Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Riyadh
You'll arrive in Riyadh and head to your hotel to settle in. This evening there's a welcome dinner lined up to get things started.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
- Day 2
Riyadh
Start exploring Riyadh's history at Diriyah, where you'll see the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district with its traditional Najdi mudbrick buildings. After that, check out the National Museum to learn about Saudi history, then walk through the 19th-century Masmak Fort. Before wrapping up, wander around Souq Al-Zal, one of the city's oldest traditional markets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Diriyah and UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district
- Explore National Museum
- Visit Masmak Fort
- Explore Souq Al-Zal
Landmarks Diriyah - At-Turaif District National Museum Masmak Fort Souq Al-Zal - Day 3
Riyadh to Buraidah
You'll drive north from Riyadh to Ushaiger Heritage Village, a small settlement with winding streets, palm groves, and historic Najdi buildings that show what old Saudi Arabia looked like. Spend time exploring by walking through homes with open doorways. Later, continue on to Buraidah and check in at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Ushaiger Heritage Village
Landmarks Ushaiger Heritage Village - Day 4
Buraidah to Ha'il
Head out early to the camel market in Buraidah, where you'll see the auction of prized Arabian camels. Afterward, travel north to Ha'il, stopping to see the archaeological remains at Fayd, an ancient oasis that was once important on the Hajj route from Baghdad to Mecca. You'll also view the striking Hutaymah Crater before checking into your Ha'il hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Buraidah camel market
- See archaeological remains of Fayd
- Visit Hutaymah Crater
Landmarks Buraidah Camel Market Fayd Hutaymah Crater - Day 5
Ha'il to AlUla
Begin the day at Qishlah Fortress in Ha'il. Then drive through the red sands of the Great Nefud Desert to reach Jubbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for ancient rock art going back ten thousand years, with petroglyphs of camels, archers, chariots, and kings. From there, head to AlUla for your two-night stay, and stop to see the dramatic Elephant Rock, a 52-meter high sandstone formation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Qishlah Fortress
- Drive through Great Nefud Desert
- Visit Jubbah UNESCO World Heritage Site
- See Elephant Rock
Landmarks Qishlah Fortress Great Nefud Desert Jubbah Elephant Rock - Day 6
AlUla
Walk through AlUla's Old Town and get a sense of this once-thriving settlement that connected different civilizations. Later, take a two-hour coach tour of Hegra, Saudi Arabia's rock-hewn tombs. Founded by the Nabatean Arabs in the first century AD, this UNESCO site has dozens of well-preserved tombs carved into dramatic cliffs, built to protect caravan goods traveling between southern Arabia and Petra in Jordan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore AlUla Old Town
- Two-hour 'hop-on' coach tour of Hegra
Landmarks AlUla Old Town Hegra - Day 7
AlUla to Jeddah
Drive through desert and mountains to Medina, Islam's second holiest city. Non-Muslims can't enter the mosques, but you'll check out some previously restricted central areas. See the Jabal Uhud battlefield site and view the Prophet's Mosque facade. Visit the Ottoman railway station with its Hijaz Railway memorabilia. Later, board the bullet train from Medina to Jeddah on the Red Sea, traveling at 186 mph and covering 260 miles in under two hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- View Medina battlefield site of Jabal Uhud
- See Prophet's Mosque façade
- Visit Ottoman railway station
- Board Haramain Railway bullet train to Jeddah
Landmarks Jabal Uhud Prophet's Mosque Medina Ottoman Railway Station - Day 8
Jeddah
Spend the day exploring Jeddah, known as 'the Bride of the Red Sea' and Mecca's historic port. Start at the House of Islamic Art with its large collection. Drive along the spectacular Corniche and see the Floating Mosque built on stilts over the Red Sea. Then explore the UNESCO-listed Old Quarter, Al Balad, with coral stone houses and beautiful roshan-style bay windows with intricate wooden latticework. This evening, have a farewell dinner with a local female entrepreneur and her family, learning about modern Saudi family life and business.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner with local host and her family)
Included Activities
- Visit House of Islamic Art
- Drive along Corniche
- View Floating Mosque
- Explore Al Balad UNESCO Old Quarter
- Farewell dinner with local host and family
Landmarks House of Islamic Art Floating Mosque Al Balad - Day 9
Departure from Jeddah
Head to Jeddah airport for your onward flight according to your departure time. This tour works well if you're combining it with the Journey through Jordan trip afterward.
