Saudi Arabia 11 Day Group Tour

DAY 1:RIYADH - NATIONAL MUSEUM - MURABBA PALACE - KINGDOM TOWER - NAJDI VILLAGE

This tour starts in Riyadh where we meet at our hotel at 14H00 to check in and have a quick predeparture meeting. This afternoon we will then visit the National Museum and Murabba Palace, 2 of Riyadh’s most historically interesting sites. 

This evening we will take the 180kph lift up the 99th floor of the Kingdom Tower where you can brave a walk across the Sky Bridge for unsurpassed views over the city. 

We end our evening at the Najdi Village where you are invited to join us for a group welcome dinner at a traditional Saudi restaurant before retiring to the comfort of your 4 star hotel.

DAY 2:RIYADH - MASMAK FORTRESS - DIRIYAH - EDGE OF THE WORLD

This morning after breakfast we will venture into the old part of the city and visit Masmak Fortress, a mudbrick museum showcasing one of Saudi’s most important historical landmarks. 

We continue to the mud-brick ruins of the ancient town of Diriyah, a UNESCO heritage site where the At-Turaif open-air museum showcases quintessential Najdi architecture.

This afternoon we will take 4×4’s to visit The Edge of the World, a dramatic escarpment that rises steeply out of the rocky desert floor offering uninterrupted views of the horizon, best viewed at sunset.

This evening we return to our 4 star hotel in Riyadh where you have the rest of the night free to relax and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.

DAY 3:USHAIGER HERITAGE VILLAGE - BURAIDAH

After breakfast we travel to the cultural heritage village of Ushaiger, a living museum where you can wander through the maze of twisting alleyways that lead to hundreds of yellow mud houses displaying traditional Najdi architecture. 

We end our day in the town of Buraidah, famous for its date farms and a camel market which we visit early the following morning.

Tonight we stay at a 4 star hotel in Buraidah and you have the evening free to relax or explore the town at your leisure.

DAY 4:BURAIDAH CAMEL MARKET - HAIL

An early rise today and we are off to the world’s largest camel market on the dusty outskirts of Buraidah where thousands of camels, goats and sheep are traded each morning. This lively market is an attack on the senses and a true Saudi experience!

This afternoon we reach the town of Hail where we have sunset at Hail Hilltop for outstanding views over Hail city including views of the mud fort of Aarif and the Qishla mud palace.

This evening we will stay at a 3 star hotel in Hail where you have the evening free to relax or explore the town at your leisure.

DAY 5:JUBBAH ROCK ART - ALULA

This morning we will visit the ancient rock art at Jubbah. This area was once an oasis where thousands of years ago the Arab ancestors left traces of their passages in numerous petroglyphs in the rock face including representations of humans, lions, ibex, horses, camels and ostrich.

In the afternoon we continue our journey to the oasis of AlUla where we will have the following day free to explore this area of outstanding natural beauty and history. 

After checking into a local guest house in AlUla you will have the option to visit the old town at night where you are free to explore this quaint area and have dinner at a local restaurant. 

DAY 6:ALULA - HEGRA - MADAIN SALEH - LION TOMBS OF DEDAN - ELEPHANT ROCK

We start the day by visiting the UNESCO world heritage site of Hegra (Madain Saleh) where we find well-preserved tombs with magnificent facades carved into the sandstone rocks by the Nabataean civilization nearly two thousand years ago.

This afternoon we will visit the Lion Tombs of Dedan, a site that predates Hegra where the kings of Dedan were laid to rest with some of the most important tombs displaying lions carved at their entrances. 

AlUla is an area not only famous for its ancient tombs but also for its natural beauty and today we spend sunset at the iconic Elephant Rock where nature has created an enormous geological feature resembling an elephant.

Please note that our timings to visit all the sites at AlUla today may vary depending on how many tourists are at each of the sites so be prepared to be fluid. 

We will spend this evening at our local guest house in AlUla where you are free to relax or explore more of AlUla by night if you so wish.

DAY 7:HEJAZ RAILWAY - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA SITES - MEDINA

Today we will drive through Lawrence of Arabia country where in WW1 the Arab tribes frequently sabotaged the famous Hejaz Railway line that ran from Damascus to Medina. Along our route we will stop at an historic site that displays the remnants of this bygone era including rusting train carriages and an abandoned train station.

This afternoon we will arrive at the holy city of Medina. Officially the city centre and Prophet’s Mosque remain off-limits to tourists but muslims are welcome to visit and reports of non-muslims visiting these sites are becoming more common. Your time in Medina is free for you to explore as many of the historic sites as possible on your own.

This evening we will stay at a comfortable 3 star hotel in Medina.

DAY 8:AL WAHBAH CRATER - TAIF CITY OF ROSES

This morning we will visit one of Saudi’s most dramatic natural wonders, Al Wahbah crater. At 4 km wide and 250 m deep this volcanic crater offers you the chance to walk along the rim for outstanding views over the vast hollow with an opaque lake at its centre. 

This afternoon our journey ascends into the mountains and on a cool plateau we reach Taif, the City of Roses, famous all over Arabia for its colourful rose farms. Tonight we will visit the Central Market where we wander through the labyrinth of narrow alleys and discover stalls selling everything from rich local honey to fragrant rose water.

This evening you are invited to a group dinner before spending the night at our 3 star hotel in Taif.

DAY 9:TAIF ROSE FARM - JEDDAH - AL RAHMA FLOATING MOSQUE - KING FAHD’S FOUNTAIN - CORNICHE 

This morning we will visit a rose farm in Taif before reaching the ancient port of Jeddah, the cosmopolitan hub of the country displaying a vibrant mix of new and old. After checking into our hotel and a quick lunch you have the opportunity to visit the lively corniche, a beautiful walkway along the Red Sea coast which also offers a wonderful view of the Al Rahma floating Mosque and King Fahd’s fountain which at 312 metres high makes it the world’s tallest fountain. 

This evening you are invited to a traditional Arabic group dinner at a popular local restaurant before returning to our 3 star hotel.

DAY 10:JEDDAH - AL BALAD OLD TOWN - AL SHAFEE MOSQUE - NASEEF HOUSE - TAYEBAT MUSEUM

This morning we will visit the UNESCO listed historic centre of Jeddah, Al Balad, where narrow alleyways lead you to spice-scented souqs, art galleries, quirky cafes & traditional bakeries. Some of the old coral merchants’ houses and mosques have been carefully restored and turned into living museums of which Naseef House and Al Shafee Mosque are two of the finest examples.

This afternoon we take a trip to the Tayebat City Museum where you can learn all about Jeddah’s 2500 year history through a collection of over 60,000 items including ancient coins & manuscripts, Arabic weaponry, traditional Saudi costumes and fine art.

You will have this evening free to explore more of Jeddah at your leisure and enjoy the comforts of our 3 star hotel. 

DAY 11:TOUR ENDS IN JEDDAH

After breakfast today, your tour ends. For your own peace of mind please do not book your flight home before 13H00 today. You can arrange a 3 hour PCR test at the airport if you need one to return home. 

If you need any extra nights accommodation in Jeddah your tour leader will be happy to help arrange that for you.