SAUDI ARABIA - A FULL TOUR 20 DAYS
20 Days - Riyadh - Najran - Abha - Al Bahah - Taif - Medina - Jeddah - AlUla - Ha’il - Buraydah
Tour overview:
Explore on your own and drive across different touristic locations of ABHA and experience its hidden gems. Overnight stays arranged at premium hotels. At Saudi Discovery, we have designed the Fly & Drive programs in ABHA, Saudi Arabia, where the safety and comfort of roads are almost superior to European networks. We welcome the guest at the airport and deliver them the self-drive car the next day. We have designed a well-planned itinerary with overnight stays in premium hotels. Our 24 hours assistance team is always at your disposal for any questions or queries, while you are on road.
Day 1 - ARRIVE RIYADH
Arrival at RIYADH International airport, after formalities, you will be able to direct yourself to the Car rental area at the BUDGET car rental counter , or just pick up your car in BUDGET outlet downtown RIYADH. After the car formalities are done , you will receive the keys , and you will be ready to discover the region. Drive to your hotel . Overnight in RIYADH. (B)
Day 2 - RIYADH ( 50 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National museum which is the primary custodian of the Saudi national heritage and culture. The Museum is a place of learning and discovery, it offers an overview to the history of Arabian civilization from Prehistory to our modern era. We continue thereafter to the nearby Murabba Palace that is one of the historic buildings of the city. The palace was named after its square with the form of 400 by 400 meters. Afternoon we will continue our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the Masmak Fort and its museum that depicts the history of the history of the conquest of Arabia by the Al-Saud family. The palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. to serve as military garrison for the Abdullah bin Rashid army. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of the nation today, captured the fort in 1902 making of this fort the birthplace of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in. We will then visit the Dira Souq famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques, while walking we will always smell sandal wood fragrance.We will finish our tour with a stunning viewpoint from one of the famous landmarks of Riyadh, the Kingdom Tower and the Faisaliah Tower, both great architectural achievements. At the end of the afternoon, back to your hotel. Overnight in Riyadh. (B)
Day 3 - RIYADH – WADI DAWASSIR (600 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our journey this morning to the heart of the EMPTY quarter .Our destination will be Wadi Ad Dawasir that we will reach after 7 hours approximately .This quaint collection of neighborhoods in the heart of Saudi Arabia is blessed with fertile ground and water sources. Fed by the agricultural bounty, it is fast developing into an urban center for the Dawasir valley, realizing its potential as a green oasis. As a quiet, restorative destination with well-supplied hotels, a fascinating experience also awaits in Oroug Bani M'aradh Wildlife Sanctuary, showcasing the desert's diversity of life. Check in at hotel. Overnight in WADI DAWASSIR . (B)
Day 4 - WADI DAWASSIR - NAJRAN ( 410 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. Our destination is today the coast and the Red sea, we will leave our WADI to ride for approximately 4 hours to ABHA . In the afternoon we will discover the city. Check in. Overnight in NAJRAN. (B)
Day 5 - NAJRAN - JAZAN ( 329 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will visit the Museum, al Akhdood, Al Aan Palace, Mud Houses, Dam, Emara Palace and Dagger Souq. Al Akhdood is an archaeological site. It’s a castle built of stones and is surrounded by a 235 mtr long wall. Al Aan Palace is one of the most remarkable architectures in Najran. The main tower of the Palace is 5 stories high. Emara palace is a historical building with an area of approx. 620 sq. Meters. It was constructed during 1363 Hij. Emara Palace consists of 65 room and it previously it was premises of Emara and some other Govt Offices. We drive to JAZAN that we will reach after a ride for 5h30. On arrival, check in. Overnight at the hotel in JAZAN (B)
Day 6 - JAZAN – ABHA ( 206 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will discover Bir Hima and Al Fau archaeological sites. Bir Hima , with its famous wells. The valleys and mountains are the homes of hundreds of petro glyphs, battle scenes with cavalrymen and infantrymen wielding various kinds of weapons. In Al-Fau there are lot of houses, palaces, and shops. Then departure to the city of ABHA that we will reach after 3 hours. On our way we will pass Khamis Mushayt and the Al Hamsan Traditional Village on the outskirts of town consists of a stone tower and buildings, including a museum that is replica of an Asir home two decades ago, an auditorium, a traditional restaurant and a gift shop. Check in . Overnight in ABHA . (B)
Day 7 - ABHA
Breakfast at your hotel. Atart your tour visiting the Jabal Sawda which is the highest point in Saudi Arabia. It is 3000 meters above sea level. You will see lots of varieties of green lush trees and shrubs. Then we will visit El Sahab Park . It has a beautiful view and the clouds pass through all the time. The literal translation of ‘Sahab’ is ‘cloud’. And that’s what this place is. You will have a chance to walk into clouds Cornish. Afterwards , we will have an interesting passage at the old Souqs notably Souq Mahayel & Athu Latha to be see how inhabitants of ABHA trade today. In the afternoon , we will visit the Mud-walled Shada Castle, which is now a handicrafts museum. It is a representation of the beautiful traditional architecture of Asir region. It has a variety of fascinating local handicrafts, household items and more. It is also one of the very few traditional buildings left in Abha, this mud-walled tower itself is a great insight into Saudi Arabia’s past. We will drive then to the Al-Muftaha district which had a market where we shopped for different kinds of crafts. The Muftaha Village that was in a state of neglect was re-built based on inspirations from Asir’s heritage and culture. It was built using the traditional methods of construction with local mud and stones. Al-Muftaha, in the center of the city, dates back 260 years. It incorporates adjoining houses along the internal and external passageways built according to the Asir region’s traditional construction style. It is distinguished by the small openings and thick walls that can protect the mud walls against rain and provide shade to the buildings. Another highlight of our visit to ABHA wil be FATEMA’s museum which is a famous “ house painter “ with her husband ALI Megawi .Then We will take you to a mountain which took your breath away! its Jabal Al Akhdar or as translated “The Green Mountain”. This entire mountain is lit up with green lights and even the clouds above it were green due to the lights. It was a sight to behold. Overnight in Abha. (B)
Day 8 - ABHA – AL BAHAH ( 330km)
Breakfast at your hotel . We will take you to Rijal Almaa village which is famous for its typical Arabian traditional architecture that can be found throughout the whole country, each region having its own specificity. But when it comes to Saudi traditional architecture the first image that comes to mind is the charming and colorful houses of Rijal Alma’. The village have stunning sceneries with great history of the region. For its exceptional features Rijal Alma’ is today on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage. You will find there a place redolent with history and tradition.You will visit the village museum its a huge museum all inside the village with a lot of old pieces and there is a description as well in English and in Arabic. Its established by the efforts of the local inhabitants in order to save their regional heritage, and they have turned one of the forts into the museum headquarters since 1985.The village consists of about 60 palaces built from natural stone, clay and wood, and the palaces consists of several floors. The village used to be a natural passage that linked Yemen, Makkah, Madinah and the Levant. Thus, it was a regional trade center. In the early afternoon, start our way to AL BAHAH. After a 5 hours ride, we will reach this city in the mountains. Then we start to discover the highlands of Al-Bahah, located more than 2000 meters above sea level. We start with a visit to some traditional stone houses typical of the southern mountains of Arabia. Then we visit some amazing viewpoints from the vertiginous cliffs of the Sarawat mountain range in Al-Bahah and the nearby city of Baljureshi. In the afternoon we drive down the cliff to reach Zee Ayn, one of the most iconic spectacles of Saudi Arabia. Also known as the Marble village, Zee Ayn is built on a marble hill that offers unique and mesmerizing scenery. We roam through the old streets meandering by the elegant traditional houses of this 400-year-old village. From there we enjoy viewpoints overlooking the valley down the Sarawat mountains to the oasis. To complete the picture postcard view, a nearby natural spring provides water to a lush oasis surrounding the bottom of the hill. The village was named after a water spring (Ayn in Arabic) that flows continuously from the nearby mountains to several reservoirs, and each particular pond has its own name. Overnight in Al-Bahah. (B)
Day 9 - AL BAHAH – TAIF ( 220 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. We will complet out tour of AL BAHAH , and start our journey to the mountains of TAIF .We are in the Hada Mountains above Mecca and on the Eastern slopes of the Al-Sarawat mountains .The city of Taif, has a cool and green Summer People travel to TAIF for its Green nature and its weather , its beautiful scenery and the town’s relaxed atmosphere. Our tour will start with a drive enjoying the majestic panoramic view of al Hada mountain. We will pass by a Rose Farm/factory. We will then reach the Sharif Museum. In the afternoon, after enjoying the view of mountains, the old stone paths, cars that passing though the road from Alhada Cable car. We will depart to Ta’if . That we will reach in the early evening. Then check in in our hotel. Overnight in TAIF . (B)
Day 10 - TA’IF – JEDDAH ( 174 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will discover Taif that is known worldwide for its roses and the perfume factories. We will stop at one of them that has preserved its old factory and brewers. The artisans will show us how the brewing process is made and will propose to us their range of rose perfumes and products. Then before going down the 2000 meters from the top of the Sarawat Mountains . We will visit also the Sharif Museum , we will stop at Al-Huda where we will admire the stunning sights from the edge of the vertiginous escarpment . Then we will start our descent down to sea level in Jeddah. Along the way we will enjoy the mild temperatures of the altitude and the vertiginous viewpoints from the top of the Sarawat Mountains. Once down to the Tihamah plain we will drive around Makkah then until the Red Sea shore in Jeddah where the climate is hotter and more humid than what we experienced just 2 hours before. Overnight in Medina . (B)
Day 11 - JEDDAH
Breakfast at your hotel. We will start our tour with the visit of Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum that presents the local and Arabian heritage. A unique site . We will then hit old Jeddah .We will enjoy a wonderful walking in Al-Balad , the old part of the city .This walk 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, local Jeddah food only for locals… While visiting Al-Balad, visitors will be taken to see Beit Nassif, one of the prominent renovated structures in the old city, which dates back to the mid 1800's. The five-story building provides a rare opportunity for the visitors to experience the blend of traditional architecture with modernity .We will see also the Baghdadi house . We will visit also the Old gold market in Gabel street and the Ukash Mosque. We will pass by the Al Rahmah Mosque. After that, we will visit The Floating Mosque, this single domed architectural marvel that sits literally on the sea, symbolizes Jeddah’s bold storm into the modern age. Sitting on an enviable location, the mosque’s courtyard offers unencumbered views of the Red Sea. Our tour will end with the Jeddah Corniche which is the 30 km coastal resort area of the city of Jeddah. Located along the Red Sea, 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. Overnight in Jeddah. (B)
Day 12 - JEDDAH.
Breakfast at your hotel. We will spend a second day in the Red Sea capital enjoying its hospitality . Overnight in Jeddah. (B)
Day 13 - JEDDAH– MEDINA (480 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we set off early driving through the open desert to the spectacular Al Waba Crater, a dramatic volcano formation with a salt field at its center. In the afternoon we make our way to the outskirts of the holy city of Medina .In the city center, the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) is a major Islamic pilgrimage site. Its striking Green Dome rises above the tombs of the Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar. The Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) is known as the site where the Prophet Muhammad received the command to change the direction of prayer to Mecca . We will visit the outskirts of the city ONLY, except the holy pilgrimage areas and we conclude the day with a short hike up Mount Uhud to enjoy the sunset over the city .Check in hotel . Overnight in Medina . (B)
Day 14 - MEDINA - AL ULA (330 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will head this morning to the ancient town of Al Ula was an important staging post on the frankincense trade route to Oman and Egypt. We will follow the same route than the historic Hijaz Railway. We will stop at the abandoned Buwayr & Muduraj train stations both of which offer an eerie reminder of a turbulent and bloody past .The Hijaz Railway, which connected Medina with Damascus and eventually Istanbul was built by the Ottomans in the early 20th century to speed ,up the journey to Mecca during the pilgrimage season, but the railway was only in use for a short period. During WWI, Lawrence of Arabia and his Arab allies blew up the railway in their revolt against the Ottoman Empire. We will visit the ancient city of Khaybar. This is probably the best-preserved ancient oasis of Saudi Arabia as it is built in a natural depression that can be flooded, reason why the modern city was built further away. It is mention in a Neo-Babylonian text that tell its conquest in 552 BCE by Nabonidus, the last King of Babylon. It became in the year 7 of Islam an important battle place between the Muslim and the Jews that saw the troops of Mohamed (PBUH) and Ali victorious. Arrival in Al Ula area at the end of the afternoon. Check in in our camp . Overnight in Al’Ula. (B)
Day 15 - AL ULA
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we propose to discover Al-Ula which is an ancient oasis that is inhabited for the last 7000 years. During the 1st millennium BCE the city of Dedan develops thanks to its strategic location on the frankincense trade road to become one of the oldest Arabian kingdoms that ruled over most of what is today Tabuk and Madinah provinces. Continue to Jebel Ikmah that, with its amazing and numerous rock inscriptions, looks an open-air museum. We continue then to the Old city of Al-Ula that became at the beginning of the Islamic era an important staging post along the pilgrimage route to Mecca. Then we will visit the ancient sites of Ekma and Abu ‘Aoud where the people of the oasis wrote texts in ancient scripts that we will decipher for you. We can finish this special day on top of the Harrat Al-Uwayrid for an amazing viewpoint of the oasis of Al-Ula. At the end of the afternoon, drive to hotel. Accommodation in AlUla. (B)
Day 16 - AL ULA – MADA’IN SALEH – AL ULA
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start our journey with the visit of the famous Hegra (Madain Saleh). We will be exploring the first UNESCO World , heritage site of the Saudi Kingdom , the monolith of Mada’in Saleh , also known as “ Southern Petra “ , dating from the Nabateans period ( 100-500 BC. We head towards Jibal Al-Rukkab & Leopard trail . We will then visit Jebel Al- Fil the “Elephant mountain”. The visits are exciting and full of emotions . At the end of the day , we go back to our camp. Overnight in Al Ula. (B)
Day 17 - AL ULA – JUBBAH - HA’IL (440 km)
Breakfast at the Camp. This morning we will start our journey to Jubbah that lies on an ancient lake. Several archaeological sites of human settlement from the Middle Paleolithic period were found around the margin of the paleolake. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops that are filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions on the rock face. Jubbah benefited from past humid phases that turned the arid Arabian Peninsula into a savannah similar to what is found today in Africa. During the last humid period that took place from the 10th to the 6th millennium BCE the African monsoon rains filled rivers and lakes where wildlife thrived. If the animals that used to live there became instinct because of the desertification that started during the 6th millennium BCE, some men fixed forever their presence in Jubbah thanks to carvings of aurochs, cheetahs, lions…Those drawings are still visible today in the sides of several sandstone outcrops located on the western side of the paleolake like the Jebel Umm Sanman. Jubbah, the other major carving site of Hail Province, where listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2015 for their numerous petroglyph panels and rich.We will pass through the famous desert of Nefuda Al Kabir or Al-Nefud , it is occupying a great oval depression. It is 290 kilometers long and 225 kilometers wide, with an area of 103,600 square kilometer. After this visit, we continue our route to the famous city of Ha’il. Renowned for its hospitable people, Hail is traditionally the home of Saudi Arabia’s poets and writers. An interesting point about Hail, most of the early European explorers passed by this city during the 19th century (Charles Doughty, Lady Blunt, Charles Huber, Julius Euting…Upon arrival , we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight in Ha’il. (B)
Day 18 - HA’IL - BURAYDAH (280 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our day with the visit of Al Ha’il, we will visit the A’Arif Fort and the nearby heritage museum. Then we will have a walk at the traditional market where we will find the local delicacies. We will pass also by the Hail Regional Museum, and if it is open, we will drop there to admire its collection. Then we start our way to Buraydah , we will pass the imposing Shammar mountain range , we will stop at a major historical site on our road called Fayd. It is the most important pilgrimage city that thrived during the golden age of Baghdad as it is located half way between Baghdad and Mecca. We will visit a small museum and a large archaeological site that has been restored. Buraydah is the capital of Al-Qassim Region in North central Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, and it is considered being the most conservative city of Saudi Arabia. On arrival, quick orientation of the city before we check-in at hotel. Overnight in Buraydah. (B)
Day 19 - BURAYDAH - USHAIGER - RIYADH (360 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we need to start early to make the most of a truly unique Saudi experience. Buraydah’s lively camel market is located just a short distance outside modernday Buraydah but the experience may feel like stepping into a distant era of times gone by. This is the world’s largest camel market where thousands of camels, goats and sheep are traded every day and this morning is sure to be a feast for the senses. We head back into the city to stroll through the mouth- watering date market to pick some tasty treats before driving towards the capital city of Riyadh. En route we will pass the villages of Mithnab and Al-Ghat , before we reach the highlight of our day the heritage village of Ushaiger, one of the oldest settlements in the region which boasts some stunning traditional Najdi architecture and considered one of the most attractive places in the country. We will reach finally Riyadh the capital at the end of the day . Check in , Overnight in Riyadh. (B)
Day 20 - DEPART RIYADH
Breakfast at your hotel. Check out at 12h00 noon. Depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to Riyadh airport. You can return the car in the airport , go to the car rental parking , handover your car and direct yourself to the departure area. (B)