We Love —
- Visiting Riyadh, where modern metropolis meets ancient forts, palaces and museums.
- Admiring some of the oldest and most outstanding carvings on the Arabian Peninsula at Jubbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Strolling among the lush palm trees and verdant greenery of the gorgeous Al Ula Oasis Trail.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
Visit Saudi Arabia —
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East, with ten major urban centers – Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Medina, Hofuf, Taif, Khobar, Yanbu, Dhahran and Dammam.
Saudi offers awe-inspiring natural phenomena and exciting, unique ways to explore its diverse terrain, making the kingdom worthy of a spot on any outdoor enthusiast’s bucket list. From desert adventures on a camel's back, exploring nature through fantastic hiking trails or scuba-diving in the Red Sea - exploring Saudi has never been so enticing.
Soak up diverse culture as you visit mosques and museums, diving deep into the rich history of your surroundings. After a spot of shopping in the local souks, experience a land where the past comes to life as you explore the intricate rock carvings of early civilizations or of Nabatean Hegra.
Your Itinerary in Brief —
Take a Saudi Arabian adventure to the ancient cities and kingdoms of this desert country set on the Arabian Peninsula. Head out on this 9-night tour and discover the spectacular natural treasures, ancient religious sites and historic landmarks that define this unique country. Start your journey in Riyadh, and continue on The Heritage Route to Buraydah, Hail, AlUla, Madinah and Jeddah, before your flight home.
Your itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Riyadh
Day 2: Riyadh
Day 3: Ushaiqer - Buraydah
Day 4: Haïl
Day 5 & 6: AlUla
Day 7: The Dissa Valley
Day 8: Madinah
Day 9: Jeddah
Day 10: Departure
Your Itinerary —
Day 1: Arrive in Riyadh
You will be met at the airport where your guide will be waiting for you, ready to take you to your first hotel.
The first stop on this fantastic tour is Riyadh, where traditional charm rubs shoulders with urban modernity. Palaces, museums, souks and colourful neighbourhoods define this city rich in history, the perfect introduction to Saudi Arabia.
DAY 2: RIYADH
Start the day with a trip to Ad Diriyah, the capital of the first Saudi state. Discover Al Turaif, a carefully restored mud-brick district and UNESCO World Heritage Site (please note that this site is closed for development reasons and the tour will be from the outside).
Next, visit the National Museum and learn about the country's roots.
After lunch, head to the Al Masmak fortress. Surrounded by sand, this squat fortress was built around 1865 and was the scene of a daring raid by Ibn Saud in 1902, during which a spear was thrown against the main gate with such force that the head is still lodged in the gate wall.
Visitors can also see the Souq Al-Zal, one of the oldest traditional markets. Typical clothing, antiques, oud (Arabian perfume) and jewellery are just some of the items on sale. End the day with a trip to the impressive Kingdom Tower, a 99-storey, 302.3-metre skyscraper, now the fifth highest in the country.
DAY 3: USHAIQER - BURAYDAH
Day 4: Hail
Make an early morning stop at an authentic camel market to see auctions, bargaining, and how the locals negotiate pricing in a country where camels remain valuable to own and trade. Next, head to Hail, around a 3 hour drive away. Continue on to Jubbah, a worldwide famous site containing some of the oldest and most outstanding carvings of the Arabian Peninsula, and recognised in 2015 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
After a tour in Jubbah, visit Airef fort, perched on top of a hill.
DAY 5: ALULA
Today you will be taking the road to AlUla, a journey of around 4 and a half hours. Enjoy a tour of the old town, an essential settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Makkah. Discover its unique architecture: its houses were designed to be built next to each other to form a protected fortification with 14 gates, which opened in the morning to welcome travellers, pilgrims and other visitors, and closed in the evening.
Continue to Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal AlFil, one of the many geological wonders of AlUla and the product of millions of years of wind and water erosion. The beauty of the rough structure is enhanced by its surroundings, a desert of fine sand dotted with other rocks, many of which are equally impressive in size and have interesting shapes and figures. You will enjoy the soothing environment with a café and restaurant, especially nice for watching the sunset.
DAY 6: ALULA
Next, visit Madain Saleh, the most iconic historical site in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Madain Saleh means "the cities of Saleh", after the name of the Prophet Saleh who tried to convert the ancient people of Thamud to Islam. The importance of Madain Saleh is evident in its 111 monumental tombs, 94 of which were decorated with majestic facades on the sandstone massifs of the region, notably the Jibal Ithlib.
AlUla has many viewpoints that offer an elevated view of the epic landscape. Climb the black lava rock terrain of Harrat Uwayrid to see views of Dadan, the old city, the fort and the AlUla oasis, which are even more impressive at sunset. Please note: Harra is only accessible by SUV.
Day 7: The Dissa Valley
Drive to Wadi Al Dissa, near Tabuk, for a journey of about 2-3 hours. Upon arrival in the valley, you will have lunch and taste the traditional dishes prepared by the team. After lunch, walk through this beautiful valley and explore the Wadi Dissah, a 15 km canyon crossing the Jebel Qabal. The side cliffs are more than 100m high, and can reach 500m in some places!
From these massive rocky peaks on either side of the canyon, you can enjoy the most spectacular scenery. The second amazing - and most unexpected - feature of Wadi Qaraqir is a river that runs through the western part of the canyon towards the city of Istanbul. As a result, lush vegetation flourishes between the canyon's majestic cliffs.
DAY 8: MADINAH
After breakfast, drive to Madinah (approx. 4 hours) and visit one of the many museums displaying the history and artefacts of the city and its importance to the Islamic world.
Have lunch in Tabakha souq, an open local market famous for sea food and kebab, before visiting the Grand Mosque, an iconic landmark in Madinah and the second holiest place in Islam. End the tour in Qiba Street, which connects the Grand Mosque and Qiba Mosque. Learn a general overview of how the city was built and shaped over 1400 years.
DAY 9: JEDDAH
Your Hotels —
HAND-PICKED JUST FOR YOU
Throughout your tour you will stay in carefully selected 5* hotels as per the itinerary.
Hygiene and safety measures :
Throughout your tour, your establishments are committed to respecting the sanitary measures in force to ensure your safety and well-being.
Your Dining Choices
This offer is based on a Bed and Breakfast stay. Please note that due to the current global health pandemic (COVID-19), certain restaurants and buffets may be closed or places and tables may be limited. We strongly recommend that you contact the hotel for further information two days before your arrival.
Your Journey to Riyadh —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy, Premium or Business class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
