in AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Banyan Tree AlUla
Updated 1 July 2026
- Baby
- Toddler
- Kid
- Teen
This is the grand address of AlUla, a scattering of canvas-roofed villas along the Ashar Valley floor where ochre cliffs rise straight up on either side. For families the draw is space and privacy: a private-pool villa means the children can splash all day steps from the door without sharing with anyone, and the bigger villas genuinely fit two adults and three kids. There is an infinity pool and a natural rock pool for the shared moments, a family-friendly restaurant, and desert activities (buggy rides, oasis walks, stargazing) that older children love. It is a serious splurge and it is remote, with no kids club and long drives to the sights, so it suits families who want a calm, beautiful desert base rather than a resort full of organised entertainment.
Our verdict
The special-occasion choice for families who want privacy, space and a private pool in a jaw-dropping canyon, and can absorb the price. Book a private-pool villa and treat the desert itself, not a kids club, as the entertainment.
The rooms
Standalone tented villas spread along the canyon floor, from one bedroom up to a three-bedroom villa that sleeps a whole family in comfort, and most come with their own private pool and a fire pit outside. Cots and high chairs are provided on request, and because each villa is its own separate structure you get real space and quiet for a baby's nap rather than a thin hotel wall.
At a glance
- Private pools
- Most villas have their own
- Family villas
- Up to three bedrooms
- Kids club
- None, desert activities instead
- Getting around
- Car needed for the sights
How the KidProof Score works
Every hotel is rated on eight things families actually care about, then weighted by how much each one drives your choice. Room setup counts the most. The little touches break the ties.
Sleeps how many? Connecting rooms, family suites, a real extra bed?
Clean travel cot, high chair, bottle warmer, changing table, kit to borrow.
Shallow pool or paddling area, playground, kids club (free or paid).
Quick breakfast, kids menus, allergy options, snacks on hand.
Secured windows, protected corners, watched pool, well kept grounds.
Laundry, in-room fridge, stroller access, parking, reliable Wi-Fi.
Close to family attractions, easy transport, park tickets or access.
Welcome gift for the child, staff who talk to kids, themed rooms.
Why families love it
- Private-pool villas so the kids swim right at the door
- Three-bedroom villa sleeps a full family
- Infinity pool and a natural rock pool to share
- Desert buggy rides, oasis walks and stargazing
🗓️A day here with kids
- 8:00
Breakfast before the heat
Eat early while it is still cool, the light on the cliffs is best now too.
- 10:00
Villa pool and shade
Splash time at your own pool, then hide from the midday sun indoors.
- 16:30
Buggy or oasis walk
Head out once the sun drops for a desert adventure the kids will remember.
- 20:00
Dinner and stars
Family dinner followed by the night sky, no light pollution out here.
Family things to do nearby
Private pool mornings
Your villa pool is shaded and quiet, ideal for babies and toddlers before the heat peaks.
Desert buggy ride
A guided drive across the sands that older kids find thrilling, with car seats to arrange in advance.
Stargazing
AlUla's dark skies put on a show; the resort runs sessions the whole family can join after dinner.
Is it right for your kids?
Baby
0 to 1 yr
Separate private-pool villas give the space and quiet a baby needs, with cots on request, though the remoteness means planning every supply run.
Toddler
1 to 3 yrs
The private pool is a toddler's paradise, but watch the fire pit and the open desert edges around each villa.
Kid
4 to 11 yrs
Buggy rides, rock pools and stargazing keep this age genuinely happy without any kids club.
Teen
12 yrs and up
Teens love the adventure side (hiking, buggies, photography) and the striking, share-worthy setting.
Plan your stay
Check prices & bookWe compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Live prices & availability
Stays near Banyan Tree AlUla, Ashar Valley, AlUla, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia
We compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Parents also ask
Is it really suitable for a baby?
Yes, the separate villas with private pools give unusual space and calm, and cots are provided. The catch is the remoteness: it is a long drive to shops and sights, so bring what you need and expect a quiet, self-contained stay.
Is there a kids club?
No. There is no supervised kids club here; the entertainment is the desert itself, with buggy rides, oasis walks and stargazing. Families who want organised childcare should look at a larger resort.
Do we need a car?
Effectively yes. The resort is deep in the Ashar Valley and the sights are a 20 to 40 minute drive, so a hire car or arranged transfers make the stay far easier with children.
Similar family stays
in AlUla
Our Habitas AlUla
A spread of freestanding villas among the palm groves, each with a private deck and canyon views, in Alcove, Canyon and Celestial styles that mostly hold a family of three to four. Children stay free in the parent's villa, cots come on request, and a handful of larger villas suit bigger families, so ask about the two-key or connecting options when you book.
in AlUla
Shaden Resort AlUla
A big range of chalet-style rooms and larger units, from standard doubles up to family rooms and a six-bedroom Royal Suite, with some rooms offering their own private pool. Cots can be arranged and the family formats and multi-room suites make this one of the easier AlUla properties for a larger family or two families travelling together.
in AlUla
Ashar Tented Resort
Luxury tents strung along the Ashar Valley floor, from one-bedroom up to a two-bedroom tent suite of around 90 square metres that is built for a small family, each with en-suite bathrooms, a living room and a terrace with sun loungers and a fireplace. The two-bedroom suites give parents and children their own space under canvas, and cots can be arranged, though a soft-sided tent is worth weighing with a very light-sleeping baby.
Some links are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.