Three Peaks challenges in Saudi Arabia

The landscapes of Saudi Arabia

The western side of Saudi Arabia contains mountain country behind the Red Sea coast, while sandy desert occupies much of the interior. The southwestern uplands provide a particularly different setting from the lower coastal strip and the broad arid landscapes farther east.

Large temperature contrasts are characteristic of the wider desert environment. The mountains belong to a specific edge of the Arabian Peninsula, rather than describing the country as a whole. Understanding that western concentration of relief helps distinguish a Saudi upland journey from travel through the much more extensive interior deserts.