Day 1 - Arrive Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Arrive at KAIA Airport, where after clearing immigration and collecting your luggage you will be greeted by your representative with a warm welcome. Transfer to your hotel where you will get the opportunity to freshen up and rest before visiting the coastal city of Jeddah.

Over the years, Jeddah has welcomed through its harbour's gates a plethora of travellers, from traders and artists to pilgrims on their voyage to Mecca. A feat no other Saudi can rival with. Indeed, the city's unofficial motto is 'Jeddah ghair' or 'Jeddah's different'. Today, Jeddah is home to gleaming hotels and big-ticket events making it Saudi Arabia's buzzing cosmopolitan hub.

Overnight: Ritz Carlton Jeddah Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Jeddah City Tour or Al Balad Tour

After breakfast, begin your tour of the city with a visit to the Tayebat Museum. Located in the Al Faisaliyah district, the museum is housed in a multi-room complex recreating the traditional Hijazi architecture of the old city. Featuring bay windows with intricate wooden latticework and ornate coral masonry. Exhibiting on several floors, the museum offers a living history lesson on the foundation of Jeddah and the wider Arabian Peninsula. One of the floors is dedicated to the city's rich Islamic heritage. With such in-depth curated representations of the city's 2,500-year history, you leave an expert on Jeddah's long and international past. 

End your morning with lunch at one of the city's local restaurants where you will taste some of Jeddah's famous traditional dishes.

Once all caught up on the gastronomic wonders of Jeddah, roam through the city's streets and take short stops at iconic monuments including the world's tallest flagpole and the open-air museum. Finally, head down to the beach to see the floating mosque and Jeddah's waterfront where you can enjoy a walk on the sand.

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Today's Al Balad tour (meaning 'the town') is all about exploring old Jeddah and understanding Saudi Arabia through its diverse and rich culture of food and people.

Founded in the 7th century, Al Balad historically served as the centre of Jeddah. Its defensive walls were torn down in the 1940s. From the 1970s to the 1980s, Jeddah became very popular thanks to the oil boom, many Jeddawis moved north and Al Balad was finally listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Since then, the old buildings with unique window and door designs, and seashell and stone walls have been perfectly preserved. These very buildings once hosted the famous Jeddawi families and the founder himself, late king Abdulaziz, when he first entered Jeddah. On this tour, you will venture inside one of these houses and catch a glimpse of what life in old Jeddah used to be. As you wander through Al Balad's narrow streets, you will learn about the historical importance of some buildings and their location, how merchants sold their goods, and where pilgrims got their supplies for their long journey ahead going through the Mecca Gate in Al Balad before eventually reaching the holy city.

While the over 300-year old Mosques are an attraction for tourists visiting the region, the main highlight of this tour is the food you will treat yourself to every time you pass vendors' stalls. Try local delicacies including 'Balilah' made from beans and pickles, and a drink made from bread 'Sobia', don't forget to visit the old bakery, famous for its bread. 
After a quick rest in an open-air cafe where you will sip on local tea, continue your journey through Jeddah by visiting the very first hotel built in the city as well as Saudi's first school. There are several art houses and museums offering unique collections of art and antiquities, make sure to stop by and have a look for anything that catches your eye.

Overnight: Ritz Carlton Jeddah Hotel

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Day 3 - Journey to AlUla via Medina

Board an early morning train to Medina. The holy city is often visited by travellers on their way to AlUla from Jeddah.

Begin your tour with a visit to the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization situated right by the Holy Mosque, also known as the Prophet's Mosque. From there, you will continue to Qiba street which connects the Holy and Qiba Mosques, both of significant importance in Islamic history. The former is known to be where the Prophet Mohammed lived and is now buried, the second being the first Mosque ever built. There you will learn about how the city was built and how it evolved over 1,400 years.

(Both mosques will be visited from the outside only)

On Qiba street, you will also find a great number of stalls where you can stop for lunch breaks and enjoy the many local delicacies they sell. After lunch, you will set off for AlUla where you will overnight.

Overnight: Habitas AlUla Resort

Meal Plan:

Day 4 - AlUla - Hegra

After breakfast at the hotel, set off on your old town tour of AlUla.

In the 12th century, AlUla Old Town became an essential settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Mecca. The city gradually grew in favour amongst travellers and eventually replace Qurh as the hub, especially once 'modern AlUla' was built. The houses were designed to be attached to one another providing fortification, an important aspect of life for early settlers and AlUla's first civilisations. AlUla used to welcome pilgrims, travellers, merchants, and more through all 14 of its gates which opened in the morning and closed each evening. The ancient city's recent occupation has enabled researchers to gather stories, painting a picture of what life was once like inside its walls.

Enjoy lunch at one of the many local restaurants before heading towards Hegra (Madain Saleh) for the afternoon tour. The UNESCO heritage site listed Madain Saleh is the most iconic site in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Meaning 'The City of Saleh', Madain Saleh was named after the Prophet Saleh who tried to convert the ancient people of Thamud to Islam. The name became popular through its use by the Ottoman Empire after it occupied the region. However, the Nabataeans who built this city know it as Hegra. Inside the second largest city of the Nabataean Kingdom, you won't cease to be amazed by the fascinating archeological sites scattered around including the Jabal Ithlib and the famous Qasr al-Farid ('Lonely Castle'). These sites hold millennia of history within them making them a haven for historians and anyone curious about the history of mankind.

Finally, visit Jabal AlFil - the famous elephant rock.  Unlike the ornate, hand-carved facades of nearby Hegra’s Nabataean tombs, the "trunk" and "body" of this monolithic red sandstone beast were hewn by millions of years of erosion. The beauty of the unrefined structure is enhanced by its surroundings of a fine-sand sea studded with rocky outcrops, many of which are equally impressive in size and have interesting shapes and figures.

Overnight: Habitas AlUla Resort

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 5 - AlUla: Hiking the Oasis Trail & Visit Harra

Stretching over 3 kilometres from the Prange Path to the Dadan Visitor Centre, this beautiful designated trail is free and open to visitors day and night.
With multiple entry and exit points, enjoy a long, leisurely stroll or a short walk along the Heritage Oasis Trail. Stop at a stall selling freshly squeezed juice and hang on a palm swing while enjoying the beautiful setting. 

Continue your journey towards the ancient city of Dadan, specifically to Jabal Ikmah, known worldwide as the open-air library. There are seldom sights more significant than Jabal Ikmah, home to the highest concentration of inscriptions, and the most varied in AlUla. Venture through Dedan's millennia-old oasis where excavations of extensive archeological sites have revealed the existence of large fortified cities. These kingdoms developed their own language, alphabet, and culture mixing Arabian tradition and surrounding empires' customs. 

Break for lunch, when you will enjoy a home-cooked meal at a local farm. Have a taste of what locals usually eat, and enjoy the delicious traditional dishes all while supporting the conservation of the site and its community. Once refueled, take a tour around the farm to learn more about its produce and agriculture in AlUla.

Finally, head to Harra for sunset where you will enjoy the burning colours of the Arabian sky over the jaw-dropping landscape. Stand in wonder as the increasingly golden rays of the sun blend with the orange rocks and yellow sand, leaving you searching for the separation between land and sky. Why not take it further and wait till nightfall? You will gaze upon the stars through a telescope or with your own eyes soaking in the immensity of the cosmos, all while feasting on delicious Greek food.

Overnight: Habitas AlUla Resort

Meal Plan:

Day 6 - Ha'il Rock Art

Begin with an early morning drive to Ha'il. Located in the northern part of the Saudi Kingdom, Ha'il dreamy landscapes are the backdrop to the famous 1001 nights.

Upon arrival, start your visit with lunch at one of the city's famous restaurants before heading to the Aiarif palace, the oldest historical building in the city.

Continue on to Jubbah, host to two of the most emblematic carvings in the Arabian peninsula. Each full of meaning and knowledge transferred to us through the centuries.

Finally, head to your hotel where you will check in and rest before dinner.

Overnight: Millenium Ha'il

Meal Plan:

Day 7 - Arrive in Riyadh

Fly to Riyadh first thing in the morning. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by one of our representatives who will take you to your hotel where you will check in and freshen up.

After lunch, embark on an adventure to the Edge of the World. Jebel Fihrayn is one of Saudi's most popular tourist destinations. Sitting atop 300-metre cliffs, hanging over an ancient ocean bed, it offers uninterrupted views of the horizon. Spot dried up rivers weaving across the land, and camels roaming down below.

In the evening, you will experience authentic Saudi hospitality. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner prepared by a local family in their home, and spend the evening learning about their culture, and day-to-day life. There is no better way to get insight into a Saudi family's lifestyle.

Overnight: Ritz Carlton Riyadh Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 8 - Riyadh, Al Masmak, National Museum

Begin your day with jump back in time to learn about the capital of Saudi. In the National museum, discover Saudi Arabia's rich past by embarking on a journey across the Kingdom. Another way to learn Saudi Arabia's rich History is to visit the King Abdulaziz Historical Center where artifacts from all periods are exhibited alongside their historical significance.

After becoming an expert in Saudi history, stop for lunch and enjoy the best local delicacies. Why not try Al Qaria Al Najdya for authentic traditional cuisine?

In the afternoon, visit the famous Al Masmak Fortress. Surrounded by sand, this fortification built around 1865 is an iconic symbol of the Saudi Kingdom. It was the site of a daring 1902 raid by Ibn Saud, during which a spear was hurled at the main entrance door with such force that the head is still lodged in the doorway. Highlights among the exhibits include maps and fascinating photographs of Saudi Arabia dating from 1912 to 1937, in galleries converted from diwans (living rooms). Inside the fortress, the information panels and short, chest-thumping films on the storming of the fortress and the ‘reunification’ of Saudi Arabia are reverential towards the Al Sauds but worth watching nonetheless.

Only a stone's throw away, you will find the famous Souq Al-Zal which is one of the oldest traditional markets in Saudi. Wander through the alleyways as you peep into each stall selling anything and everything. From traditional dresses to Oud and jewellery, Souq Al-Zal has everything to offer.

Finally, end your tour with a visit to Kingdom Tower, the 99-story, 302.3 m skyscraper. Completed in 2002, it overtook the 267-meter Faisaliyah Tower as the tallest tower in Saudi Arabia. It has since been surpassed and is now the fifth-tallest skyscraper in the country and the world's third-tallest building with a hole in it after the Shanghai World Financial Center.

Overnight: Ritz Carlton Riyadh Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 9 - Abha

Early in the morning, you will be accompanied to the airport for your flight to Abha.

Perched at over 2,200 metres above sea level, Abha is Saudi Arabia's highest large city. Begin your tour by learning more about the region's history, head over to the Aseer Regional Museum, and find out what makes this place so unique.

After lunch, visit Abha's highlight: Rijal Alma'a, which is currently on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Saudi is famous for its traditional architecture present throughout the entire country, yet none compare to the colourful houses of Rijal Alma'a. However, the fame of the village goes further than just its pretty houses. Rijal Alma'a once saw a plethora of trade pass through its gates as it welcomed traders, travellers, and many others. The solidly built houses doubled as mini-fortress to protect the village and all its riches.

Today, some of Rijal Alma'a's most prominent treasures feature inside the walls of its stone houses where you can find skillfully painted patchworks that decorate the walls.

You will overnight in Abha

Overnight: Abha Palace Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 10 - Al Baha

After an early breakfast, begin your journey from Abha to Al Baha.

Along the way, stop by Al Namas and enjoy the striking views and forests of Cloud Park. Often known as the 'city of fog', Al Namas is surrounded by vibrant wildlife and nature. With Jebel Mareer Mountain to the north, on a clear day, you may even see the Red Sea. Continue to the Al Maqar Museum, dubbed one of the most striking buildings in the region, and feast your eyes on the Arabic artifacts and literature that ornate it. Al-Maqar palace is an architectural marvel, straight from the pages of a fantasy book, it stands tall and beautiful in an otherwise subtle city.

Next, venture to Dhee Ayn just south of Al Baha. Built on a white marble outcrop in the epic Bidah Valley, Dhee Ayn is often called the Marble Village. Its cuboid buildings were made of stone and slate more than 400 years ago, and abandoned sometime in the 1980s. Exploring its narrow pathways today is an eerily beautiful experience, Especially during the golden hour when the sun's rays bounce on the white marble and the mountains in the background.

At the end of the day, head to the airport where you will catch your flight back to Jeddah

Overnight: Ritz Carlton Jeddah Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 11 - Departure

After breakfast, you will be dropped off at the airport for you scheduled flight to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Overnight:

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