Hidden Gems Of Saudi Arabia

Upon arrival in Jeddah, you will be picked up from the airport by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Located on the Red Sea, Jeddah has been a port of great importance for millennia. The most cosmopolitan of Saudi Arabian cities today, it is considered the commercial capital of the country and the main gateway to Mecca for pilgrims heading for Hajj.

Today we explore the ancient port city of Jeddah, starting with the UNESCO Heritage-listed and the most evocative quarter of the country, Al Balad. After lunch at local restaurant, we visit Tayebat City Museum to see some of its 60,000 exhibits, including ancient coins, manuscripts and costumes and later we head for the Floating Mosque, ending at Jeddah Corniche early evening for a stroll along the waterfront, with a backdrop of the world’s tallest water fountai

Today morning after breakfast, head for the train station to boards Haramain High-Speed Railway – Economy class journey to Medina.  You will be met on arrival and transferred to the hotel for check-in, later proceed to visit the sites of Medina including Masjid Al Nawabi, Mount Uhud and vibrant local market (Souq) of the city. Dinner & overnight at Madinah.

<div>After a leisurely breakfast, drive to the historical town of AlUla.&nbsp; In this approx. 4 hrs scenic journey you will get to see the quaint towns way off near the mountain bases, to miles of flat plain studded with shrubs, trees and bushes, to grazing camel herds near the road, as well as patches of goats being tended by a farmer, you will get the feeling of being back in ancient times. On arrival in Alula, we check into our hotel and enjoy some time at leisure, perhaps for a dip in the pool or a stroll round the hotel.</div><div>At sunset enjoy the majestic view of Elephant Rock.&nbsp; 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.</div><div><br></div>

<div>Today morning we enjoy a visit to UNESCO heritage site of 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.</div><div><br></div><div>Later visit Alula Old Town &amp; Al Jadidah art district. Al-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 local restaurant on your own expense.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Later proceed to visit Dadan &amp; Jabal Ikmah The first stop on this journey back in time is Dadan, the ancient Kingdom of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilizations. Next, a 10-minute drive takes 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. Overnight at Alula Hotel.</div><div><br></div>

Today after breakfast we have a long day ahead as we leave from Alula and drive towards Hail. En route, we take a detour to the village of Tayma for a visit to the Hadaj Well, of biblical importance. Discover the 'Land of Kings' and learn how Tayma has played a pivotal role in the history of ancient Arabia. After lunch at Taymam (own expense), we will continue our journey to Hail, upon arrival we check into our hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner &amp; Overnight at Hail.

Hail, nestled in the heart of northern Saudi Arabia, is a city known for its rich historical heritage and captivating landscapes. Surrounded by Rocky Mountains and vast expanses of desert, Hail offers a unique blend of traditional Saudi Arabian culture and modern development. As a key center in the Kingdom, Hail showcases a deep connection to its roots while embracing the progress of the present day .Our visit this morning takes us an hour’s drive out of the city to the UNESCO World Heritage site at Jubbah, where we see the thousands of fascinating and exceptionally well-preserved petroglyphs, inscriptions and rock art. On our return, we will take in a few of Hail’s fascinating sites which include Al Qishlah Castles and an array of Souq’s and markets that give an excellent insight into desert life. Dinner and overnight at Hail

<div>This morning we continue our exploration of Hail with a visit to the A'arif Fort is the oldest historical building in the city of Hail. It was built in order to guard the city against enemies. During the Saudi rule. Later return for lunch at hotel (included) and for some last minute shopping in Hail’s bazaars to collect some souvenirs for friends and family.&nbsp;</div><div>In the afternoon, we head for Buraydah (3 hours), the capital of the Qassim district, located equal distance between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman. On arrival, we check into our hotel in the heart of the city. Overnight at Buraydah</div><div><br></div>

<div>This morning we have an early start as we set to visit Buraydah’s lively camel market located at the edge of the town. After the visit we return back to the hotel, pack the stuff and depart for the next adventure that awaits.</div><div>Late morning, we drive toward the capital city of Riyadh en-route visiting the heritage village of Ushaiqer, one of the oldest and most attractive settlements in northern Arabia and home to the traditional Najdi style of architecture. (2 hrs drive). Following lunch, we continue our journey towards the capital city of Riyadh (2hrs 30 mins), where we check-in at our hotel. Overnight at Riyadh</div><div><br></div>

This morning we visit sites of Riyadh including the Al-Masmak Fortress, The National Museum displaying a unique collection of the Kingdom’s historical part and a series of historic mud-brick buildings, giving an insight into the traditional lifestyle of local people. We also visit the Kingdom Tower, showcasing the gleaming modern-day architecture of the city. After lunch, we will head out to Jabal Fihrayan, also called as' The Edge of the World’ for a spectacular view to experience sunset from the top of the 300-meter-high desert cliffs overlooking the never-ending surrounding plains, which was once a sea bed.

Our final visit of the tour is a leisurely visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of D’iriyah, the historic home of the Saudi state. Your afternoon will be at leisure to explore the city on your own or relax in your hotel, Riyadh offers excellent opportunities for dining out, and shopping. Enjoy farewell dinner at traditional Arabic restaurant. Overnight at Riyadh.

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home.