Asir feels quite different from much of Saudi Arabia. High in the southwest of the Kingdom, the landscape is greener, the mountains higher and the climate noticeably cooler. Abha sits at around 2,200 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains, valleys and forests.

We make time for Rijal Almaa, with its distinctive stone architecture rising through the mountains, and take notice of the Flower Men of Asir, whose extraordinary crowns of locally grown flowers, herbs and grasses are a centuries-old tradition, worn for beauty and fragrance, celebration and, sometimes, their medicinal properties.

Some of Asir’s most extraordinary artistic traditions belong to its women. Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, is the colourful geometric art traditionally painted by women across the interior walls of their homes. Its patterns, colours and symbolism have been passed between generations.

There is wonderful produce here too. Honey is particularly important, alongside the herbs, fruits and other produce grown in the mountains. The markets are vibrant meeting places for buyers, sellers and makers, and there is always something to find to carry with you.

From Abha, switchback roads cut through the mountains and wonderfully pungent juniper forests of Asir National Park. We know some of these roads particularly well from our cycling programmes here. Continue towards Al Habala, the remarkable settlement built into the side of a steep cliff, where the original inhabitants once climbed rope ladders to reach their homes. Today, thankfully, there is a cable car.

Asir may not be the most immediately intuitive place to include in a journey through Saudi Arabia due to its location. However, it is a truly beautiful and much-loved addition to every trip through the Kingdom.