Before setting off for Taif, stop at Danube Supermarket and put together a simple picnic. Fresh bread, hummus, pre-sliced local cheese, seasonal fruit and something cold to drink are all you need. It’s one of those little things that makes the journey even more enjoyable.

The cheese merchant in Al Balad

Ask your guide to take you to the little cheese shop in the old town. The dried milk cookies are an ancient Bedouin recipe, made by naturally drying milk and cheese in the sun. Think of them as the original protein snack. The best way to eat them is exactly as the shopkeeper serves them, with a spoonful of local Taif honey. Sweet, salty and utterly delicious.

The road to Taif

The journey is part of the experience. As you leave Jeddah behind and climb into the mountains, you’ll pass the turn-off for Makkah and begin to appreciate just how varied the Saudi landscape really is.

A traditional Taif lunch

There’s a wonderful local restaurant in the centre of town serving generous platters of rice, breads, meats and traditional accompaniments. Order a fresh lemon and mint drink. You’ll find this drink all over Saudi, but this was the best we tasted. Wonderfully refreshing, a serious hit of vitamin C, and packaged in sealed takeaway cans so we could take a couple with us for the journey back to Jeddah.

The rose farms

Find a quiet corner, sit amongst the rose bushes and simply listen. Birdsong replaces city noise, and it’s one of the most peaceful places we found anywhere in the Kingdom.

The date palms

Ask your guide about the herb sellers in Al Balad. Bring home a bunch of fresh Habak mint, place it in a glass of water in your hotel room and use it to make fresh mint tea throughout your stay.

Taif honey

Taif is famous for its honey, and the sellers in the old town are happy to offer plenty of tastes before you buy. The generosity is part of the experience. For me, the rich, dark variety was the most delicious and unusual, and I brought a jar home without a second thought. If you’re driving back to Jeddah, keep an eye out for the roadside fruit sellers. We came home with tiny sweet figs after being gifted punnets of plums before we’d even bought anything. That generosity is something you’ll find all over Saudi.