Al Waba Crater, Jeddah ,KSA

Al Waba Crater, also Maqlaʿ Ṭamiyyah, is a volcanic crater, which is about 360 kilometres away from Jeddah. It is 250 m deep and 2 km in diameter
Al Wahba crater is one of Saudi Arabia’s most dramatic natural wonders: a vast hollow with an opaque lake at its heart.
Carved into the western edge of the Hafer Kishb basalt plateau.Its about a four-hour drive from Jeddah. The lunar like landscape offers a near-otherworldly experience for those who come to climb it - complete with glorious views over the desert from the crater’s rim.
But as wonderful as the views are from above, the real magic happens when you climb down into the heart of the crater. In the center of the bowl, you’ll find white sodium phosphate crystals that create a glittering crust visible from the sky. This salt-bed transforms into a pearly lake whenever rain gathers in the hollow, fringed by the shrubs and palms that dot the crater’s rim. A dried lava field can also be seen snaking away from the northern edge of the hollow.
The crater was once thought to have been formed by a meteorite crashing to earth, but research by geologists in the 1960s revealed Al Waba to be a maar crater. These shallow hollows are caused by volcanic eruptions that occur when groundwater comes into contact with hot lava.
How to visit the Waba Crater
To visit, take the Waba crater road leading to the site - it’s paved, so no 4x4 vehicle necessary - and stop in the car park. From here, you can access the visitor centre with its small museum, and a few covered vantage points ideal for picnicking.
For visitors making the descent into the crater’s salt-crusted base, there is a rough trail to follow with steps into the rock. Even in winter ensure you bring plenty of water and sturdy hiking boots and sometimes don’t expect to have a mobile phone signal this far out.
It’s best to make the trip either early during day b4 sunrise and during the cooler winter months, as summer can see temperatures here top 50°C.It will take 30-minute hike down and 60-minute hike back up significantly more of a challenge for hiker's.
For those not making the descent, it takes up to three hours to hike the circumference of the crater’s rim. It’s also worth visiting the nearby lava fields that are a 10-minute drive away.
Although there isn’t a designated campsite area, overnight camping is possible, and the serenity of the desert with the absence of light pollution makes Al Waba an ideal spot for stargazing.
Location
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Google maps will show more than 3 routes to reach this destination. so plz keep this in mind that the least possible route will take you to place where you will be left alone in the desert with single lane road with no street lights. so people going there for the first time can take the route via taif leading to Riyadh highway which is straight road and much familiar to everyone. Even-tough the distance is bit far from the other least possible route.