Highlights
AlUla - Discover this ancient Nabatean city, second in size only to Petra, in the middle of the desert Al Baha - Experience the mountainous side of Saudi in this region of cave-dwellings, hidden villages and hairpin roads Red Sea - Explore the atmospheric alleyways of the UNESCO-listed old town of Jeddah, and enjoy a boat trip along the coast
Itinerary
Unveil the many faces of Saudi Arabia on this 14-day tour from Riyadh to Jeddah, crafted for travelers who relish history, culture, and off-the-beaten-path experiences. This moderate-activity journey reveals a land where ancient trade routes, prehistoric rock art, and bustling souks coexist with mountain hideaways and Red Sea charm.
Marvel at AlUla’s Nabatean ruins, second only to Petra, and navigate the winding roads of Al Bahah, home to cave dwellings and hidden villages. In Jeddah, lose yourself in the UNESCO-listed old town and take a boat ride along Yanbu’s coast. Along the way, witness chaotic camel markets and savor the region’s diverse cuisine.
The trip’s unique selling point lies in its rare access to a country just opening up to tourism, offering a blend of deep history and vibrant modernity that’s hard to find elsewhere. For seasoned explorers, this tour package promises stories and sights few have seen.
day 1Join trip in Riyadh
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.
day 2Discover the old and new faces of Riyadh on a guided tour
day 3Visit the Ushaiqer Heritage Village; drive to Buraidah
day 4Experience the Buraidah camel market; drive to Ha'il via UNESCO-listed rock carvings at Jubbah
day 5Drive to AlUla and our desert accommodation
day 6Visit the Nabatean city of Hegra and the Lion Tombs of Dadan
day 7Discover Maraya Theatre and AlUla Old Town
day 8Drive through the desert, and past the Sarawat Mountains, to Medina
day 9Drive to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second largest city on the Red Sea and go on a boat trip
day 10To the mountains at Al Bahah via Ta'if
day 11Visit the unexpected mountain village of Thee Ain
day 12Drive back to Jeddah
day 13Walking tour of the UNESCO-listed old town with a Saudi lady; traditional evening meal
day 14Trip ends in Jeddah
What's Included
What's Excluded
Customer Reviews
I was glad to get an impression of Saudi Arabia which seemed more relaxed than I expected and women better treated than what we used to hear in the western media. There are long distances between places visited but it is worth it. Hegra was a highlight though not up to the standard of Petra. The nearby art exhibits in the desert and mirror covered auditorium were also highlights. Apart from Hegra, historical sites were heavily reconstructed (inevitable for mud bricks) so no romantic ruins. Visiting permitted religious sites was interesting, especially Medina. Our guide was excellent though, unusually for Explore, not a native Saudi (the pay isn't high enough for them!?!)
Great trip. Excellent itinerary, but many long days and late arrivals at many of the hotels. Had a very comfortable and large bus with plenty of empty seats and space to stretch out. Tour leader didn’t provide a lot of info unless specifically asked. Hotels were good, some were far away from the sights and that meant additional time driving back and forth. Loved the camel market. Enjoyed AlUla and the camp stay. The camp was far away from the sights we were visiting but it was comfortable, quiet, allowed for morning walks in the desert and the food was good. All the local guides we had were excellent and provided lots of information about the country, traditions and the recent changes.
Daniel was a great leader Trip was enjoyable - lots of variety, feel we got a good taster of the country There is one long drive (think it was 10hrs) but totally worth it to get to the mountain area Is a popular trip so group size was 16 but we had a comfy bus for the drive between overnight stops One suggestion - rather than use a bus for the city tour in Riyadh and spend a lot of the day in traffic, could use the new metro (me and another pax user it later in the eve & it was super easy, clean and quick)
Excellent support from Explore in the booking process and last minute changes when BA cancelled the outward flight at 18 hours notice . I travel with several soft adventure companies every year and Explore's pre trip support is one of the best
Too much driving. Guide did not give much information on subjects, like history of the country, etc. during the long drives.
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