The Essential Saudi Arabia
07 Days
ITINERARY
Tour Overview:
Saudi Arabia offers visitors desert experiences, the modern capital of Riyadh, UNESCO World Heritage sites and traditional villages. In 7 days, experience the essential Saudi Arabia.
Day 1: Arrive Riyadh
Arrival at Riyadh airport, after visa and immigration formalities our representative will meet and escort the guests to their air-conditioned vehicle for their transfer to the hotel. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in RIYADH.
Day 2: Riyadh City Tour
Breakfast at your hotel. We proceed into old Riyadh, starting in the downtown area, visiting the traditional Dirah Souq (famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques). The walk is infused with the aromas of sandalwood fragrance and other scents of the orient. After this, we visit the Masmak Fort which is just walking distance from the Old Souq and whose importance is linked to the creation of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in. The fortified palace was chbuilt during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. to serve as a military garrison for the army of Abdullah bin Rashid. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of the today’s nation, captured the fort in 1902, marking the beginning of the reconquest of Arabia by the House of Saudi. Lunch at leisure. We drive for 30 minutes to Ad-Diriyah, located on the western bank of the Wadi Hanifah, a dry riverbed where water flows only after big rains. Ad-Diriyah used to be the capital of the Najd (the central plateau of the Arabian Peninsula) from the 15th century until the beginning of the 18th century. It is the birthplace of the first Saudi Kingdom and its importance in the history of the Arabian Peninsula was highlighted when it was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2010, as the most brilliant example of Najdi architecture. The history of Ad-Diriyah goes back thousands of years as it was on an ancient trade and pilgrimage route, acting as a meeting point for those travelling to or from Asia, Africa and Europe. Our visit to the site allows us to admire its incredible architecture before returning to downtown Riyadh. As we drive towards the city, we have the opportunity to admire the rapid development of this cosmopolitan capital, planned by the Saudi government to become the biggest metropole in the Middle East in the next 10 years. Return to hotel. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in RIYADH.
Day 3: Riyadh – Al Ula: By Flight
Breakfast in the hotel & check out. Depending on the flight time, transfer to Riyadh airport for your flight to Al Ula. Arrival at Al Ula airport, after visa and immigration formalities our representative will meet and escort the guests to their air-conditioned vehicle for their transfer to the city. Upon arriving, we shall get a glimpse into AlUla’s not-so-distant past on the AlUla Old Town Tour. A Rawi (guide) will lead you through AlUla Old Town, where pilgrims, travellers and permanent settlers congregated through the ages. Inhabited from before the 12th century up until the early 1980s, AlUla Old Town offers researchers unique oral histories and living memory that the area’s other heritage sites cannot. With 900 houses, 500 shops and 5 town squares, you can explore a maze of remnants of original stone and mudbrick buildings and enjoy views of an AlUla Castle dating back to the 10th century. Guest will learn about Old Town’s settlers and pilgrims, as well as their motives and methods in the city’s construction. Head towards the hotel & check in. Lunch & dinner at leisure. Overnight in AL ULA.
NOTE: Preferred flight: SV 1574 – RUH 0915 HRS/ ULH 1100 HRS | Flight ticket included. Flight times are subject to change.
Day 4: Al Ula
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start our journey with the visit Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest preserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra. Home to more than 110 tombs carved from giant rock formations, this ancient site is open for visitors to explore and learn about the culture, traditions, and history of its people. Lunch at leisure. Then we depart on a journey through time to discover the ancient and powerful civilizations of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms, that have built and shaped AlUla. After exploring the ruins, a bus service takes you on a 10- minute drive to Jabal Ikmah, an open library of inscriptions, rock art and petroglyphs set in a stunning desert canyon. Below, you’ll find tour details, planning tips and what to expect when visiting these extraordinary heritage sites. Before heading back to the hotel, we will visit Jebel Al-Fil (Elephant rock) for a relaxing time. Set in Golden Desert sands and climbing their storeys into the Saudi Arabian Sky, is the awe-inspiring elephant rock one of Al ula’s many geological Marvels. Unlike the ornate, hand-carved facades of nearby Hegra’s Nabataean tombs, the “trunk” and “body” of this monolithic red sandstone beast were shaped by natural forces — millions of years of wind and water erosion. The beauty of the unrefined structure is enhanced by a landscape of golden sands, studded with rocky outcops, many of which are equally impressive in size and have interesting shapes and figures. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in ALULA.
Day 5: Al Ula
Breakfast in the hotel & check out. Depending on the flight time, transfer to Al Ula airport for your flight to Jeddah. Arrival at Jeddah airport, our representative will meet and escort the guests to their air-conditioned vehicle for their transfer to the hotel. Check in at the hotel. Lunch & dinner at leisure. Overnight in Jeddah.
NOTE: Preferred flight: SV 1631 – ULH 1150 HRS/ JED 1315 HRS Flight ticket included. Flight times are subject to change.
Day 6: Jeddah
Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour by visiting the Old Jeddah. Our guide will tell you the amazing stories about Jeddah and its surroundings. We will enjoy a wonderful walk in Al-Balad, the old part of the city. This walking 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, Unesco Heritage site, visitors will be taken to see Beit Nassif (exterior), 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 also visit the Old gold market in Gabel Street and the Ukash Mosque. We will end our tour driving towards the Jeddah Corniche which is the 30 km coastal resort area of the city of Jeddah. We will pass by the Jeddah sculptures museum, 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. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon we will start our tour with the visit of House of Islamic Art Museum. A unique site. After that, we will visit Jeddah Waterfront. Return to hotel. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Jeddah.
Day 7: Depart Jeddah
Breakfast in the hotel. Check out time 1200 hrs. Depending on the flight time, transfer to Jeddah airport for your departure.
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DATES/PRICING/ACCOMMODATIONS
2024 | ||
Dates | Dbl Occ | Sgl Occ |
Jan 07 - Jan 13 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Jan 14 - Jan 20 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Jan 21 - Jan 27 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Jan 28 - Feb 03 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Feb 04 - Feb 10 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Feb 11 - Feb 17 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Feb 18 - Feb 24 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Feb 25 - Mar 02 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Mar 03 - Mar 09 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Mar 10 - Mar 16 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Mar 17 - Mar 23 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Mar 24 - Mar 30 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Mar 31 - Apr 06 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Apr 07 - Apr 13 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Apr 14 - Apr 20 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Apr 21 - Apr 27 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Apr 28 - May 04 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
May 05 - May 11 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
May 12 - May 18 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
May 19 - May 25 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
May 26 - Jun 01 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jun02 -Jun 08 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jun 09 - Jun 15 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jun 16 - Jun 22 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jun 23 -Jun 29 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jun 30 - Jul 06 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jul 07 - Jul 13 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jul 14 - Jul 20 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jul 21 - Jul 27 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Jul 28 - Aug 03 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Aug 04 - Aug 10 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Aug 11 - Aug 17 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Aug 18 - Aug 24 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Aug 25 - Aug 31 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Sep 01 - Sep 07 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Sep 08 - Sep 14 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Sep 15 - Sep 21 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Sep 22 - Sep 28 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Sep 29 - Oct 05 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Oct 06 - Oct 12 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Oct 13 - Oct 19 | CAD 2,690 | CAD 4,170 |
Oct 20 - Oct 26 | CAD 2,395 | CAD 3,740 |
Oct 27 - Nov 02 | CAD 2,395 | CAD 3,740 |
Nov 03 - Nov 09 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Nov 10 - Nov 16 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Nov 17 - Nov 23 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Nov 24 - Nov 30 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Dec 01 - Dec 07 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Dec 08 - Dec 14 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Dec 15 - Dec 21 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Dec 22 - Dec 28 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Dec 29 - Jan 04 | CAD 2,995 | CAD 4,675 |
Hotels | ||
Riyadh | ||
Golden Tulip Hotel or similar | ||
Al Ula | ||
Cloud7 Residence AlUla or similar | ||
Jeddah | ||
Frontel Hotel or similar | ||
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INCLUSIONS
Inclusions:
- 06 nights’ Accommodation on bed & breakfast meal plan
- Guide Assistance
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Riyadh half day tour
- Discover Ad-Diriyah
- Visit the famous Hegra (Madain Saleh) – UNESCO HERITAGE SITE Dadan/ Ikmah tour
- Visit Jebel Al-Fil (Elephant Rock)
- Jeddah full day tour
- Tour operated in English only
Excluded:
- Saudi Arabia Visa
- Porterage
- Insurance assistance, cancellation, luggage…
- Beverages & meals not above mentioned.
- Visits not mentioned in the program.
- Personal expenses (telephones, minibar, etc.…)
- Tips to the guide & driver
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EMAIL US
We welcome hearing from you! Feel free to call or simply Email us with any questions you may have.