Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Jeddah
You'll arrive at Jeddah International Airport and head to the Budget rental counter to pick up your car. Once you've handled the paperwork, drive to your hotel and settle in for the night.
- Day 2
Jeddah
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll start exploring Jeddah's old quarters. Check out the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum for local and Arabian artifacts, then walk through Al-Balad's narrow streets to find hidden markets and galleries. You'll see Beit Nassif, the Baghdadi house, and browse the Old gold market. Next, head to the Floating Mosque for Red Sea views, and finish the day along the Jeddah Corniche where you can see King Fahd's Fountain, the world's highest.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum
- Walking tour of Al-Balad old town
- Visit Beit Nassif
- Visit Baghdadi house
- Visit Old gold market in Gabel Street
- Visit Ukash Mosque
- Visit Al Rahmah Mosque
- Visit The Floating Mosque
- Visit Jeddah Corniche
Landmarks/POIs Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum Al-Balad Beit Nassif Baghdadi house Old gold market in Gabel Street Ukash Mosque Al Rahmah Mosque The Floating Mosque Jeddah Corniche King Fahd's Fountain - Day 3
Jeddah to Taif
Have breakfast, then drive toward Taif through the scenic Hada Mountains with panoramic views the whole way. Along the route, you'll pass by a rose farm or factory and stop at the Sharif Museum. Grab a traditional lunch in the mountains, walk around the old stone paths, and soak in the mountain scenery before checking into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items), Lunch (Traditional lunch in the mountains)
Included Activities
- Drive to Al Hada mountain with panoramic views
- Pass by a Rose Farm/factory
- Visit Sharif Museum
- Traditional lunch in the mountains
Landmarks/POIs Al Hada Mountain Sharif Museum Alhada Cable Car - Day 4
Taif to Medina
After breakfast, you'll drive early through the desert to Al-Wa'bah Crater, a volcanic formation with a salt field in its center. You can walk partway around or take on a steeper climb down and back (about 2.5 hours). Later, head toward Medina to see the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi with its Green Dome and the Qiblatain Mosque. Finish by climbing Mount Uhud to watch the sunset over the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit Al-Wa'bah Crater
- Circumnavigate part of the crater or climb to the basin
Optional Activities
- Steep climb down to Al-Wa'bah Crater basin and back up (approximately 2.5 hours return)
Landmarks/POIs Al-Wa'bah Crater Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) Mount Uhud - Day 5
Medina to Al Ula
You'll have breakfast then drive to Al Ula, following the historic frankincense trade route. Stop at the abandoned Buwayr and Muduraj train stations from the Hijaz Railway, which the Ottomans built but was later destroyed during WWI. Visit Khaybar, one of Saudi Arabia's best-preserved ancient oases sitting in a natural depression. You'll arrive in Al Ula by late afternoon and check into your camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Stop at abandoned Buwayr train station
- Stop at abandoned Muduraj train station
- Visit the ancient city of Khaybar
Landmarks/POIs Buwayr train station Muduraj train station Khaybar Hijaz Railway - Day 6
Al Ula
After breakfast, explore Al-Ula, an ancient oasis with 7,000 years of history. Head to Jebel Ikmah, an open-air space filled with rock inscriptions, then walk through the Old city of Al-Ula, an important staging point for pilgrims traveling to Mecca. Visit the ancient sites of Ekma and Abu Aoud to see texts in ancient scripts. If you're up for it, climb to Harrat Al-Uwayrid for panoramic views of the oasis, then return to your hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Discover Al-Ula ancient oasis
- Visit Jebel Ikmah rock inscriptions
- Visit Old city of Al-Ula
- Visit ancient sites of Ekma
- Visit ancient sites of Abu Aoud
Optional Activities
- View from top of Harrat Al-Uwayrid
Landmarks/POIs Al-Ula Jebel Ikmah Old city of Al-Ula Ekma Abu Aoud Harrat Al-Uwayrid - Day 7
Al Ula
Have breakfast at your hotel, then head to Hegra (Madain Saleh), Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll explore the monolithic structures dating from the Nabatean period (100-500 BC), sometimes called the Southern Petra. Continue to Jibal Al-Rukkab, the Leopard trail, and Jebel Al-Fil (Elephant Mountain) before returning to your camp at day's end.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit Hegra (Madain Saleh) UNESCO World Heritage site
- Visit Jibal Al-Rukkab
- Visit Leopard trail
- Visit Jebel Al-Fil (Elephant Mountain)
Landmarks/POIs Hegra (Madain Saleh) Jibal Al-Rukkab Leopard trail Jebel Al-Fil - Day 8
Al Ula to Ha'il
Start with breakfast at the camp, then travel to Jubbah, an archaeological site with ancient petroglyphs carved into sandstone. The carvings show aurochs, cheetahs, and lions from when the Arabian Peninsula was a savannah (10th-6th millennium BCE). Visit Jebel Umm Sanman, cross through the vast Nefuda Al Kabir desert, then drive to Ha'il, known for its hospitality and as a historic center for poets. Check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit Jubbah archaeological site
- Explore ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions
- Visit Jebel Umm Sanman
- Pass through Nefuda Al Kabir desert
Landmarks/POIs Jubbah Jebel Umm Sanman Nefuda Al Kabir - Day 9
Ha'il to Buraydah
Have breakfast at your hotel, then explore Ha'il starting with A'Arif Fort and its heritage museum. Walk through the traditional market for local food, and visit the Hail Regional Museum if it's open. Later, drive toward Buraydah, passing the Shammar mountain range and stopping at Fayd, an important pilgrimage city from Baghdad's golden age. See its small museum and restored archaeological site before arriving in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia's most conservative city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit A'Arif Fort
- Visit heritage museum near A'Arif Fort
- Walk through traditional market
- Visit Hail Regional Museum (if open)
- Visit Fayd small museum
- Visit Fayd archaeological site
Landmarks/POIs A'Arif Fort Hail Regional Museum Shammar mountain range Fayd - Day 10
Buraydah to Riyadh
Start early for Buraydah's world-famous camel market, the largest of its kind where thousands of camels, goats, and sheep trade hands daily. It's quite the sensory experience. After, head back to browse the date market for treats. Drive toward Riyadh through the villages of Mithnab and Al-Ghat, stopping at Ushaiger to see traditional Najdi architecture. You'll reach Riyadh by evening and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit Buraydah camel market
- Browse date market
- Visit heritage village of Ushaiger
Landmarks/POIs Buraydah camel market Buraydah date market Mithnab Al-Ghat Ushaiger - Day 11
Riyadh
Have breakfast at your hotel. Tour Riyadh's heritage starting with the National Museum, which traces Arabian civilization from creation through the modern era. Visit Murabba Palace with its distinctive square form, then drive through the city to see the Kingdom Tower and Faisaliah Hotel. In the afternoon, explore The Masmak Fort, where King Abdulaziz captured in 1902 and sparked the modern Saudi Kingdom. Walk through Dira Souq, famous for antique carpets and heritage pieces where sandalwood fills the air.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
Included Activities
- Visit National Museum
- Visit Murabba Palace
- Drive through city viewing Kingdom Tower and Faisaliah Hotel
- Visit The Masmak Fort
- Explore Dira Souq
Optional Activities
- Access to Skybridge on Kingdom Tower (25 USD per person)
Landmarks/POIs National Museum Murabba Palace Kingdom Tower Faisaliah Hotel The Masmak Fort Dira Souq - Day 12
Departure from Riyadh
Have breakfast at your hotel and check out by 12:00 noon. Drive to Riyadh Airport's Budget parking lot, return your rental car to the Budget team, and proceed to your departure gate depending on your flight time.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant featuring egg live station, cheese, salads, cold cuts, cereals, granolas, yogurts, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, Arabic cold mezzeh, fresh pastries, and hot food items)
