer in your very own resort.

In line with a commitment to sustainability and authenticity, Harrat is a restaurant which embraces local cuisine and culture, using freshly produced ingredients from AlUla’s sustainable farms to prepare classic Middle Eastern mezze, pasta and grilled dishes. Harrat is a beautifully rustic setting, where Arabian handmade rugs and pottery to give the impression of an elevated Arabian dining experience. Alternatively, guests can opt to dine in Saffron, Banyan Tree’s signature Thai restaurant. Saffron’s talented Thai chefs prepare exquisite dishes with a contemporary flare; the scents and tastes of lemongrass and spice are allowed to show off in Saffron AlUla’s intimate ambiance.

It's not just restaurant dining on offer at Banyan Tree though, guests can enjoy a floating breakfast in their own pool as well as an in-villa barbecue prepared by the hotel’s chefs.

Play

Banyan Tree AlUla actually looks out directly on to the world-famous Maraya. This means that it is just a short distance if you want to head over to Maraya Social or get some ultra Instagrammable photos in its mirrored façade. The resort’s location is in close proximity to many of AlUla’s best sights, including the Old Town, Hegra, Dadan and Elephant Rock. AlUla is full of unique experiences, from a fascinating guided stargazing experience at Gharameel, a picnic, a Bedouin tent BBQ with a rawi (storyteller) host or ziplining, climbing and bungee swinging at the Adventure Hub.

Banya Tree also offer some extras of their own, including an “Ashar Picnic”, a personalised outdoor dinner in Dove Canyon, self-guided rock art trail and stargazing with a state-of-the-art telescope.

Unwind

There’s something so reassuring about a landscape which is so vast and complex, yet ever permanent and reliable. This landscape which surrounds Banyan Tree, and indeed AlUla in general, provides the perfect conditions for a wellness retreat. This is why AlUla is emerging as one of the world’s top wellness destinations, as it finds itself in the unique situation of being a destination which offers the peace and quiet of the desert, as well as having been designed with natural, sustainable materials.

All of these make the perfect conditions for a brand like Banyan Tree, which is already known for its world-class wellness offerings, to do something truly special. And they have. The Banyan Tree spa adopts a holistic approach to wellness, borrowing from both Arabian and Asian traditions. A wide range of treatments are available, with only natural and local ingredients being applied. Guests can also book an aromatic bath with Banyan Tree Bath Rituals which use organic aromatic oils, natural herbs, and local spices with healing benefits to take you to uncharted levels of relaxation.

The resort also features a modern gym with large floor-to-ceiling windows, which many guests feel compelled to use in the spirit of wellness and self-improvement. Finally, stealing the show is the Rock Pool, an infinity pool which sits in between two sandstone mountains – it’ll be hard to top that swim!