This mountainous region in southwestern Saudi Arabia, located about 510 mi/820 km southwest of Riyadh, is a good place to see traditional Saudi life and to get away from the heat. It's a popular vacation area for Saudis—it can get quite crowded in the summer.
Asir National Park covers a huge area including both the Red Sea coast and the mountains. The Asir Inter-Continental Hotel inside the park is a former palace. Most tours of the park leave from the hotel.
The region's major city is Abha. The Shada Palace there is now a cultural museum, and the Tuesday Market is worth a visit.
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