Classic Saudi Arabia

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 concludes with an orientation tour of downtown Riyadh, where you will have a magnificent panorama of the Saudi capital from the Kingdom Tower’s Sky Bridge observation deck.

Drive north to the Ushaiger Heritage Village, a stunning example of traditional Najdi architecture that was once a stopping point on the Hajj pilgrim route. On arrival, visit one of the village’s heritage museums and wander through the Ushaiger’s warren of shaded winding alleys, where you’ll find many fine examples of traditional mudbrick buildings. Then, stroll through the peaceful fields surrounding the village before continuing your journey to Unaizah where your hotel has been inspired by the local Qassimi architecture and is set amongst the palms of a working date plantation.

Rise early to visit one of Saudi Arabia’s most colourful and photogenic spectacles – the Buraidah Camel Market – the largest camel market in the world, where some 700 animals are traded daily (swelling to two thousand animals on Saturdays). The noise and theatre as dealers attract eager huddles of merchants as they auction camels that can reach as much as one million US$ is incredible! After coffee in a beautiful date garden, drive on to the massive Hutaymah Crater – the result of a volcanic explosion millions of years ago – before continuing through the picturesque landscape of the Jabal Aja to Ha’il.

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.’ This afternoon, drive to AlUla and check in at your desert resort.

AlUla’s stunning natural beauty as well as 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 to see the striking desert canyons, golden dunes, and weathered terracotta-hued mountains that lie just outside AlUla. Conclude your sightseeing with a visit to Elephant Rock.

Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s premier archaeological attraction, will be your destination this morning. On arrival at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, tour the rock-hewn tombs of the ‘second Petra’ in a private vintage-style Land Rover with a local ‘Rawi’ (storyteller). These fabulously situated tombs had been ‘lost’ to the world until their ‘rediscovery’ in 1876. After your tour, a private transfer will take you south through mountains, deserts, and lava flows to Medina.

Today is dedicated to exploring Medina, Islam’s second most holy city. Anciently known as Yathrib, the city was renamed Medina by the Prophet Mohammad after he and his followers were welcomed following their flight from Mecca – an event known as the ‘Hijrah’. Pilgrims recreate this journey every year as part of the Hajj. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the city’s mosques – but can now visit the previously off-limits ‘Haram’ area where the main places of pilgrimage, including the vast Prophet’s Mosque, are located. Early evening travel by High-Speed train 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.