A narrow slot canyon slices into the base of Jabal Khazali, about 13 kilometres south of the village. The entrance is a dramatic crack in the cliff face, just wide enough to squeeze through, and the temperature drops noticeably as you step inside.
The walls are covered in ancient petroglyphs — carved figures of humans, animals, and geometric patterns that date back to the Thamudic period, roughly 2,500 years ago. Your guide will point out the key panels, but part of the pleasure is finding your own. Some are at eye level, others high up on the walls, and the play of light through the narrow opening above illuminates different carvings at different times of day.
You can explore the first 100 metres or so of the canyon without climbing gear. Beyond that, the walls narrow further and the floor becomes uneven. Most visitors spend 20-30 minutes inside and emerge blinking into the desert sun, slightly amazed that people have been leaving their marks on these walls for millennia.