Current as of: April 18, 2024 - 06:19
Current as of: April 18, 2024 - 06:19
2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate
Muslims have made pilgrimage here for centuries, yet the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has only recently begun to open up to other travellers. This cultural tour takes us to many of this vast country’s most intriguing destinations. We take in several Unesco World Heritage sites including the Nabatean ruins at Hegra, rock art at Jubbah, Al Ahsa Oasis and the historic centre of Jeddah. We travel through landscapes ranging from desert through to high mountains and to the coasts of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Along the way, we explore modern cities, authentic souks, carefully preserved traditional villages, the largest camel market in the world, and Medina, Islam’s second holiest city. By visiting now, we see a country beginning to open to the world and undergoing a period of considerable change.
Highlights
This trip has been graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.
It is suitable for all clients with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary. However, please note:
The hotels we use are of a mid-level standard and mostly modern, providing good comfort. There are two nights in desert resort, which is more rustic, though still comfortable and rooms have private bathrooms.
Our style of adventure travel is extremely new to Saudi Arabia and tourism in general is new to the country. This is, of course, a key part of the appeal of this trip; however, it does mean the requirements of Western visitors are not always well understood, so service levels may not be what you are accustomed to. While we aim to visit everywhere mentioned in the itinerary, sites are occasionally closed with little or no notice and restoration work is common.
Travel is mostly on a comfortable 40-seater coach with plenty of space and a toilet. There are also two train journeys. Saudi trains are high speed, modern and generally reliable. Our trip also includes a domestic flight. We intend to use a direct flight for this journey; however, flight schedules can change and are published at quite short notice, so there may be a change of plane required.
Rules and regulations in Saudi Arabia
Change is taking place but Saudi Arabia remains a deeply conservative country. Since 2019, unmarried foreign couples are permitted to share a hotel room. Please see our Trip Notes for information on dress codes both for men and women. Permission should always be sought before taking photos.
The Visit Saudi website has more information on local laws and etiquette.
The trip is led by a local leader.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 6
Max group size: 18
Fly from London to Riyadh, arriving in the evening. We’ll be met at Riyadh airport and driven to our hotel for the night.
Accommodation: Hayat Al Riyadh (or similar)
The adventure begins in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. We meet at the hotel. Check-in is available from mid-afternoon and we have a welcome briefing this evening, our first chance to meet as a group.
Accommodation: Hayat Al Riyadh (or similar)
We start early today and begin our journey (250mi/400km) by road to Buraydah, stopping on the way. The highlight of the day is Ushaiger Heritage Village, one of the oldest settlements in the region, which has stunning traditional Najdi architecture.
Following time at Ushaiger, we continue, passing the villages of Al Mithnab (a traditional fortified village) and Al-Ghat.
In the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, Buraydah is the capital of Al-Qassim province and lies equidistant from the Red Sea to the west and the Persian Gulf to the east. The climate is typical of the desert, with hot summers, cold winters and low humidity. Agriculture is still the cornerstone of the economy here, where crops include traditional oasis produce such as dates, lemons, oranges and other fruits. The area is also known for having fine traditional mudbrick architecture. The beautifully restored Souq Musawkaf in Unaizah is one of the best examples and comes to life in the evenings.
We visit Al Bassam Heritage House in Unaizah, about 25 minutes from Buraydah. The house was built in 1955 using traditional Najdi ventilation and lighting techniques. It features 30 rooms on two floors, including bedrooms, guestrooms and storage rooms. Inside, enjoy ancient crafts, traditional foods, folk tales, poems, and ancestral heritage and history.
We head back into the city to stroll through the date market to pick up some tasty treats before check-in at the hotel. Our visit to the city includes the Women’s Souq and Al Jerredah Souq, which specialise in arts and crafts.
We drive about 250mi (400km) today.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Buraydah (or similar)
Early this morning, we visit Buraydah Camel Market – the market is one of the largest in the world! Here, thousands of camels, goats and sheep are bought and sold, along with saddles and other accessories. Some days there is more to see than on others, but there are always camels to see.
After, we leave Al-Qassim province and head further into the desert. We pause at the pre-Islamic city of Faid, a stopover on old caravan routes. On our three-hour drive, we notice a change in terrain from dunes and oases to the imposing granite formations of Jebel Aja near the city of Hail. We take a 4×4 tour in the Jebel Aja mountains this afternoon.
We drive about 175mi (280km) today.
Accommodation: Holiday Villa Hail (or similar)
We begin the day by heading to Jubbah, which lies on an ancient lake. Several ancient human settlements from the Middle Paleolithic period have been found here, around the margin of the paleolake. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions, which form part of a Unesco World Heritage site. The inscriptions depict animals such as aurochs, cheetahs and lions, which were present when the region had a wetter, savannah-like climate.
After our visit to Jubbah, we drive to AlUla. The journey passes through Nefud Al Kabir, which literally means the great extent of dunes. It is 180mi (290km) long and 140mi (225km) wide. We arrive into AlUla early evening and check into our beautifully located permanent desert camp, our base for the next two nights.
We drive about 300mi (480km) today.
Accommodation: Sahary Resort (or similar)
AlUla is an ancient oasis that has been inhabited for the last 7,000 years, evidenced by ancient carvings.
In the morning, we visit the ancient city of Dadan, among the most significant discoveries in AlUla. It was the capital of both the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms and dates to between the late ninth and early eighth century BCE (Dadan kingdom) and fifth to second century BCE (Lihyan kingdom). During the first millennium BCE, the city developed thanks to a strategic location on the frankincense trade road. The Nabatean people from Petra settled 19mi (30km) north of Dadan in Al-Hijr, where they built monumental tombs similar to those in Petra.
We have time for lunch in the centre of AlUla, where there is a good choice of restaurants, then continue to the Old City of AlUla. The city had nearly 900 houses and five town squares and the remains of some of the original stone and mudbrick buildings can still be seen today. In the 12th century, Old AlUla became an important settlement along the pilgrimage route from Damascus to Mecca.
In the late afternoon we’ll visit Elephant Rock, and finally return to our hotel.
Accommodation: Sahary Resort (or similar)
Please note – the order of visits today and tomorrow can vary depending on ticket availability at the main sights. Also, we may sometimes be divided up into two groups for the Old AlUla tour.
We begin our day with a visit to the Unesco World Heritage site of Hegra (Madain Saleh). Hegra is the southernmost major city of the Nabatean Kingdom, which flourished thanks to the caravan trade between the second century BCE until the Roman conquest in 106 CE. It is the second richest Nabatean city in terms of monumental tombs with more than 130 decorated funeral monuments including some of the most vibrant and well-conserved architectural achievements of the Nabatean builders. We explore this fascinating site and the secrets of its tombs, ancient inscriptions, stone structures and more.
In the afternoon, we drive to the holy city of Medina. We’ll make a short stop on the way at an old train station on the Hejaz railway which once ran from Damascus to Medina.
We drive about 205mi (330km) today.
Accommodation: La Meriden (or similar)
This morning, we visit some of the outer parts of Medina. While tourists are strictly forbidden from visiting Mecca, we can see some parts of Medina, Islam’s second holiest city and a major pilgrimage site. We view the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) from the outside – the 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 also see some of the seven mosques from a distance. We visit the Dar Al Madina museum, which showcases the heritage and history of Medina through different archaeological collections, visual galleries and rare images. We visit the city edges, avoiding the pilgrimage areas, and conclude the day with a short walk near Mount Uhud.
In the afternoon, we travel by high-speed train to Jeddah, covering more than 250mi (400km) in less than two hours. On arrival in Jeddah, we are taken to our hotel for the night.
Accommodation: Frontel Hotel (or similar)
We start our tour with a visit to Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, which presents local and Arabian heritage, and then continue to old Jeddah. We enjoy a walk in Al-Balad, the old part of the city and another Unesco World Heritage site. While visiting Al-Balad, we see Beit Nassif (from the outside only), one of the prominent renovated structures in the old city, which dates to the mid-1800s. The five-storey building provides a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the blend of traditional architecture with modernity. We also visit Gabel Street. We’ll visit Jeddah fish market and can see the local catch and then have our choice of fish cooked for lunch.
Later in the day, we drive to Jeddah Corniche, a 19mi (30km) Red Sea resort with a coastal road, recreation areas, pavilions and large-scale civic sculptures.
Accommodation: Frontel Hotel (or similar)
We start our journey driving up the Sarawat Mountains, which spread along the western side of the Arabian Peninsula from Yemen to Jordan. Once we have passed the crest, peaking at nearly 6,560ft (2,000m) above sea level, we descend the eastern side towards the city of Taif.
Taif, thanks to its location above 5,250ft (1,600m), benefits from cooler weather, especially in summer when people travel there for its greenery, lower temperatures, beautiful scenery and relaxed atmosphere. Our tour starts with a drive to enjoy the majestic panoramic view of Al Hada mountain. If the weather is good, we’ll make a stop at a cable car which those who are interested can take (payable locally, approximately US$32 per person). We’ll stop for lunch at a rose shop where rose perfumes are on sale. Our tour finishes at the Sharif Museum.
We drive about 125mi (200km) today.
Accommodation: Iris Boutique Hotel (or similar)
We start our journey to Al Bahah this morning, a city in the Hejaz area of western Saudi Arabia. Surrounded by more than 40 forests and with a pleasant climate, the capital of the Al Bahah region is one of the prime tourist attractions in the kingdom. As we approach Al Baha, we’ll start to see the ruins of traditional stone houses typical of the southern mountains of Arabia. This region is cooler than where we’ve been earlier in the trip as it is at 6,560ft (2,000m) above sea level.
Our first stops will be at Al Atawla Heritage village and Al Shamlany Museum. We’ll then make a stop to take in the views at either Raghadan Forest Park or Karirah Forest park (these are more recreation areas rather than forests). We then continue to the city of Baljureshi. There is a small market here and an old section (parts under restoration) which is interesting to explore before we head to our hotel in the city of Al Baha.
We drive about 155mi (250km) today.
Accommodation: Cloud City Hotel / ex Swiss Spirit (or similar)
Today is likely to be one of the highlights of our trip. We begin the day by taking a winding road downhill from Al Baha to the Marble Village of Dhee Ayn. It’s an amazing place, showcasing the quality of ancient construction. The village was named after the water that flows from the nearby mountains and the area is famous for banana and other fruit plantations. The village dates back about 400 years and has witnessed battles between the Ottoman Turks and its inhabitants.
Later, we get into 4x4s and drive to Sheda. Nestled halfway up the peak of Jabal Mussala Ibrahim, this hidden village offers dramatic views across the green cliffs and valleys of the Sarawat Mountains. As we venture up, the air becomes much cooler and drier, which has allowed rare plants such as the white capparis cartilage flower (sometimes called cartilage caper) and the dendrosicyos tree (also known as the cucumber tree) to grow. Along the picturesque drive up the slopes, we pass ancient stone houses on the roadside, offering a glimpse of a time and community past. To complete the picture-postcard view, a nearby natural spring provides water to a lush oasis surrounding the bottom of the hill. The village was named after a water spring (ayn in Arabic) that flows continuously from the nearby mountains to several reservoirs.
Accommodation: Cloud City Hotel / ex Swiss Spirit (or similar)
This morning, we fly from Al Baha to Dammam on the Persian (or Arabian) Gulf. If we have time, we will make a short stop at the Ithra Museum which is an impressive modern building funded by Saudi Aramco.
We drive from Dammam to Hofuf, and will make a stop in the way at Half-Moon Bay on the Persian/Arabian Gulf. On arrival we’ll have an evening wander around the souq.
Accommodation: Garden Plaza, Hofuf (or similar)
The city of Hofuf sits in the Al Ahsa Oasis, a Unesco World Heritage site. We’ll visit a view point above the city to appreciate the size of the oasis.
We visit Ibrahim Fort and its mosque, then Jebel Qarah, a limestone outcrop with caves and canyons that offers a viewpoint over the huge palm tree cultivations. We also make a short stop at the historic mosque of Jawatha.
In the afternoon, we take to 4x4s to travel through the dunes to a viewpoint over Yellow Lake, which is named after the colour of the surrounding dunes. This landscape of flat ground, rich with water in between dunes, is typical of the Eastern Province and is called sabkha.
In the evening, we’ll take a high speed train from Hofuf to Riyadh. The journey takes about two hours.
Accommodation: Hayat Al Riyadh (or similar)
We start our tour of Riyadh with a visit to the National Museum, with exhibits on Saudi heritage and culture, giving an overview of Arabian civilisation from prehistory to the modern era.
We pass Riyadh Tower, a 99-storey skyscraper, which overtook the 875ft (267m) Faisaliah Tower as the tallest tower in Saudi Arabia in 2002. We continue to 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 to serve as a military garrison for the Abdullah bin Rashid army. King Abdulaziz, the father of the nation today, captured the fort in 1902 making it the birthplace of the third Saudi Kingdom. We can have lunch at one of the traditional restaurants in the city. We visit Dira Souq and learn about Saudi traditional clothing and the way in which it is made. In the evening, we visit Diriyah for a sound-and-light show at the ruins.
As most flights depart very early tomorrow morning, we need to check-out of our rooms this morning, but we can leave our luggage at the hotel. If you would like your own room for tonight, this is possible at additional cost, please let us know at the time of booking.
There’s a transfer to the airport very late tonight.
We spend 11 nights in hotels and two nights in a desert resort in AlUla. Hotels are mostly modern and at least a four-star standard.
The desert resort has 80 rooms. All with proper beds, private bathrooms and air-conditioning.
Sahary Resort, AlUla:
Le Meridien Medina:
Single supplement from £ 1,250
Saudi food often features rice and meat. Lunch is traditionally the main meal of the day. Kabsa is considered the national dish, it consists of richly spiced rice with chicken, meat or fish and is often accompanied by a salsa or salad. Meat stews are a common lunch or dinner. Breakfasts in Saudi Arabia are often quite simple and usually feature coffee and dates.
Fresh juices such as mango, orange and hibiscus are popular, as are juice-based cocktails, qahwa (a green coffee bean and cardamon-based drink often served with dates) and tea are common too. Alcohol and pork are strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia, do not bring either into the country.
Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.
For most of the tour, we travel by comfortable bus with approximately 40 seats, giving us plenty of space. The bus has a toilet, though we also make stops along the way. On occasion, we may travel short distances in smaller vehicles, such as 4x4s, where the bus is unsuitable. We make two journeys by high-speed train: Medina-Jeddah and Hofuf-Riyadh. Our trip also includes one domestic flight.
Road conditions in Saudi Arabia are generally very good. Due to the size of the country, some drives are quite long but we make regular stops.
Our trip covers a lot of the country and the climate varies between regions. That said, Saudi Arabia has a dry desert climate in most areas. In the mountains of the south (Al Bahah), there is more rainfall and things are greener. January is usually the coldest month and, while daytime temperatures are still likely to be at least 20C (68F), nights can be cold, especially in AlUla. The hottest region on the trip is the Eastern Province around Al Ahsa Oasis. In October and April, temperatures are typically up to about 35C (95F) by day.
Start point: Hotel in Riyadh
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Riyadh Airport (RUH)
The start hotel is approximately 35-45 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Riyadh
Location end: Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is a conservative Muslim country, so modest dress is required. Your leader will advise, and you can ask if you are ever unsure, but below are some guidelines:
Dress code for women: Long, loose-fitting clothing is needed. It is not a requirement to wear an abaya (robe). Similarly, a headscarf is not required except when entering mosques and in Medina. Avoid tight clothing.
Dress code for men: Long shorts (covering to below the knees) and long trousers (pants) are suitable. Avoid tight clothing.
Items to bring
Worth knowing
Medications
In Saudi Arabia, some medication requires a doctor’s letter and/or a prescription to be carried with you when travelling into and around the country. There are different requirements and regulations on bringing in drugs including restrictions on amounts you can travel with and needing to carry a medical report or letter from your doctor with a valid prescription not older than six months. Please check with your closest Saudi embassy or consulate for further details if you are travelling to Saudi Arabia with prescription drugs.
All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for six months beyond your date of arrival in Saudi Arabia. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit.
Visas are required to visit Saudi Arabia.
Travellers from 49 countries can now obtain an eVisa online, including those from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Please see the Saudi eVisa Portal for more information: https://visa.visitsaudi.com/ . Further information is available here: www.visitsaudi.com/en/about-e-visa. The eVisa is typically processed in around 30 minutes.
An eVisa costs 535 Saudi riyals (US$145).
A yellow fever-vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have recently visited, a country where there is risk of transmission of yellow fever.
Saudi Arabia’s time zone: (UTC +03:00)
Saudi Arabia's electricity: Plug type G (three rectangular pins) – 230V, 60Hz
Saudi Arabia's currency: Saudi riyal (SAR)
ATMs are available in the main towns throughout the trip.
You need to buy lunch and dinner each day, with the exception of the two included dinners in AlUla. A typical lunch costs around 75-95 riyals (US$20-US$25) per person. Dinners in hotels are around 55-150 riyals (US$15-US$40) per person. Also allow money to cover drinks and souvenirs.
You may also wish to purchase souvenirs in the souqs we visit.
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. That said, there is some expectation of tipping. If you are happy with the service and would like to tip your local leader then, as a guideline, we suggest around US$3 per person per day. For your driver, about US$2 per person per day is appropriate. In restaurants, 5%-10% of the bill is an appropriate amount. These amounts are guidelines only and tipping is at your discretion. Your tour leader may discuss having a tipping kitty with you to making tipping smoother.
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
This trip goes near an area deemed unsafe to visit by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whose advice we follow when operating our trips. While our itinerary doesn’t go to these areas, you should familiarise yourself with your local government’s advice if you are planning any pre- or post-trip travel. Any independent travel to areas currently against your local government advice is entirely at your own risk and unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.