Explore the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Arrive in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Once a desert trading post on the caravan route, this skyscraper-filled city is fighting a battle between the old and the new. Riyadh has a more traditional atmosphere than its Red Sea sister, Jeddah, and its historical significance as the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia can be seen in the contrast between the modern, gleaming buildings in the business district, and the many forts, museums and colourful souks that confirm the city’s ancient past.

Due to the number of evening flights into Riyadh, the Tour Leader plans to do the welcome meeting in the morning of Day 2. There are no planned activities today, so you can arrive into Riyadh at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into King Khalid International Airport (RUH), which is around 40 minutes’ drive.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may wish to ascend the Faisaliah Tower or the Sky Bridge for their vantage points over the city. We will visit the Sky Bridge tomorrow but not at sunset, and it gives a great view of the Riyadh skyline as the sun goes down.

Saudi Arabia is a vast country, so there will be some quite long drives with key stops along the way and a few early starts. We will use a comfortable charter bus throughout the itinerary. Please speak to your leader if you have any questions about driving times.

Riyadh is a chaotic, sprawling city, where ancient palaces and palm trees are found just a few traffic-laden streets away from bright, modern architecture. We’ll get a feeling of both the old and new today.

Before the 1930s, Riyadh was a small, walled oasis town in what was then known as the Second Saudi State. After Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud conquered the state in the late 1920s he retook his family’s ancient seat and brought together most of the Arabian Peninsula in what he went on to name ‘Saudi Arabia’. This morning our tour will start in the Deera neighbourhood, close to our hotel, where we will explore this traditional souk area and some of the vendors who have been selling here for years. This walking tour will give you the opportunity to discuss the changes that Saudi Arabia has experienced in recent. To follow, we’ll learn some of this history in a trip to the National Museum – the museum is enormous so we will pick and choose some of the key exhibits. If you arrive to Riyadh early on day 1 it’s well worth spending more time here.

In the afternoon, we will continue our tour of Riyadh which, like most Saudi Arabian cities, is a slave to the motor vehicle. Due to a combination of the heat and the status that cars give, Saudis drive everywhere – this means that you’re unlikely to find people walking around. During our explorations, we’ll see how the city has grown quite dramatically over the last 30-40 years. We visit the modern part of the city, taking the lift up the Kingdom Tower skyscraper for impressive views. From here we will also visit the unmissable mud-brick architecture of Diriyah. Established in the 18th century, this impressive walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which served as the first capital of the Saudi Kingdom and played a crucial role in the rise of the Al Saud dynasty.

Leaving Riyadh this morning, we’ll drive north-west to the Ushaiqer Heritage Village, a winding maze of alleyways and mud-brick houses. Nearby springs and palm groves made this a convenient stopping point for ancient pilgrims to Mecca. The village is a glimpse into an old way of life, with some incredible examples of ancient Najdi architecture. It’s still partially inhabited today, and there is a lot of protection work going on here to ensure that it retains its character for future generations.

From here we drive on to Buraidah. The area is one of the country’s biggest date producers, and we have the chance to sample produce with a visit to a date shop before our arrival at the hotel.

Rise early this morning to drive to the dusty outskirts of Buraidah, where we find the Kingdom’s famous camel market. A chaotic melee of people, sounds and smells, the daily market sees hundreds of camels, as well as sheep and goats, being bought and sold by local Saudis. A visit to the market is a glimpse at traditions that haven’t changed in hundreds of years. The auctions are loud and theatrical, with the best camels going for many thousands of dollars.

In the early afternoon we set off to Jubbah. This oasis was once a huge inland lake, rich in wildlife and plant life and on the edge of the windswept Nafud Desert. On a set of sandstone rocks, which pop out of the sandy floor at the western edge of this oasis town, we’ll find some of the Middle East’s most extensive and important ancient rock carvings. These Neolithic petroglyphs date back as early as 5500BC, and depict scenes of everyday life; hunting is widely represented, and from the images we can see the kind of animals that would have been prevalent at the watering hole, from camel to ibex. Jubbah’s rock art has been a crucial link in the chain for palaeontologists to put together a picture of Neolithic human life not just in the Middle East but also spreading through North Africa.

Later in the afternoon we head to Ha’il, our home for tonight. This small town lies on the edge of the massive Jabal Aja protected area, and is surrounded by the red granite hills of this desert range. We’ll explore the town, including the massive A’arif fortress. This 17th-century monolith is visible on its hilltop position from anywhere in Ha’il.

This morning we drive from Ha’il to AlUla, possibly Saudi Arabia’s best kept secret. The Nabateans, the same civilisation that built Petra, chose Hegra as their most important city in the south of their kingdom. AlUla is renowned for its more than 100 tombs, each exquisitely carved from the area’s soft sandstone and inscribed with Nabataean writings. Spending two full days here will give you plenty of time to experience and soak up the beauty of this incredible archaeological site which is still being uncovered to this day. We end our day at Elephant Rock, an instantly-recognisable geological feature that takes its name from its elephantine shape.

We will be staying at a desert camp for the next three nights. Dinner is included this evening at our desert accommodation. The resort is just under an hour away from the Old Town and it consists of private ensuite tents surrounded by the peace and quiet of AlUla desert. Our tents are equipped with ensuite bathrooms featuring western-style toilets and hot showers. The camp has a communal area for meals and socialising, located at its centre. Because most accommodations in AlUla are situated at a distance, we can expect to spend a fair amount of time driving to and from the camp and between the various archaeological sites.

A short drive this morning brings us to the Lion Tombs of Dadan. Pre-dating the Nabatean Empire, the kings of Dadan, later named Lihyan, ruled from the 6th to the 2nd Century BC. At their capital, Dadan, the remains of ancient tombs have been found hewn into the rockface at different heights and of different sizes. The name ‘Lions Tomb’ comes from the carved lion sculptures found outside one of the necropolis entrances – denoting the importance of its owner.

From here, we continue to what may be one of the highlights of our Saudi Arabian journey – the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra. This set of ornately carved tombs was constructed in the 1st Century AD by the Nabatean people, and it would become their second-largest city after the capital, Petra, in Jordan. These magnificent tombs are eerily quiet in contrast to Petra, but as tourism grows we can expect this to change dramatically within the next few years. For the moment, what was once a thriving city at the southern-most part of the spice trade, and a key part of the Nabatean Empire, is now a deserted outpost, with many buildings partially hidden under layers of sand.

Please note, the sites around AlUla currently depend on timed tickets, so the order of our visits may change. We may also have to split the group in two depending on the maximum numbers permitted at either site. A fascinating fact is that archaeologists are constantly at work here, so while it is rare, they might need to close some of the sites at short notice. Our understanding is greatly appreciated while they work hard to preserve and uncover history.

This morning, we’ll go on a guided tour of the unique Maraya Theatre, where we’ll admire its striking modern architecture and stunning mirror design from the outside. This unforgettable visit will immerse us in the heart of Saudi’s artistic innovation and architectural excellence.

After lunch, the tour leader will guide you through AlUla’s Old Town. A maze of tightly packed streets, hundreds of mudbrick buildings, and an impressive watchtower fort, Old Town was inhabited from before the 12th century up until the early 1980s. The rest of the afternoon is free to carry on exploring Old Town’s souk and its hand-made crafts which make for some amazing souvenirs.

Please note that today’s activities and times are all subject to availability. The Maraya Theatre visit is a relatively new experience for the general public. Your tour leader will let you know if the order of the visits will change or if the visit to the theatre is unavailable.

Later in the day we’ll make our way back to our desert camp. With no light pollution, stargazing while in AlUla is a must. Your tour leader will suggest the best spots around the camp area for the perfect post-dinner activity. With virtually no light pollution, except on a full moon and cloudy nights, AlUla’s sky can offer the most immersive and magnificent stargazing experience.

Driving south to Medina, the desert extends before us, with the Sarawat Mountains flanking us to the left.

On arrival to the holy city of Medina, we will visit Archer’s Hill – an important battle site in Islamic history. Medina is the Islamic world’s second holy city after Mecca, and the Prophet’s Mosque, right in the centre of the city, is home to the grave of the Prophet Mohammed. This innermost part of the city is restricted to Muslims, but we will take the opportunity to visit those places that we can.

This evening, we will be having a meal with a local Saudi family, giving us a fantastic opportunity to exchange our lives with local people and discuss the importance of the Islamic faith with those living in its heart. The delicious meal will usually include a tagine, with vegetarian options, a local rice dish, salads, dessert and, of course, coffee and dates.

After many days inland surrounded by the beautiful red sand of the desert, today we head to the coast for a change of scenery and for a load of Vitamin Sea. Yanbu is an ancient Red Sea port town whose history date back approximately 2,500 years. As expected of virtually every Red Sea destination, Yanbu is also famous for its coral reefs and today we will enjoy a boat trip with some snorkelling opportunities. A light lunch will be served on board. Please note that due to local regulations, boats cannot carry more than 12 customers, therefore for bigger groups we will use two separate boats.

In the afternoon there is free time to rest and explore Yanbu’s lovely little souk. On our way back to the hotel, we will be able to see T.E. Lawrence house from the outside.

We set off early in the morning leaving the Red Sea behind us. Today will be a day of long drives with key stops for rest and refreshments along the way. We aim to reach Ta’if for a quick lunch and a wander.

Ta’if is surrounded by lush wadis and mountains that bloom with roses in April. More than 900 farms produce upwards of 300 million roses for worldwide export each year, and it’s from this industry that the city takes its name, the ‘City of Roses’. While in Ta’if you may like to purchase rosewater, scented rose oil or a refreshing rose tea as a souvenir of your time here.

After a quick lunch and a wander in the souk, we leave the city for the Al Bahah region. If Ta’if has given us a taster of life outside of the desert, Al Bahah will strip us of all illusions that Saudi Arabia is a mass of dust and sand. At 2200m altitude, the region is surrounded by forest and barren rock formations, with hairpin bends taking travellers to small mountain top villages. We’ll arrive in the evening and settle in to our hotel and have dinner.

Spend a day of adventure exploring everything that this wonderful area has to offer. We set out from our hotel onto the 25 tunnels road – a deeply dramatic road of tight hairpin bends that descends hundreds of metres in a short time. We’ll visit the 600 year-old marble village of Thee Ain, a mysterious looking set of stone houses that were originally built as a citadel on top of a white marble outcrop, surrounded by banana plantations, fruit trees and mountains. The 8th-century construction is visually magnificent from afar, and fascinating close up. We’ll have a delicious al fresco lunch in a calm and shady spot, in the shadow of the mountain village.

After our visit here we set off to meet our 4WD vehicles, for our adventurous drive to Shada Mountain, navigating hairpin bends on our uphill journey. At the top is a small ‘resort’ – a peaceful homestay that has several small rooms, a tranquil garden of fruit trees and a dramatic setting overlooking the valley below. We’ll undertake an easy-to-moderate walk here among some remarkable rock formations. The walk itself is flat, but on some rocky terrain with a couple of narrow sections as we negotiate the space between rocks. These fantastical grottos and caves were, until recently, inhabited by humans – with some of the cave-dwellings going back hundreds of years. We go back to the city for dinner and our hotel.

We meet the Red Sea again today, as we journey back northwards towards the coastal city of Jeddah. It’s a long day of driving, but we’ll make stops en route. Jeddah is the largest commercial city in Saudi Arabia. A major port, an historical Red Sea trading point, and an important gateway for the thousands of yearly pilgrims heading to Mecca or Medina, the city has a bustling atmosphere of opportunity and growth.

We hope to arrive around 4pm, although this may depend on traffic. On arrival we’ll be free to explore the city – the Islamic Museum is one of our options, a veritable showcase of Arab history and tradition. Alternatively, you may wish to go for a walk along the corniche, which is a key spot for locals to socialise, stroll and enjoy the evening air.

We’ll explore Jeddah today and in the morning, we will be meeting a Saudi local for a city tour with a difference. Our exploration beings with a visit to the enormous fish market. Seafood is essential to the economy of Jeddah, and a visit to this thriving fish market puts this into perspective. We’ll also explore Jeddah’s corniche, which extends many miles along the Red Sea coast – this long sea front incorporates parks, mosques and playgrounds.

After lunch we drive to the UNESCO-listed old town of Al Balad. A quirk of Saudi culture, which we will have noticed throughout the trip, is that many places only come alive after 4pm, with souks, shops and cafes opening late into the night. This is no different in Al Balad. Founded in the 7th Century, Al Balad was once the city centre of Jeddah and an essential Red Sea port. This wonder of architecture is famous for its wooden ‘roshans’ (intricately carved facades), which provide fascinating subjects for photographers. During our guided tour of Al Balad we’ll enter some of the houses for a perspective on how people lived and worked in old Arabia. We’ll also have some free time to explore the maze of narrow streets that lead into the Souk Al Alawi section of Balad – in the late afternoon this area is transformed into a busy network of shops selling rugs, herbs, silver and perfume, as well as a lively street market with everything from okra and rice to meat and chilli peppers.

Our included meal this evening will give us the opportunity to sample what Jeddah is really known for – fish! We’ll go to one of the city’s popular fish restaurants and try the local catch. It’s a fitting end to our Saudi Arabian journey.