World’s best yogis launch AlUla Wellness festival

The biggest wellness festival in the gulf was launched yesterday at a specially-constructed venue in the middle of the palm-filled oasis surrounded by the red rocks of ancient Dadan in AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

The AlUla Wellness festival presented by Samsung is headlined by the flagship Five Senses Sanctuary. The event launch yesterday attracted the biggest names in the sector for a 10 day offering of yoga, talks, meditation, sound-therapy, music and more.

Talks at the launch event included the inspirational Manal Rostom, women’s rights activist who shared her story of ‘swimming upstream’ becoming the first Nike ambassador to wear hijab.

Chelsea Kauai, the celebrity acro-yoga specialist born and raised in Hawaii and one of the headline talents of the festival entertained with acro-yoga partner Nicolas Coolridge


Renowned international instructor, lecturer, and educator in health, wellbeing, and mindfulness, Dylan Werner was also in attendance and will be taking classes for those lucky enough to secure tickets.


Manish Pole, CEO of Artistic Yoga and disciple of renowned Master yogi Himalayan Master Bharat Thakur took a session in traditional Hatha yoga.


Local meditation and yoga specialist Khaled Nahfawi offered a Deep Chakra Cleansing Sound Bath. Handpan lessons were a highlight of the day, offered by Valentina Avdeeva.
To cap off the day, Vanessa Roux invited guests to manifest their aspirations and enjoy a cacao ceremony with cacao prepared by F&B Partner WILDFLOWER.
Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer for Royal Commission for AlUla said the Five Senses Sanctuary will become an annual event as part of the AlUla Moments events calendar.

“The AlUla Wellness festival is now officially the biggest of its kind in the region. It is very special to have this many of the world’s best practitioners in the one event – some might say the Woodstock of wellness.

“With AlUla’s natural beauty, silent desert and lush green oasis, we feel strongly that we can become a leading SPA and wellness destination and a major player globally as Saudi continues to open up to tourism,”

The AlUla Wellness festival continues until March 27th. World-leading yogis Himalayan Master Bharat Thakur and Ashtanga specialist Kino MacGregor take centre stage at the Five Senses Sanctuary next week.

AlUla’s second Ecotrail starts today, Fitness X Music commences on March 23rd and Sadu Escape, AlfaOne Retreat and Garden of Moments are available till the end of the month.

Tickets available for Five Senses Sanctuary as a day pass for 300 SAR which provides access from sunrise till sunset to all the sessions on offer. www.experiencealula.com