Saudi Arabia Full Show: Riyadh, AlUla, Tabuk & The South

Arrival at Riyadh airport, after visa and immigration formalities our representative will meet and escort the guests to their air-conditioned vehicle for their transfer to the hotel.
Depending on the time of arrival, if time permits, we shall do a short orientation tour of the city. Check in at the hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Riyadh.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National museum which is the primary custodian of the Saudi national heritage and culture. The Museum is a place of learning and discovery; it offers an overview to the history of Arabian civilization from Prehistory to our modern era.
We continue thereafter to the nearby Murabba Palace that is one of the historic buildings of the city. The palace was named after its square with the form of 400 by 400 meters. We will stop then for lunch in a typical local Saudi restaurant.
Afternoon we will continue our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the Masmak Fort and its museum that depicts the history of the history of the conquest of Arabia by the Al-Saud family. The palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. to serve as military garrison for the Abdullah bin Rashid army. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of the nation today, captured the fort in 1902 making of this fort the birthplace of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in.
We will then visit the Dira Souq famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques, while walking we will always smell sandal wood fragrance.
We will finish our tour with a stunning viewpoint from one of the famous landmarks of Riyadh, the Kingdom Tower or Faisaliah Tower, both great architectural achievements. At the end of the afternoon, back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Riyadh.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we need to start early to make the most of a truly unique Saudi experience., We will start our route to the highlight of our day the heritage village of Ushaiger, one of the oldest settlements in the region which boasts some stunning traditional Najdi architecture and considered one of the most attractive places in the country.
Then will continue our route passing the village of Al-Mithnab before we reach Buraydah’s. Buraydah is the capital of Al-Qassim Region in northcentral Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. Buraydah lies equidistant from the Red Sea to the west and the Persian Gulf to the east. Buraydah is located on the edge of the Wadi Al-Rummah.
In Buraydah, agriculture is still the cornerstone of the economy. The traditional oasis products of dates, lemon, orange and other fruits are still important. Visitors to Al Qassim will also be drawn to its fine traditional mudbrick architecture. The beautifully restored Souq Musawkaf in Unaizah is one of the best examples and comes into its own in the evenings when locals come to relax, drink coffee and socialize. Al Mithnab and Al Khabra both present almost complete examples of traditional fortified villages, while nearby in Al Bukayriyah, vast blackberries are grown in the desert and the visitor can explore historic castles amongst the date palms.
We will visit Al Bassam Heritage House Fans of heritage villages, museums, Souq, historical palaces and ancient architecture will particularly enjoy visiting Al Bassam House. In Unaizah (about 30 minutes outside Buraydah), Al Bassam House was built in 1955 using traditional Najdi ventilation and lighting techniques and spans 3,500 square meters. The palatial structure’s roof incorporates traditional Najd wood carvings. (Najdi is an architectural style characterized by unfired mud-brick, which has dominated the Saudi countryside for hundreds of years.) It features 30 rooms on two floors, including bedrooms, guest rooms and storage rooms. Inside, visitors can enjoy ancient crafts, traditional foods, folk tales, poems and ancestral heritage and history. Drive to your hotel late in the evening Check in , dinner and overnight in Buraydah.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today morning we will visit the camel Market in Buraidah. Every morning at 6am the outskirts of Buraidah are home to the world’s largest camel market, where thousands of camels (as well as goats and sheep) are bought and sold, along with saddles and other accessories. The visit to the market is a truly unique Saudi experience. After the camel market visit leave Qassim, and drive further into the desert. We stop at the pre-Islamic city of Fayd. This place used to be on the old caravan routes.
Then we depart to Ha’il. Ha’il lies at the foot of the imposing Shammar mountain range whose is name also the one of a large northern Arabian tribe. Renowned for its hospitable people, Ha’il is traditionally the home of Saudi Arabia’s poets and writers. An interesting fact about Ha’il is that most of the early European explorers passed by this city during the 19th century (Charles Doughty, Lady Blunt, Charles Huber, Julius Euting…).
Lunch upon arrival. We will visit the A’Arif Fort and the nearby heritage museum. Then we will have a walk at the traditional market where we will find the local delicacies. We will pass also by the Ha’il Regional Museum, and if it is open, we will drop there to admire its collections. Check in. Dinner & overnight in Ha’il.

Breakfast at the hotel. During this drive we will cross the legendary desert of the Nefud Al-Kebir whose name stands for the “great vast extent of sand dunes”. This journey will lead us through this ocean of sand with wave-shaped dunes as high as 100 meters. Standing as an island in the middle of the ocean is the Jebel umm Sanman, a mountain at the bottom of which a lake formed some 10,000 years ago when the climate of the Arabian Peninsula was more humid. It was used later as an oasis for the mighty travelers who crossed the Nefud Al-Kebir by foot, including the French explorer Charles Huber who did the perilous trip during the hot month of May in 1880.
The highlight of our day will be, Jubbah, where several archaeological sites of human settlement from the Middle Paleolithic period were found around the margin of the paleolake.
Lunch en route. This ancient oasis is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops that are filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions. Jubbah benefited from past humid phases that turned the arid Arabian Peninsula into a savannah similar to what is found today in Africa. During the last humid period that took place from the 10th to the 6th millennium BCE the African monsoon rains filled rivers and lakes where wildlife thrived. If the animals that used to live there became instinct because of the desertification that started during the 6th millennium BCE, some men fixed forever their presence in Jubbah thanks to carvings of aurochs, cheetahs, lions. Those drawings are still visible today on several sandstone outcrops like the Jebel Umm Sanman. Jubbah, the other major carving site of Hail Province, where listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2015 for their numerous petroglyph panels and rich inscriptions. We depart to Sakaka in late afternoon. Dinner and check in in SAKAKA.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spread over an area of 139,000 km, Al Jouf is an important region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The region is among the most popular tourist destinations, blessed with an abundance of palm and olive trees dotting the lush natural landscape. The name Al Jouf means ‘cavity’ or ‘depression’, which refers to the broad valleys and the beds of seasonal streams found in the region in abundance.
We start off with the visit to the Domat Al Jandal Lake,which is the only lake in the Kingdom, making it truly unique. The lake is located in the middle of the desert and has become one of the must-visit destinations for tourists looking for some excitement in the form of jet skiing and other water sports. It spreads over an area of over a million square meters. The lake is around 15 meters deep. It holds more than eight million cubic meters of water.
Then head to Marid Castle which sits on a rocky hill, 600 m high, in the Al Der’ District in Dumat Al-Jandal. The fortress was constructed between the 1st and 2nd century using Jandal stone, and hence is named Dumat Al-Jandal. The exceptional structural design of this castle shows its ancient roots. There are stone walls with two main entrances leading to the castle and several observation towers and buildings.
We will visit the Regional Al-Jouf Museum, which has an area of 12,000 square meters. The museum is placed strategically in the Domat Al-Jandal region. It overlooks the archeological area, including Marid Castle, Omar Mosque, and the neighboring Al-Nuweissir Museum. One can also view many other vital landmarks of civilization in Al-Jouf from the museum. The museum displays artifacts from ancient times showcased in a modern way. It is perfect for families with kids to spend their day learning about the region and Arabian Peninsula.
Lastly we visit the Rajajil Columns, also known as the ‘Stonehenge of Saudi Arabia,’ is a mysterious site 20 kilometers south of Sakaka. Rajajil means ‘the men’ and is said to be the oldest monument in the region, according to historians. The origin of the monument is shrouded in mystery, but the place attracts a large number of visitors annually, not only from the Kingdom but from other places as well. The Rajajil Columns have many superstitions and myths attached to them, including the site being a burial place in the past. Lunch enroute, and proceed to Tabuk. Dinner & overnight in Tabuk.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit a place called Hisma, which is also known as the Wadi Rum of Saudi Arabia because of its majestic grandiose formations similar to the ones found on the other side of the border with Jordan. Hisma is home to hundreds of ancient rock art and ancient inscriptions, some in pre-Islamic scripts dating back to the caravan trade, and some in old Arabic dating back to the first decades of Islam.
We will have a picnic during the excursion in the middle of the magic sceneries of Hisma. In the afternoon we will pass by the highest mountains in Saudi Arabia, the Jebel Al Laws, the mountain of almonds. People believe that this is the true site of the biblical Mount Sinai where Moses received the Tablets of Law. We will visit some sites that have features reminding the story of Moses. At the end of the day, we will head back to our hotel. Dinner & Overnight in Tabuk.

Breakfast at the hotel. Starting our tour today to Wadi Tayyib Al Ism (subject to approval by KSA authority), the possible location where Moses, brought his people out of Egypt. Tayyeb Al-Ism is the first place Moses (Musa) reached when he crossed the Red Sea and one of the magical natural wonders of Saudi Arabia that takes visitors by surprise. Visit wadi Tayyeb al ism valley one of the famous and most attractive places, surrounded by red-colored mountains and deep canyons this lush oasis was an ancient pit stop for weary travelers. The valley overlooks the sea and is known for its captivating nature and crystal.
Picnic lunch, then proceed to visit the Springs of Moses it is one of 12 Springs of Prophet Moses (as) is a historical landmark located in the valley of Maqna, Saudi Arabia. The sprouting of water and its flow against gravity in the middle of the desert appears to be nothing less than magical. These springs also pump water in the famous valley of Maqna through the sand holes that are driven by water flowing from the ground.
Drive to Al Suaedni Well Visit the Moses well at Maqna where it is believed that Moses took care of Jethro’s (Prophet Shuaib) daughters and helped them take out water for their sheep and this is the first place where Mose’s (Musa) met Zippora, Jethro’s daughter in this place and after married with her. The Mugha’yer Shuaib seems to appear from nowhere in the reddish desert west of Tabuk. Dinner & Overnight in Tabuk.

Breakfast at the hotel. Our target for today is the ancient oasis of AlUla but on the way, we will pass by the valley of Dissah (also known as Wadi Qaraqir) which is undoubtedly the most beautiful valley of Saudi Arabia with its 500 meters high sandstone cliffs on both sides of the canyon and the small rivers that runs through all year long. Every inch through this canyon is an amazement unique in the world. Dissah hosts another ancient oasis where we will see remains attesting of the long occupation of this wonderful place. We will have lunch en route. Dinner & overnight in AlUla.

Breakfast at the hotel. We depart for Dedan/ Ikmah tour. AlUla is an ancient oasis that is inhabited for the last 7000 years as testify ancient carvings in and around the oasis. During the 1st millennium BCE the city of Dedan develops thanks to its strategic location on the frankincense trade road to become one of the oldest Arabian kingdoms that ruled over most of what is today Tabuk and Madinah provinces.
Then will pass by the ancient city of Dedan that was an important oasis on the frankincense trade route between Southern Arabia and the Mediterranean World. Lunch in the city. Then we get a glimpse into AlUla’s not-so-distant past on the AlUla Old Town Tour.
We will go through AlUla Old Town, where pilgrims, travellers and permanent settlers congregated through the ages. Inhabited from before the 12th century up until the early 1980s, AlUla Old Town offers researchers unique oral histories and living memory that the area’s other heritage sites cannot. Dinner and overnight in AlUla.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start our journey with the visit of the famous Hegra (Madain Saleh) which is the first site of Saudi Arabia that was listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. Madain Saleh, whose original name was Al-Hijr or Hegra in Greek, is the southernmost important city of the Nabatean Kingdom that flourished thanks to the caravan trade between the 2nd century BCE until the Roman conquest in 106 CE. It is the second richest Nabatean city in terms of monumental tombs with 94 decorated funeral monuments including some of the most vibrant and well conserved architectural prowess of the Nabateans builders. We will lead you through this fascinating site and reveal to you the secrets of its tombs, ancient inscriptions, stone structures, and many others.
Our visit will be followed by a lunch before we head towards Jebel Al-Fil for a relaxing time next to the “Elephant rock”. At the end of the day, we go back to our hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight in AlUla.

Breakfast in the hotel. We will leave the hotel in the morning and drive to Khaybar, The last great ancient oasis. The oasis of Khaybar is located in the Madinah Province, 170 kilometers north of the city of Madinah, in a series of depressions that collects rain waters tanks to which palm trees are grown for millennia. Khaybar is surrounded by the lava fields called “Harrat(t)”, the largest one, the Harrat Khaybar, is called after its name. Until today Khaybar benefits from permanent water points that surface at the lowest parts of the oasis and a lush vegetation can grow naturally there. From the numerous wells a complex system of irrigation canals is still used today to water the palm trees and offer a unique sight on how could have looked an Arabian oasis two thousand years ago. Drive towards Medina and reach by afternoon. Check in at the hotel and overnight in Medina.

Breakfast at your hotel. Morning half day Medina visit. Considered one of the three holiest cities in Islam, Madinah is special to Muslims because it’s where Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was given refuge after his exile from Makkah. Originally known as Yathrib, Madinah was once an oasis city with a history that dates back to the 6th century BCE. Muslims have always had a special attachment to this city because it is where the Prophet lived, fought crucial battles, built his famous mosque and also where he was finally laid to rest. It is centered around the Prophet’s Mosque and other monuments that attract pilgrims from all over the world. During the day we will pass by Al Madinah Province, Al Masjid an Nabawi, Jannatul Baqi, Grave Of Hamzah, Al Noor Mall, Rashed Mall, Dar Al Madinah Museum, Masjid Al Ghamamah, Abu Bakar Masjed.
Lunch in the city. Then we leave to Jeddah, the coastal city on the red sea using the Haramain High Speed Rail connects the two holy cities of Saudi Arabia, Makkah and Madinah via the coastal city of Jeddah. Its name refers to the Haram which in Islam means the holiest place (the Ka’bah in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah) and the suffix “ain” meaning “the two” in Arabic. Today we leave the Hejaz Mountains for 2 hours ride down to the coastal plain called Tihamah until the city of Jeddah that lays on the Red Sea shore. Dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

Breakfast at your hotel. We will start our tour with the visit of Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum that presents the local and Arabian heritage. A unique site . We will then hit old Jeddah .We will enjoy a wonderful walking in Al-Balad , the old part of the city .This walk tour of the old Town will take you along all the less known must-see local spots: Old Market hidden gems, Old Jeddah hidden galleries, local Jeddah food only for locals…
While visiting Al-Balad, visitors will be taken to see Beit Nassif (exterior), one of the prominent renovated structures in the old city, which dates back to the mid 1800’s. The five-story building provides a rare opportunity for the visitors to experience the blend of traditional architecture with modernity.
Lunch in the city. Then we will pass by the Al Rahmah Mosque also known as the Floating Mosque, this single domed architectural marvel that sits literally on the sea, symbolizes Jeddah’s bold storm into the modern age. Sitting on an enviable location, the mosque’s courtyard offers unencumbered views of the Red Sea.
Our tour will end with the Jeddah Corniche which is the 30 km coastal resort area of the city of Jeddah. Located along the Red Sea, the corniche features a coastal road, recreation areas, pavilions as well as King Fahd’s Fountain, the highest fountain in the world (usually operates after 6pm). Dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

Breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the fight to Jazan. Upon arrival, departure to Fayfa Mountains, towering more than 2000 m above the surrounding region and nicknamed “The Neighbours of the Moon” by the local communities. Agricultural terraces were built on the slope of the mountain to develop the fertile land. Goods are transported along the narrow roads by hand-made carriages. Continue to Jazan Heritage Village, for a glimps into Jazan’s past; The Heritage Village is a restored settlement and cultural landmark showcasing the old mud house architecture as well as & three story house. Transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jazan.
Note: Domestic flight not included in the rate.

Breakfast at your hotel & check out. Departure to Abha and Jebal Sawda, or Black Mountain, Saudi’s highest mountain at just over 3000 m. The mountain lies about 20km from Abha, and is covered in Juniper trees, and its cooler climate attract many locals during the summer. Continue to El Sahab Park, located above and surrounded by clouds.
Lunch in the area. In the afternoon, visit Shada Castle, that was constructed in 1927 by the then governor. Today it house a collection of handicrafts, old coins and old photographs depicting local life.
Drive to the Al-Muftaha district. that houses art work of local and regional artists. Visit Fatima’s Museum for Women’s Heritage showcasing local art characterised by geometric shapes and bright colours.
Continue to Jebal Akhdar, or Green Mountain, for a view over the city. In the eening, the mountain is lit up with green lights, giving the mountain its name. Dinner and overnight in Abha.

Breakfast at your hotel. Departure to Rijal Almaa Heritage Village. Rijal Alma was established about a 1000 years ago and was an important commercial point on the trading routes between Yemen end the Levant as well as an important point of connection for pilgrims on their way to Makkah and Medina. The village is nicknamed ‘gingerbread village’ for the characteristic architecture. The houses are up to 6 floors high The designs in the facade of the buildings have a social significance. Visit the village museum. Lunch in the area. Return to Abha. Dinner and overnight in Abha.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our way to AL BAHAH early this morning. After a 3 hours ride, we will reach this city in the mountains. Lunch on arrival. Then we start to discover the highlands of Al-Bahah, located more than 2000 meters above sea level. We start with a visit to some traditional stone houses typical of the southern mountains of Arabia.
Then we visit some amazing viewpoints from the vertiginous cliffs of the Sarawat mountain range in Al-Bahah and the nearby city of Baljureshi. In the afternoon we drive down the cliff to reach Zee Ayn, one of the most iconic spectacles of Saudi Arabia. Also known as the Marble village, Zee Ayn is built on a marble hill that offers unique and mesmerizing scenery. We roam through the old streets meandering by the elegant traditional houses of this 400-year-old village. From there we enjoy viewpoints overlooking the valley down the Sarawat mountains to the oasis.
To complete the picture postcard view, a nearby natural spring provides water to a lush oasis surrounding the bottom of the hill. The village was named after a water spring (Ayn in Arabic) that flows continuously from the nearby mountains to several reservoirs, and each particular pond has its own name. Dinner & overnight in Al-Bahah.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our journey to the mountains of TAIF. We are in the Hada Mountains above Mecca and on the Eastern slopes of the Al-Sarawat mountains. The city of Taif, has a cool and green Summer People travel to TAIF for its Green nature and its weather, its beautiful scenery and the town’s relaxed atmosphere.
Our tour will start with a drive enjoying the majestic panoramic view of al Hada mountain. We will pass by a Rose Farm/factory. We will then reach the Sharif Museum. In the afternoon, after enjoying the view of mountains, the old stone paths, cars that passing though the road from Al hada Cable car. Then check in in our hotel. Dinner & overnight in TAIF.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, depending on the flight time, we depart to Jeddah airport for our final departure. Standard check out time is 1200 hrs. END OF SERVICE