Ancient Alula Explorer

Upon arrival to Alula Airport, proceed to Passport Control for immigration followed by baggage collection and clearing customs formalities. After baggage collection, walk towards the arrival lounge where you shall be met by our representative who will assist while transferring to hotel and check in formalities. Rest of the day is at leisure. Al-Ula is an ancient Arabic oasis city located in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia. Situated in the Hejaz, a region that features prominently in the history of Islam as well as several pre-Islamic Semitic civilizations, Alula was a market city on the historic incense route that linked India and the Persian Gulf to the Levant and Europe. Overnight at Alula hotel. 

Meals: No Meals

In the morning after breakfast enjoy a visit to Hegra. Hegra is the most iconic historical site of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first to be listed as a UNESCO Word Heritage, back in 2008. The Nabateans, called it Hijra (as it appears in some ancient inscriptions at the site), and the Romans used to call it Hegra. The extensive settlement of the site took place during the 1st century AD, when it came under the rule of the Nabatean king Arêtes IV Philopatries (Al-Harith IV) (9 – 40 BC), who made Madain Saleh the kingdom's first capital, before Petra, located 500 kilometers to the north. Later visit Maraya Maraya is an architectural wonder that has quickly reached icon status. Upon approaching this magnificent mirrored structure in AlUla’s Ashar Valley you may feel your eyes are deceiving you as Maraya seems to disappear into the surrounding sandstone cliffs before swiftly reappearing. Also visit Dadan & Jabal Ikmah The first stop on this journey back in time is Dadan, the ancient Kingdom of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilisations. Next, a 10-minute drive take you to Jabal Ikmah. Set in a stunning desert canyon, this ‘open-air library’ has the most impressive collection of inscriptions, rock art, and petroglyphs in AlUla and is the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia. At sunset enjoy the majestic view of Elephant Rock. Elephant Rock is particularly magical at dusk when the fading sun casts a bewitching deep crimson light over the trunk and body of AlUla’s famous geological pachyderm. Overnight at AlUla Hotel. P.S – (Outside vehicles are not permitted to go Hegra & Dadan & Jabal Ikmah, thus we will use shared bus for these visits) 

Meals: Breakfast

Today after breakfast we explore Al Ulla, the birthplace of two ancient Arabian kingdoms. During the 1st millennium BC, Al-Ulla saw the rise of the ancient city of Dadan that became the capital of two successive kingdoms, Dadan and Lihyan that ruled over the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula. Our tour includes the visit to Alula Old Town & Al Jadidah art districtl-Ula Heritage Village (ghost town), also known as Ad-Deerah, is the traditional Arabian village where people of the oasis moved some 8 centuries ago and inhabited until the 20th century. It was built on a higher part of the valley to be clear from the floods that can occur during the raining season. At its maximum expansion the town contained over 1 000 houses that were built adjacent to one another thereby forming a wall around the town to defend the population. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on your own expense. In the evening venture to Gharmeel for a rare view of the Milky Way, free from light pollution. Millions of stars, visible without telescopes, are framed by Gharameel’s mesmerizing rock formations. On full moon nights, visitors will take a short walk to admire the surrounding landscape before setting up camp to view the night sky. On darker nights, the tour will solely focus on stars and constellations. Enjoy a grilled dinner, which will be prepared for you around the campfire Overnight at Alula Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast 

In time transfer to Alula airport to board your return flight back home (TBA).

Meals: Breakfast