The Incense Route

The Incense Route درب البخور

The Incense Route is an ancient trade road parallel to the Red Sea that carried frankincense, myrrh and dates by camel caravan through the Nabataean city of Hegra.

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Era7th c. BCE – 2nd c. CE
Length~2,000 km
Key stationHegra — Madain Saleh
GoodsFrankincense, myrrh, dates

The Road of Perfumes

From the ports of Hadramawt and Dhofar, caravans set out north carrying frankincense and myrrh to the temples of Egypt and Rome — with dates as both provision and merchandise.

Nabataean Hegra

In AlUla, Hegra (Madain Saleh) flourished as a principal station where the Nabataeans carved their monumental tomb facades into rock — becoming Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage Site in 2008.