Ancient Saudi & Arabia Deserta

Step back in time and discover the World Heritage Site of Diriyah where the story of modern Saudi Arabia began. Within Diriyah’s historic At Turaif district you’ll see stunning examples of traditional Najdi mudbrick architecture and get a sense of the way of life in the first Saudi capital some two hundred years ago. Your journey continues this afternoon to the National Museum for a crash course in Saudi history. The day’s sightseeing concludes with an orientation tour of downtown Riyadh where you will have a magnificent panorama over the Saudi capital from the Kingdom Tower’s Sky Bridge observation deck. Then, fly to Al Jawf in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Al Jawf oasis, set at the crossroads of one of the Middle East’s most important trade routes, is one of Saudi Arabia’s greatest archaeological treasures. Your day will start at Dumat Al Jandal, an outstanding example of an early Islamic town, that was already an important commercial centre in the 9th century BC when referred to in Assyrian texts as ‘Adummatu’. After visiting the wonderful ruins and its museum, learn about the enigmatic pre-historic standing stones of Al Rajajil and see the recently discovered 2000-year-old ‘Camel Site’. The day concludes with a tour of Sakaka’s Za’abal castle.

Travel through the red sands of the Great Nefud Desert to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jubbah. Here, on the walls of Jabal Umm Sinman, the finely accomplished rock art may be as much as 11,000 years old and sheds light on human activities, hairstyles and clothing during the Palaeolithic period. Lady Anne Blunt, one of the first Europeans to witness Jubbah’s art, wrote in 1879: ‘Jubbah is one of the most curious places in the world, and to my mind one of the most beautiful.’ Arrive in Hail’s outskirts in the late afternoon.

Drive to Tayma, once an important oasis for caravans travelling along the Frankincense route. Foremost among the city’s ruins is the 15 km-long Great Wall of Arabia, which dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. The ruined Arradam Palace and Red Palace (believed to have been constructed by the 6th-century Babylonian king Narbonidas) both still stand, as does the huge Nabataean-built Haddaj well, which can water one hundred camels simultaneously. After touring the 19th-century Governor’s Palace, continue your journey to AlUla.

AlUla’s stunning natural beauty and its fascinating past will be revealed on today’s tour. Your first stop will be the Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building. A private tour in a vintage-style Land Rover with a local ‘Rawi’ (storyteller) will then take you to the 2000-year-old city of Dadan (noted for its Lion Tombs) and to Jabal Ikmah’s to see the centuries-old rock art. Then, stroll along AlUla’s shaded Heritage Oasis Trail and enjoy the sight of tens of thousands of palm trees. Set off this afternoon on a 4WD adventure in search of the enigmatic ‘mustatil’ structures, desert canyons, and weathered terracotta-hued mountains that lie just outside AlUla. Conclude your sightseeing with a visit to Elephant Rock.

Continue your AlUla sightseeing with a guided tour (shared) of Old AlUla where you will climb up to the fort and walk through a maze of crumbling mudbrick ruins that were once surrounded by 14 gates. Then, travel off-road to explore the canyon of Wadi Abu Aoud and admire the impressive rock art at that includes several ‘magic carpets’. This afternoon discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra on a private tour in a vintage-style Land Rover with a local ‘Rawi’ (storyteller). The fabulously situated tombs of the ‘second Petra’ are considered Saudi Arabia’s premier cultural attraction. Built by the Nabataean Arabs between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, Hegra had been ‘lost’ to the world until its ‘rediscovery’ in 1876. The day’s sightseeing will conclude with a drive up to the Harrat Unwayrid to see a fine panorama over the oasis of AlUla and the desert beyond.

Drive to the ancient oasis of Khaybar – set amongst a sea of lava. Khaybar is one of the oldest areas of human settlement in the Arabian Peninsula and was once home to Jewish tribes who were defeated by the forces of the Prophet in a decisive seventh-century battle. On arrival you’ll explore the ancient oasis and take the walking trail around Al Nizar Fort. Then, continue your journey to Medina, stopping en route to see the impressive breached dam known as Sadd Al Bint which may date from the early Islamic period or 3rd century BC (it is disputed). A high-speed train will then take you from Medina to Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.

Jeddah, known as the ‘Bride of the Red Sea’, has been the port for nearby Mecca for centuries. Start your sightseeing at the Tayebat Museum – a fine example of traditional Hijazi architecture – then drive along the beautiful manicured modern seafront Corniche to the ‘floating Mosque’. This afternoon, the new city is juxtaposed with the old as you walk through Mecca Gate and enter Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Al Balad district. The lively souqs and multi-story houses built of coral stone with their distinctive ‘roshan’ wooden windows provide a fascinating insight into an age-old way of life in Saudi Arabia.

Private transfer to Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport and check in for your onward flight.