Arabian Wonders (7 Days 6 Nights)

About this tour

ITINERARY

• DAY 1: Riyadh (Arrival)

Arrive at King Khalid International Airport. On arrival at Riyadh, you will be transferred to your hotel in Riyadh. Riyadh’s blend of medieval and millennial makes for a beguiling cultural union, one where Arabia’s first roots can be traced, and where its bold future can be envisioned. The city’s fascinating, centuries-old history can be found within its atmospheric souqs, compelling museums, and ancient architecture, but it’s also a modern metropolis, with glittering high-rises and a burgeoning contemporary art scene. Evening you have free time to explore Riyadh (on your own)

 DAY 2: Riyadh (Full day city tour)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. We proceed into old Riyadh, starting in the downtown area, and visiting the traditional Dirah Souq (famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques). The walk is infused with the aromas of sandalwood fragrance and other scents of the Orient. After this, we visit the Masmak Fort which is just walking distance from the Old Souq and whose importance is linked to the creation of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in. The fortified palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. to serve as a military garrison for the army of Abdullah bin Rashid. We drive for 30 minutes to Ad-Diriyah, located on the western bank of the Wadi Hanifah, a dry riverbed where water flows only after big rains. Ad-Diriyah used to be the capital of the Najd (the central plateau of the Arabian Peninsula) from the 15th century until the beginning of the 18th century. It is the birthplace of the first Saudi Kingdom and its importance in the history of the Arabian Peninsula was highlighted when it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2010, as the most brilliant example of Najdi architecture.

DAY 3: AlUla (Arrival)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel & transfer to King Khalid International Airport for a flight (on your own) to AlUla. Upon arriving, we shall get a glimpse into AlUla’s not-so-distant past on the AlUla Old Town Tour. A Rawi (guide) will lead you through AlUla Old Town, where pilgrims, travelers, 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 memories that the area’s other heritage sites cannot. With 900 houses, 500 shops, and 5 town squares, you can explore a maze of remnants of original stone and mudbrick buildings and enjoy views of an AlUla Castle dating back to the 10th century. Guest will learn about Old Town’s settlers and pilgrims, as well as their motives and methods in the city’s construction. Later we head to our hotel & checked in

 DAY 4: AlUla (Hegra & Dadan and ikhmah tour)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start our journey with a visit to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest preserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra. Home to more than 110 tombs carved from giant rock formations, this ancient site is open for visitors to explore and learn about the culture, traditions, and history of its people. Lunch at leisure. Then we depart on a journey through time to discover the ancient and powerful civilizations of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, that have built and shaped AlUla. After exploring the ruins, a bus service takes you on a 10-minute drive to Jabal Ikmah, an open library of inscriptions, rock art, and petroglyphs set in a stunning desert canyon. Below, you’ll find tour details, planning tips, and what to expect when visiting these extraordinary heritage sites. Before heading back to the hotel, we will visit Jebel Al-Fil (Elephant Rock) for a relaxing time. Set in Golden Desert sands and climbing their stories into the Saudi Arabian Sky, is the awe-inspiring elephant rock one of Al Ula’s many geological Marvels. Unlike the ornate, hand-carved facades of nearby Hegra’s Nabataean tombs, the “trunk” and “body” of this monolithic red sandstone beast were shaped by natural forces — millions of years of wind and water erosion. The beauty of the unrefined structure is enhanced by a landscape of golden sands, studded with rocky outcops, many of which are equally impressive in size and have interesting shapes and figures

DAY 5: Jeddah (Arrival)

After breakfast, we transfer to AlUla Airport for a flight (on our own) to Jeddah. On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel in Jeddah. The rest of the day is free for leisure.

DAY 6: Jeddah (Al-Balald)

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour by visiting Old Jeddah. Our guide will tell you amazing stories about Jeddah and its surroundings. We will enjoy a wonderful walk in AlBalad, the old part of the city. This walking 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, and local Jeddah food only for locals. While visiting Al-Balad, a Unesco Heritage site, 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-1800s. The five-story building provides a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the blend of traditional architecture with modernity. We will see also the Baghdadi house. We will also visit the Old Gold Market on Gabel Street and the Ukash Mosque. We will end our tour driving towards the Jeddah Corniche which is the 30 km coastal resort area of the city of Jeddah. We will pass by the Jeddah Sculptures Museum, the corniche features a coastal road, recreation areas, pavilions, and large-scale civic sculptures as well as King Fahd’s Fountain, the highest fountain in the world. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon we will start our tour with a visit to the House of Islamic Art Museum. A unique site. After that, we will visit the Jeddah Waterfront.

DAY 7: Jeddah (Departure)

After breakfast, our local representative will drop you off at King Abdul Aziz International Airport. We hope you enjoyed your time in this beautiful kingdom and we look forward to welcoming you once again in the future.

ACCOMMODATION

Standard (3 stars hotel)