Taif in rose season: when to go and what to see

Taif sits in the mountains above Makkah, some 1,700 metres up, where the air is cool enough for fruit orchards and roses. For a few weeks each spring the terraces around the city bloom with the Taif rose, a pink damask rose with a scent strong enough to fill a valley. The oil distilled from it is among the most prized in Arabian perfumery, and rose water is part of the ceremonial washing of the Kaaba.

In 2024 UNESCO added the cultural practices related to Taif roses to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

When the roses bloom

The harvest begins in March and lasts about six weeks, into April. The exact dates shift a little each year with the weather. These are also the weeks of the Taif Rose Festival in the city's parks. Outside the season the farms are green but not in flower, so if roses are the reason for your trip, plan for late March or early April.

A morning at a rose farm

Roses are picked by hand at dawn, before the sun warms the petals and the scent fades. By mid-morning the baskets go to the distillery. There the petals are sealed in copper pots with water and heated over a fire; the steam is cooled and collected as rose water, and a thin layer of oil rises to the top. It takes many thousands of roses to produce one small vial of oil, which is why it costs what it does.

The main farming areas are Al-Hada, on the escarpment above Makkah, and Al-Shafa, higher and further south. Many family farms and distilleries welcome visitors during the harvest. Our Taif rose farm visit includes the picking, the distillery and time to buy directly from the family.

What else to see in Taif

• The Al-Hada road. The mountain road that climbs from the plain of Makkah in a long series of bends, with viewpoints and, often, baboons by the roadside.
• Al-Shafa. Cool highland villages, fruit farms and wide views over the Sarawat mountains.
• Shubra Palace. A palace from the early twentieth century with carved wooden balconies, now the city's museum.
• The central souq. Rose water, rose oil, honey, and pomegranates and grapes in season.

Planning your visit

• Season. For roses, late March to April. For cool summer weather, June to September, when Taif is the hill retreat of the Hijaz.
• Getting there. Taif is about an hour and a half by road from Makkah and about two hours from Jeddah. It also has an airport with domestic flights.
• Pilgrims. Taif lies outside the miqat. If you go on from Taif to Makkah for Umrah, you enter ihram at the miqat of Qarn al-Manazil on the way down; our miqat finder shows where it is.
• How long. A long day trip from Makkah or Jeddah is possible; one night lets you be at a farm at dawn.
• What to buy. Rose water for cooking and for guests, and oil if your budget allows. Buy at the distillery and ask to see how it is made.

For more on the city and where to stay, see our Taif guide. The mountain towns further south are described in where Saudis go in summer.

Common questions

When is the rose season in Taif?

The harvest begins in March and lasts about six weeks, so late March and early April are the safest dates. The timing moves slightly each year with the weather.

Can you visit Taif from Makkah in one day?

Yes. Taif is about an hour and a half from Makkah by road, so a day trip is easy. Pilgrims who return to Makkah for another Umrah enter ihram at the miqat on the way back.

What is special about the Taif rose?

It is a strongly scented damask rose grown on mountain terraces. Its oil is one of the most valued in Arabian perfumery, and the traditions of growing and distilling it are recognised by UNESCO.