From sweeping desert sands to ancient settlements, these breathtaking drone shots lift the lid on Saudi Arabia’s varied landscape.
French photographer Eric Lafforgue ventured to the country last December and hired a knowledgeable local guide so that he could go to more remote areas with no tourists in sight. Summing up what he saw in three words, the 53-year-old told MailOnline Travel: ‘Untouched, fairytale-like and surprising.’
Lafforgue’s rare aerial shots show traditional villages and towns crafted out of mud and stone, with the buildings blending into the desert landscape. He said locals were eager to see his bird’s eye photos as they’d never seen their houses from the air before.
And it is this human interaction that the photographer enjoys. He first visited Saudi Arabia eight years ago to ‘see what’s behind the headlines’ and he says each time he’s visited since, he’s witnessed nothing but ‘great hospitality’ from the people he’s met.
For those who are planning to visit Saudi Arabia, Lafforgue notes that tourist visas can now be obtained without the strict requirements which previously made it almost impossible and the ‘roads are good everywhere’.
However, he cautions: ‘You will not find a tourist guide book on Saudi Arabia, so having a good human guide is a must.’