SOUTH TO NORTH – THE COMPLETE 18 DAYS
18 Days - JEDDAH - AL BAHAH - TAIF - MEDINA - AL ULA -MADA’IN SALEH -DISSAH - TABUK - NEOM - HISMA - TAYMA - JUBBAH - HA’IL - BURAYDAH - USHAIGER - RIYADH
Tour overview:
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 JEDDAH
Arrival at JEDDAH 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 JEDDAH. After the car formalities are done, you will receive the keys, and you will be ready to discover the region. Drive to your hotel. We will provide you with a road book. Check in at hotel . Overnight in JEDDAH.
Day 2 - 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 3 - JEDDAH – AL BAHAH (386 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our journey to the mountain city of AL BAHA that we will reach after a 4 hour trip. Arrival in the hotel. Overnight in Al-Bahah. (B)
Day 4 - AL BAHAH
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will start our journey to Al Bahah. Al Baha , is a city in the west of Saudi Arabia in the Hejaz area. It is the capital of Al Bahah Region, and is one of the Kingdom’s prime tourist attractions. It enjoys a pleasant climate and is surrounded by more than forty forests.On arrival , we will visit the Marble Village of Dhee Ayn. It’s an amazing place, Reminds the quality of ancient civilization. The quality of the building is remarkable. The village was named by the name of the water that flows from the nearby mountains without interruption. Dhee Ain is famous for its fruits and banana plantations which still grow there. The village dates back about 400 years, and it witnessed the battles between the Ottoman Turks and its inhabitants.Incredible the ability to explore and experience this piece of local history is almost unprecedented in the world.Then we if we re luck and we are on a Saturday , we will visit the Saturday Historical Market Baljurashi. Its an old popular market is held on Saturday every week in the morning and it is considered a very old heritage market where people come for sale and purchase, but it develops after entering the life of the city and it is now selling heritage items, birds and various things. You will learn more about the city’s history and social life. Then we will drive to Raghadan Forest Park. It is a natural wild forest that was developed by the municipality of Albaha region. You would be able to walk into the forest area. The park is designed well with parking places next to each play area. lots of space for the whole family to enjoy.At the end visit the mountains of AlSurat for Visit Al Mud Village. Drive to the next visit to Khairah Forest Park. Check in in your hotel . Overnight in AL BAHAH . (B)
Day 5 - AL BAHA – TAIF (220 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our journey to the mountains of TAIF located over 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 before we enjoy a traditional lunch in the mountains. In the afternoon, after enjoying the view of mountains, the old stone paths, cars that passing though the road from Alhada Cable car. Then check in in our hotel. Overnight in TAIF . (B)
Day 6 - TA’IF – 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. Here there is the option to circumnavigate part of the crater or you may opt for the more challenging steep climb down to the basin and then back up again (approx. 2.5hrs return). After our exploration we will enjoy the crater’s edge taking in this awesome natural wonder. In the afternoon we make our way to the outskirts of the holy city of Medina .In the city center, the vast Al-Masjid anNabawi (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 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 7 - 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 8 - 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 9 - 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 ) Our visit will be followed 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 10 - AL ULA – DISSAH - TABUK ( 300 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. We start this morning with a drive through the rugged landscapes of the lava field called Harrat Al-‘Uwayrid to head towards the Wadi Qaraqir and the ancient city of Dissah which are definitely within the top experiences of Saudi Arabia. Wadi Qaraqir is undoubtedly the most beautiful valley of Saudi Arabia with its 500 meters high sandstone cliffs on both sides of the canyon and the small rivers that runs through all year long. Every inch through this canyon is an amazement unique in the world. On the other side of the valley is the oasis of Dissah where we will see remains attesting of the long occupation of this wonderful place. After that amazing day , we will drive north to our hotel in the town of Tabuk which is the capital of the province that is called after its name. Overnight in Tabuk. (B)
Day 11 - TABUK – NEOM - TABUK ( 450 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we are on the area where the construction of a futuristic city called Neom is being on-going. Its name stands for “New Future” (“Neo” for “New” and “Mustaqbal” which means “Future” in Arabic) highlighting the uniqueness of the vision of this project. The area of Neom corresponds to the west shore of Tabuk Province that we will explore today, starting with the archeological site of Madyan, an ancient city quoted in both the Coran and the Bible. This place was occupied among other by the Nabateans who built some monumental tombs known by locals as the “caves of the Prophet Shuwayb” (Mughayr Shuwayb). From there we will travel on the footsteps of the Prophet Moses as his story told in both the Coran and Bible says that we lived in Madyan for 10 years. We will visit the Wells of Moses and the impressive Valley of Moses (also known as Tayeb Ism), all these places offering a wonderful sight on the Sinai Mountain on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba.At the end of the afternoon we will drive back to our hotel in Tabuk. Overnight in Tabuk. (B)
Day 12 - NEOM : TABUK – HISMA – TABUK – ( 440 km )
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will visit a place called Hisma, which is also known as the Wadi Rum of Saudi Arabia because of its majestic grandiose formations similar to the ones found on the other side of the border with Jordan. Hisma is home to hundreds of ancient rock art and ancient inscriptions, some in pre-Islamic scripts dating back to the caravan trade, and some in old Arabic dating back to the first decades of Islam. In the afternoon we will drive up one of the highest mountains in Saudi Arabia, the Jebel Al Lawz, the mountain of almonds. People believe that this is the true site of the biblical Mount Sinai where Moses received the Tablets of Law. We will visit some sites that have features reminding the story of Moses. At the end of the day we will head back to our hotel . Overnight in Tabuk. (B)
Day 13 - TABUK - TAYMA ( 260 km)
Breakfast in the hotel. Today we will leave city of Tabuk and drive towards A from the different direction. We will visit Tayma, the oldest human settlement of Saudi Arabia is a city located on the western edge of the great sand dune desert, the Nafoud Al-Kebir. It lays in a natural depression where a lake formed when the climate of the Arabian Peninsula was more humid. Today, after nearly 8 000 years of desertification process, Tayma still benefits from natural wells that have been maintained for millennia. Another asset adds to the historical significance of Tayma: its location in a natural corridor between the Nafoud Al-Kebir on the east and the Sarawat mountains on the west that designated this oasis a major stopover for caravans trading frankincense and other valuable commodities from Yemen. The importance of Tayma is attested to in many ancient texts where it is mentioned more often than any other place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Late in the afternoon. Check in in at hotel . Overnight in TAYMA. (B)
Day 14 - TAYMA - JUBBAH - HA’IL ( 420 km)
Breakfast at the hotel. During this drive we will cross the legendary desert of the Nefud Al-Kebir whose name stands for the “great vast extent of sand dunes”. This journey will lead us through this ocean of sand with wave-shaped dunes as high as 100 meters. Standing as an island in the middle of the ocean is the Jebel umm Sanman, a mountain at the bottom of which a lake formed some 10,000 years ago when the climate of the Arabian Peninsula was more humid. It was used later as an oasis for the mighty travelers who crossed the Nefud Al-Kebir by foot, including the French explorer Charles Huber who did the perilous trip during the hot month of May in 1880. The highlight of our day will be , Jubbah, where several archaeological sites of human settlement from the Middle Paleolithic period were found around the margin of the paleolake. This ancient oasis is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops that are filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions. 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 on several sandstone outcrops like the Jebel Umm Sanman. Jubbah and Shuwaymis, the other major carving site of Hail Province, where listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2015 for their numerous petroglyph panels and rich inscriptions . Arrival in late afternoon . Check in in HA’IL . (B)
Day 15 - 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 16 - 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 17 - RIYADH
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National museum .The National Museum is the primary custodian of the Saudi national heritage and culture, the Museum is a place of learning and discovery, it completes the story of Arabian civilization from the creation of the universe to our modern era . We continue thereafter to the 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. It is one of the museums in the city . We will continue our drive through the city passing the famous Kingdom tower , the Faisaliah hotel , both a great architectural achievement. We will see also many other landmarks that make the city famous today . Afternoon we will continue our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting The Masmak Fort, one of the most important monuments in Saudi Arabia from where modern Saudi history start. This Fort is the birthplace of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in.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. 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. At the end of the afternoon , back to your hotel. Overnight in Riyadh. (B)
Day 18 - 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)