Think of this as luxury’s answer to Dune. Built into a jagged cliff face somewhere between the sky and the sand, Desert Rock Resort is the newest (and most dramatic) addition to Saudi’s Red Sea Project. It’s 30 minutes from the Red Sea International Airport, but feels like another planet. One where the mountains glow amber at golden hour and your villa is carved inside the rock.
There are 64 keys, 54 villas and 10 suites; but nothing feels cookie-cutter. Some are tucked into the valley with private pools and family-friendly layouts, others are perched on rock spires, suspended above the desert with plunge pools that seem to hover midair. You’re here to feel small, in the best way.
The Energy
Cinematic stillness. Zero light pollution. Floating above the silence in a white kaftan with a mezze platter and nowhere to be. It’s a retreat that feels more like a portal.
Where You’re Staying
You’ll either be nestled in the valley or floating above it, there’s no in-between. The Wadi Villas are designed to blend into the landscape: all earthy tones, organic textures, and low-slung luxury. These are family-friendly without compromising on fantasy, with private pools, sun-drenched terraces, and desert views that feel cinematic. They’re the kind of places where you can wake up slowly, barefoot on cool stone floors, with endless space to breathe.
Higher up, Mountain Crevice Villas seem to hover above the horizon. Perched on rock pinnacles with plunge pools that look like they’ve been carved out by the wind, they defy gravity and logic. Interiors are minimal, textured, and warm. This is where you come to feel deliciously small in a vast, ancient landscape.
Where You’re Eating
Nyra is Desert Rock’s culinary crown jewel. It’s an open-fire concept led by Michelin-starred chef Osman Sezener. Ingredients are hyper-local, dishes are primal but refined, and the open kitchen showcases ancient techniques like smoking and curing in a desert-forward format. It’s fine dining without the white tablecloths. Also there’s a surf-and-turf.
For something lighter but equally interesting, MICA leans into botanical mixology and snack-y plates: pickled elixirs, herbal ferments, and mocktails made from sun-ripened fruit and desert herbs. There’s even a tea-and-smoke pairing program.
Mornings begin at Basalt with shakshuka, za’atar eggs, and plenty of strong coffee, before the menu flips into modern Indian classics with a twist. At Wadi, the poolside Peruvian kitchen brings ceviche, DJ sets, and the type of lazy glamour that turns lunch into sunset.
And if you’re looking to end your night in the stars, The Observatory is the place to be. Half stargazing deck, half shisha lounge, it’s perched high above the massif with uninterrupted views of constellations and curated playlists that lean cosmic.
What You’ll Do
Aside from staring in awe at the view? Hike through dramatic wadis, take sunrise yoga above the cliffs, or explore hidden canyons on foot or by 4×4. For those who prefer their grounding with a side of glow, the Desert Rock spa offers desert crystal facials and volcanic stone massages inside cave-inspired treatment rooms.
Then, there’s the main pool: cut like a secret oasis into the rock and surrounded by wild desert blooms. It’s a place to lose time. And quite possibly your grip on reality.
Doubles from: INR 1,62,000 + taxes (approx)
Book here.
All images: Desert Rock Resort