The Best Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia

TOP DESTINATIONS TO EXPLORE ON A PRIVATE TOUR OF SAUDI ARABIA

Visiting Saudi Arabia is now more accessible than ever. With simplified visa procedures and the support of our regional experts, planning and booking a private tour has never been easier. Our team brings extensive knowledge and experience to help you craft the perfect itinerary, ensuring every detail is taken care of. Once you’re in the country, you’ll benefit from excellent on-the-ground support from our partners, giving you peace of mind to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of Saudi Arabia.

With so many captivating destinations to choose from, deciding which places to include on your Saudi Arabia tour can feel overwhelming. To make it easier, we’ve curated a list of the top must-visit locations to help you get the best out of a holiday in this extraordinary country.

ALULA OASIS & THE ANCIENT SITE OF HEGRA

For some of Saudi Arabia’s most spectacular scenery, visit AlUla in the Kingdom’s northwest province of Medina. Here, you will find a land of dramatic landscapes—a vast desert oasis filled with ancient rock formations, subtropical palm groves, rolling sand dunes, and lost and rediscovered cities.

Among AlUla’s swathes of palm trees and red rock canyons is the fabulously shaped Elephant Rock. Also known as Jabal Al-Fil, this vast sandstone monolith resembles an elephant with its trunk firmly rooted in the desert. In addition to its great natural beauty, AlUla is home to one of the country’s most impressive heritage sites, the ancient city of Hegra. Also known as Al-Hijr or Madain Saleh, the city was built by the Nabataean Arabs before being lost in time for 2,000 years. Sometimes referred to as the second Petra due to similarities with its sister site in Jordan, Hegra was the first of Saudi Arabia’s eight World Heritage Sites to be listed by UNESCO. Beyond the historic sites and dramatic landscapes other things to do in AlUla include attending cultural events and festivals, seeing contemporary art installations and activities such as hot air ballooning, helicopter rides and sand buggy adventures.

WADI AL DISAH

Some of the Kingdom’s most diverse landscapes, including the jaw-dropping Wadi Al Disah, are found in Tabuk province in northwest Saudi Arabia. Translating as the Valley of the Palm Trees, Al Disah is just one of Saudi’s great natural wonders. Wadi Al Disah is located within Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Nature Reserve, one of the Kingdom’s eight royal reserves established in 2018 to preserve Saudi Arabia’s natural habitat and encourage conservation and the preservation of its flora and fauna.

The valley is flanked by towers of red rock that rise from the fertile green carpet of lush palm trees and reflect in the valley’s still pools. The landscape is dramatic at any time of the day, but particularly so during the golden hour when the sun sets with magical effect.

Both figuratively and literally miles away from big-city life, Al Disah is suited for long hikes or off-road 4-wheel drive adventures, picnic lunches and barbecue dinners, and camping out in style under a canopy of a million stars.

SAUDI ARABIA’S RED SEA

Crystal-clear turquoise waters and porcelain white sandy beaches are not the first things that come to mind when thinking about a tour of Saudi Arabia, and many travellers are surprised to learn that the Kingdom has over one thousand miles of unspoilt Red Sea coastline.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is a breathtaking stretch of untouched natural beauty, spanning over 28,000 square kilometres and bordered by the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system. With its deep blue seas blending into crystal-clear lagoons and sandy beaches, this coastal paradise offers an exquisite escape and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Saudi Arabia.
This remarkable region boasts over 90 pristine islands, dormant volcanoes, rolling desert dunes, and dramatic rocky canyons. It is often hailed as one of the world’s last hidden treasures.

Set to become one of the most exclusive resort areas in the world, among the first luxury offerings are two private island resorts in the Ummahat archipelago, 22 kilometres offshore. Guests can stay at the St Regis Red Sea Resort or the ultra-exclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Nujuma. Both feature beach and overwater villas, indulgent spas, fine dining, and access to non-motorised watersports, as well as exceptional scuba diving and snorkelling. Another option is the newly opened Shebara Resort, a futuristic hotel on pristine Shaybara Island, reached by either seaplane or a 40-minute boat ride from the mainland. This architectural masterpiece features luxurious beachfront villas with an uber-modern design, as well as overwater villas that resemble stainless-steel orbs.

Looking ahead, the Saudi Red Sea will unveil numerous innovative luxury developments, including Amaala, a wellness-centered destination aimed at transformative experiences, and Thuwal Private Retreat, a secluded private island available for exclusive bookings.

BURAIDAH CAMEL MARKET

Al Qassim province in central Saudi Arabia is one of the country’s most traditional regions, and the provincial capital, Buraidah, hosts one of the Kingdom’s most authentic markets. Held on most days of the week, a visit to the Buraidah camel auction provides a culturally immersive experience and the opportunity to observe one aspect of everyday life in Saudi Arabia.

The incredible Buraidah camel auction is the largest in the world, and the vibrant market operates daily except Friday. Early morning is when the market is at its liveliest, and over 2,000 camels are traded on Saturday, the busiest day of the week. If you are in the market to buy a camel, you can browse and bid in three sections: meat, milk, and beauty (yes, a camel is judged on its good looks). Make sure you take your chequebook, though; at special auctions, a thoroughbred camel can be sold for as much as an eye-watering one million dollars!

HARRAT KHAYBAR

Volcanoes are not a geological phenomenon that many people associate with Saudi Arabia, perhaps because the last eruption in the country was 865 years ago. However, the lunar landscape of Harrat Khaybar is where you will find one of Saudi Arabia’s largest volcanic fields. Volcanic craters and 4,500-thousand-year-old lava flows cover an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres and are a remarkable sight.

Mineral deposits have created so-called white volcanoes, and the two largest, Jabal Abiyadh and Jabal Baydah, are a dramatic contrast to the nearby black cone of Jabal Qidr. The contrasting colours have produced intriguing two-toned lava flow patterns, which can be seen while walking along some of the trails. Several of the paths lead up to crater ridges, from which there are wonderful views across the lunar-like landscapes.

THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

One of Saudi Arabia’s most dramatic landscapes, the Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn in Arabic), rises like a sheer cliff face from the ancient ocean bed seam 300 metres below. The uninterrupted views of the horizon give it its name and are truly awe-inspiring. The Edge of the World is part of the much longer Tuwaiq Escarpment that stretches for over 600 kilometres, from Buraydah to Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter, on the southern Arabian peninsula. It is a spectacular area for hiking, searching for fossils or simply enjoying the unforgettable sight of the setting sun from the cliff ridge.

The Edge of the World is less than two hours drive from Riyadh and an easy day trip by 4-wheel-drive from the Saudi capital. It is undoubtedly one of the natural wonders of the Arabian world and a must-see on your Saudi Arabia tour.

AL BALAD – HISTORIC JEDDAH

The historical neighbourhood of Jeddah, Al Balad, is the original centre of the city and is a dramatic contrast to modern Jeddah. Due to its strategic location on the eastern shore of the Red Sea, Old Jeddah was established in the 7th century AD as a major port. It was an important stop on Indian Ocean trade routes and was also the gateway to Mecca for Muslim pilgrims who arrived by sea.

Another of Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO sites, Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014 with the aim of preserving the late 19th century houses. The multi-storied houses constructed from wood and coral limestone and shades of green, brown and white are a highlight of any visit to Al Balad. According to UNESCO, they combine Red Sea coastal coral building traditions with influences and crafts from along the trade routes and were occupied by the city’s mercantile elites. Sunset and early evening are the best times for a wander around Al Balad when shops are open, and the streets are at their liveliest. Many consider Al Balad to be one of the best places to visit in Jeddah.

RIJAL ALMAA HERITAGE VILLAGE

Today Rijal Almaa is a heritage village on the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list. In history, Rijal Almaa was an important point on the route linking Yemen and the Levant to Mecca and Medina. The distinctive style of architecture is built from a combination of natural stone, wood and clay, with buildings five or more stories tall stacked up the hillside and window shutters painted in bright colours. Some of the houses served as fortresses and their interesting interiors reveal the rich heritage and culture of the region.

The area around Rijal Almaa heritage village boasts some of Saudi Arabia’s most spectacular scenery including Jabal Soudah, a 3,000-metre peak believed to be the highest in the Kingdom. The views from the mountain, of traditional villages dotted across carpets of greenery, are spectacular.

Rijal Almaa Village is also the site of the annual Flowerman Festival which sees hundreds gather, many in the traditional wear of the Qahtani tribe, to celebrate the region’s musical and dance heritage.

INSPIRED TO VISIT SAUDI ARABIA?

Combining the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia into one tour introduces you to traditional villages and gleaming modern cities, lunar landscapes, tropical beaches, ancient history and intriguing culture. There’s no escaping the cliche, but the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is quite possibly the most diverse and least-visited destination on the planet.

TAILOR-MADE PRIVATE TOURS OF SAUDI ARABIA

We have a comprehensive selection of flexible suggested itineraries for Saudi Arabia. Our destination experts, however, are passionate about travel to the Kingdom and would be delighted to discuss all of the options and the logistics of booking a private tour of Saudi Arabia. Contact us to discuss the possibilities.