Tailor Made Saudi Arabia: The Desert Kingdom

Day 1: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Arrive in Riyadh, original homeland of the ruling Al Saud family and now the nation’s capital city, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel. Once a walled way station along desert trading routes, Riyadh is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, a modern metropolis undergoing rapid change.

Day 2: Riyadh

Start your day at Masmak Fortress, from which King Abdulaziz conquered and united the regions that comprise the nation today. Afterward, stroll through Dirah Souk, a market renowned for colorful textiles, from silk to luxurious pashminas, before exploring the National Museum, with its galleries that tell the complete story of Arabian history. Continue to Murabba Palace, built by King Abdulaziz in 1937 and composed of several smaller palaces. After a traditional lunch of Saudi specialties, head just outside the city to Diriyah, the original seat of power of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family, to view the remains of At-Turaif. Its mud-brick walls once fortified a thriving desert community that laid the foundations for a unified Saudi Arabia. Return to the city center, where you finish your afternoon with a visit to the top of Kingdom Tower, taking in expansive views of the city.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: AlUla

Fly northwest into the vast Arabian Desert to AlUla, where on arrival you are met and transferred to your accommodations. Nestled in a large, spectacular valley, where date palm groves line the banks of a wadi (dry riverbed) and foreboding red sandstone cliffs rise up on either side, AlUla was historically an important trading hub located on the Incense Route. It has a delightfully mysterious air about it and is the gateway to Hegra, a Nabatean site with historic connections to Jordan’s Petra.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4: AlUla

Start the day with a visit to Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site only open to the public since 2020 that features an abundance of relics and rock-cut tombs, including a towering carved façade that signals its Nabatean connection to Petra in Jordan. Discover the Nabatean Well, Qasr Al Bint, Diwan Tomb and Al Farid Palace. Learn how this southernmost settlement of the Nabatean kingdom, known as Al Hijr during ancient times, once served as a stopover on a prosperous trade route. After a break for lunch at a local restaurant, set out on a desert 4x4 adventure to Jabal Al Rukkab, a rugged desert wilderness located northeast of AlUla. Among its labyrinth of narrow sand-filled canyons separated by towering rose-colored sandstone peaks, discover three spiraling rock formations dubbed the Dancing Rocks. Then, view iconic Elephant Rock, a formation shaped over millions of years by the natural forces of erosion to resemble a massive pachyderm.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: AlUla

Continue to explore the cultural and natural treasures of AlUla. Begin with a visit to Jabal Ikmah, situated in a stunning desert canyon. This “open-air library” has an impressive collection of inscriptions carved into its stone cliffsides, mostly dating to the first millennium BC. Continue to nearby Dadan, once the capital of the ancient kingdom of the Lihyanite and Dadanite civilizations, circa the ninth century BC. Learn about the treasures uncovered from excavations at this active archaeological site. See the Lion Tombs, resting place of elite members of society, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, take in expansive views of AlUla’s treasures as you embark on a thrilling helicopter excursion, passing over Negra, Elephant Rock and more. This evening, you may choose to explore AlUla’s Old Town to observe how the local architecture exhibits the distinctive patterns of Islamic cities of the past. First built in the 13th century AD, its houses were constructed from stones taken from the nearby Al-Khureabah ruins. Wander through the Old Town’s myriad of cafes and shops for a charming coda to your day.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Jeddah

Today, fly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's commercial capital and the main gateway to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. A historic crossroads of pilgrims and traders, Jeddah is the most fascinating of Saudi Arabia's major cities, with a cosmopolitan and liberal air not found anywhere else in the country. Admire the city's UNESCO-listed Red Sea architecture and explore its bustling souk as well as its laid-back coastline, home to fantastic dive sites. Also enjoy Jeddah’s diverse, world-class cuisine at your leisure.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7: Jeddah

Devote your day to the exploration of this historic city, starting with a stroll of the Corniche, a waterfront promenade along the sparkling Red Sea. Take in the extraordinary array of modern sculpture on display, ranging from traditional Arabic designs to examples of abstract and monumental art. Afterward, gaze upon the “floating mosque,” which appears to drift on the water's surface, shimmering in the sunlight, and pause to take in the inspiring seaside views. Explore the Tayebat Museum, also known as the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, to view exhibitions spanning from pre-Islamic history to the rich Islamic cultural heritage of the city. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and, afterward, take in King Fahd's Fountain, which is the tallest of its type in the world, shooting water from the Red Sea a thousand feet up into the air. Visit Al Makkiah House, a beautiful example of traditionally preserved Hijazi architecture, for a special inside visit. Next, head to Al-Balad, Jeddah's old quarter and a bastion of traditional architecture. Visit some of the old Ottoman houses, constructed from coral and reinforced with wooden beams, including the beautiful Nasif House, built in the 1850s by an influential trading family.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Jeddah

Today, your independent exploration of Saudi Arabia draws to a close as, after breakfast, you are privately transferred to the airport for your departing flight.

Meals Provided : Breakfast