From Riyadh to Jeddah on historical tracks
Saudi Arabia Roundtrip | Duration: from 11 days
Itinerary
Welcome to Riyadh
Welcome to Riyadh, the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia, where old-world charm meets 21st-century vision. Riyadh province - also known as Al-Wosta - is home to the country's capital: a modern metropolis with a thriving financial and business center and a growing cultural scene.
Today we welcome you at the airport, where your guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Riyadh
We start the day with a historical overview of the Saudi capital. At the National Museum, you will discover Saudi Arabia's rich past on an amazing journey that will take you thousands of miles across the kingdom. Among other historical buildings, you will also visit Souq Al-Zal, one of the oldest traditional markets.
The original capital of the first Saudi state is a must-see. The Al Turaif neighborhood, a meticulously restored mud-brick district designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, offers a glimpse into the country's extraordinary heritage.
After our lunch break, we will enjoy sunset views from the Kingdom Centre, a 99-story, 302.3-meter skyscraper. After sunset, visit one of the local homes and learn about Saudi hospitality. Enjoy a homemade traditional meal, exchange ideas about culture and customs. On this 3-hour excursion, you will get a good insight into the Saudi family lifestyle and what they value.
Buraidah
After an eventful day in Riyadh, you will drive to Buraidah, the capital of the Al-Qassim region in north-central Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. On the way you will stop in various traditional villages. Upon arrival in Buraidah, we check into our hotel and then visit the Al-Qassim Museum. The design of the museum was inspired by the historical urban architecture of the region. The architect wants to highlight the architectural heritage of Al-Qassim through the facade and interior of the museum and uses local materials for the surfaces.
Trip to Ha'il
Ha'il is located in the central north of the country and is a land where the dream landscapes of Arabia are the theater of 1001 nights.
Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and head straight to Jubbah. This world-renowned site is home to some of the oldest and most outstanding carvings in the Arabian Peninsula. It was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2015. After our tour of Jubbah, we will visit Al-Qishlah Castle, built in the 1940s during the principality of Prince Abdul-Aziz binMusa'ad Al Saud of Ha'il Province.
AlUla
Today we will drive from Hail to Al Ula. Upon arrival, we will drive to the house of a family located in the heart of Al Ula and our host will welcome us. The family produces and exports dates all over the Kingdom as their farm produces the best varieties of dates.
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
The next day you will explore AlUla and the surrounding area. We start with the most popular historical site in Saudi Arabia, Madain Saleh, the first to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The importance of Madain Saleh is ostensibly seen in the 111 monumental tombs, 94 of which were decorated with majestic facades on the sandstone massifs of the area, especially Jibal Ithlib.
The last stop is the Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal AlFil, one of the many geological wonders of AlUla, formed by natural forces.
In the ancient oasis of Dedan, near the present city of Al-Ula, a kingdom flourished from at least the 6th century to the 2nd century. About 1 kilometer south of the main excavation site of Dedan are two extraordinary tombs located about 50 meters above the wadi where the ancient oasis was located.
They are the only tombs decorated with two carved lions each, indicating the importance of their owners, who were governors or influential people. These lion sculptures are an excellent example of Mesopotamian influence and are the proud symbolic figures of this ancient oasis. After so much adventure, it is time to rest and relax as we will head to our campsite.
Dissa Valley
Today we will take a day trip to Tabuk to visit the Wadi Al Dissa.
This natural wonder was a well-kept secret among explorers for a long time before the road leading to the nearby town of Dissah was built. You will learn more about the valley during a hike. The first striking feature of this wadi is its dimensions: at the eastern entrance of the canyon, the rock walls are already over 100 at the western entrance of the wadi, the gap between the bottom of the wadi and the highest cliffs is up to 500 meters! The second - and most unexpected - feature of Wadi Qaraqir is a watercourse that flows through the western part of the canyon's gorge towards the town of Dissah. We'll head back to Tabuk, but with one last stop along the way to take one last look at one of the beautiful viewpoints and then continue on to Tabuk. Once we finish our tour today, we will drive back to Al Ula.
Medina
Today we will drive to Madinah after breakfast, which will take about 4 hours.
After our arrival drive to Mount Uhud, the largest mountain in Medina and an important pilgrimage site. Mount Uhud commemorates the famous battle between the Muslim and Meccan forces in 625 A.D. Next, we will have lunch at Tabakha Souq, an open local market known for seafood and kabbab. Afterwards, you will visit the Great Mosque, the Prophet's Mosque.
We end the tour in Qiba Street, which connects two mosques, the Great Mosque and the Qiba Mosque, both of which have significant importance in Islamic history.
Jeddah
In the morning you will visit the museum with many pre-Islamic, Islamic and Saudi objects representing different historical periods. This is followed by the highlight of this tour: the Old City. We start our tour in Al-Balad, as the locals call it, which means "the city" and refers to the base of Jeddah. Al-Balad is registered as a UNISCO World Heritage Site, and since then the old buildings with their unique window patterns and doors have been preserved, as well as the unique buildings, some of which are made of shells and stones. We take a break in one of the local coffee houses and taste the famous local tea mixed with milk and herbs. We visit the center of Al Balad and see the first hotel built in Jeddah, influenced by Italian architecture. We also visit one of the art houses and a museum with a unique collection of local art and antiques.
Departure
Today you have to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the airport and take your return flight.
