Sands & Heritage: Journey through Saudi Arabia's Rich History

Arrival at Riyadh International 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. Overnight in Riyadh.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National Museum, the primary custodian of Saudi national heritage and culture. The Museum is a place of learning and discovery, offering an overview of Arabian civilization from prehistory to the modern era. We will then visit the nearby Murabba Palace (outside visit due to renovations), one of the historic buildings of the city. The palace was named after its square shape, measuring 400 by 400 meters. We will stop for lunch at a typical local Saudi restaurant. In the afternoon, we will continue our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the Masmak Fort and its museum, which depicts the history of the conquest of Arabia by the Al-Saud family. The palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in 1895 A.D. to serve as a military garrison for his army. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of the nation, captured the fort in 1902, making it the birthplace of the modern Saudi Kingdom. At the end of the afternoon, we will pass by the Kingdom Tower and the Faisaliah Tower before returning to your hotel. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Riyadh.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we depart for Riyadh’s railway station and board the new fast train to Ha’il. The railway link was constructed recently and allows us to reach Ha’il in just under 5 hours. The city of Ha’il lies at the foot of the imposing Shammar mountain range, named after a large northern Arabian tribe. Renowned for its hospitable people, Ha’il is traditionally the home of Saudi Arabia’s poets and writers. Most early European explorers passed by this city during the 19th century (Charles Doughty, Lady Blunt, Charles Huber, Julius Euting…). Lunch at leisure. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel. As we will arrive in Ha’il in the early afternoon, we will visit the A’Arif Fort and the nearby heritage museum. Then we will have a walk through the traditional market to find local delicacies. We will also pass by the Ha’il Regional Museum and, if it is open, we will admire its collections. Dinner and overnight in Ha’il.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will start our journey to Jubbah, which lies on an ancient lake. Several archaeological sites of human settlement from the Middle Paleolithic period were found around the margin of the paleolake. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions. Jubbah benefited from past humid phases that turned the arid Arabian Peninsula into a savannah similar to what is found today in Africa. During the last humid period from the 10th to the 6th millennium BCE, the African monsoon rains filled rivers and lakes where wildlife thrived. Some men left their mark in Jubbah with carvings of aurochs, cheetahs, lions, and more. These drawings are still visible today on several sandstone outcrops like Jebel Umm Sanman. Jubbah and Shuwaymis, the other major carving site of Ha’il Province, were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015 for their numerous petroglyph panels and rich inscriptions. The region between Ha’il and Al-Ula offers some of the best desert experiences in the world. On our way, we will pass through the famous desert of Nefud Al Kabir, which means “great extent of sand dunes.” It is 290 kilometers long and 225 kilometers wide, with an area of 103,600 square kilometers. Lunch at leisure. We continue our route to the famous Al Ula area. Early evening, we arrive and check-in at our beautifully located hotel, our base for the night. Dinner and overnight in Al-Ula.

Breakfast at the hotel. Al-Ula is an ancient oasis that has been inhabited for the last 7000 years, as evidenced by ancient carvings in and around the oasis. During the 1st millennium BCE, the city of Dedan developed thanks to its strategic location on the frankincense trade road, becoming one of the oldest Arabian kingdoms that ruled over most of what is today Tabuk and Madinah provinces. During the 1st century BCE, the Nabatean people from Petra settled 30 kilometers north of Dedan in Al-Hijr, where they built 94 monumental tombs similar to those in Petra. We will start our exciting day with a visit to two ancient carving sites in Al-Ula, then pass by the ancient city of Dedan, an important oasis on the frankincense trade route between Southern Arabia and the Mediterranean World. We will also visit the ancient sites of Ekma, where the people of the oasis wrote texts in ancient scripts that we will decipher for you. Our visit will be followed by lunch at leisure. We will continue to Jebel Al-Fil for a relaxing time next to the “Elephant Rock.” Dinner and accommodation in Al-Ula.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start our journey with a visit to the famous Hegra (Madain Saleh), the first site in Saudi Arabia to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Madain Saleh, originally named Al-Hijr or Hegra in Greek, is the southernmost important city of the Nabatean Kingdom, which flourished thanks to the caravan trade between the 2nd century BCE and the Roman conquest in 106 CE. It is the second richest Nabatean city in terms of monumental tombs, with 94 decorated funeral monuments, including some of the most vibrant and well-preserved architectural prowess of Nabatean builders. We will lead you through this fascinating site and reveal the secrets of its tombs, ancient inscriptions, stone structures, and more. Our visit will be followed by lunch at leisure, then we continue to the old city of Al-Ula, which became an important staging post along the pilgrimage route to Mecca at the beginning of the Islamic era. We will drive towards the city of Medina, passing the old Hijaz route railway. On arrival, check-in. Dinner and overnight in Medina.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we will visit the holy city of Medina. In the city center, the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) is a major Islamic pilgrimage site. Its striking Green Dome rises above the tombs of the Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar. The Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) is known as the site where the Prophet Muhammad received the command to change the direction of prayer to Mecca. We will visit the outskirts of the city, except the holy pilgrimage areas, and conclude the day with a short walk near Mount Uhud. We will also visit the Dar Al Madina Museum, which relates the story of Islam and the prophet's biography. Then we depart towards Jeddah, reaching it after a 5-hour ride. Upon arrival in Jeddah, we will visit the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, which presents the local and Arabian heritage. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

Breakfast at your hotel. We will explore old Jeddah with a wonderful walk in Al-Balad, the old part of the city. This walking tour of the old town will take you to all the less-known must-see local spots: hidden gems in the old market, old Jeddah hidden galleries, and local Jeddah food. While visiting Al-Balad, visitors will see Beit Nassif (from outside), one of the prominent renovated structures in the old city, dating back to the mid-1800s. The five-story building provides a rare opportunity for visitors to experience a blend of traditional architecture with modernity. Lunch at leisure. We will pass by the Al Rahmah Mosque, also known as the Floating Mosque, a single-domed architectural marvel that sits literally on the sea, symbolizing Jeddah’s bold storm into the modern age. Sitting in an enviable location, the mosque’s courtyard offers unencumbered views of the Red Sea. Our tour will end with the Jeddah Corniche, a 30 km coastal resort area. Located along the Red Sea, 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. We will then head to a traditional Saudi restaurant for dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to Jeddah International Airport for your departure flight.