8D7N Sands and Cities of Saudi

Upon arrival at Riyadh International Airport, transfer to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Riyadh.

After breakfast begin your city tour by visiting Murraba Palace, among the most important palaces built by King Abdul-Aziz. This Palace was to accommodate his family, it was built on the local traditional Najid style by using only local building material. Next, visit to The National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1999, it is part of the King Abdul-Aziz Historical Centre in Riyadh. Continue to Masmak Fort, enjoy a step back in time and explore Saudi Arabia’s roots. A short documentary also re-enacts the capture of the fortress by King Abdul Aziz, whose spearhead you can still see embedded in its wooden gate. Afterwards, visit Dira Souq.

It is famous for its variety of old copper and brass objects including silver daggers, silver Bedouins Jewelry and dresses. When entering from the main access point, visitors always smell sandal wood fragrance. Dira Souq is a great place to purchase antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques. Overnight in Riyadh.

After breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure to AlUla (2hrs). Explore AlUla, the birthplace of two ancient Arabian kingdoms. During the 1st millennium BC, AlUla saw the rise of the ancient city of Dadan that became the capital of two successive kingdoms named Dadan and Lihyan that ruled over the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula.

A small fort still stands in the middle of the Heritage Village of AlUla and is known as Musa Ibn Nusayr Fort. It was probably a fortified structure as early as the Dadanite or Lihyanite times as some Dadanite inscriptions were carved on the rock where the fort was built. Al-Ula Heritage Village (ghost town), also known as Ad-Deerah, is the traditional Arabian village where people of the oasis moved some 8 centuries ago and inhabited until the 20th century. It was built on a higher part of the valley to be clear from the floods that can occur during the rainy season. Enjoy the sunset at the majestic Elephant Rock. Overnight at AlUla.

After breakfast and check out from the hotel, visit Hegra (30mins). It is the most iconic historical site of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first to be listed as a UNESCO Word Heritage, back in 2008.

The Nabateans called it Hijra (as it appears in some ancient inscriptions at the site), and the Romans used to call it Hegra. The Nabatean people were Arab merchants actively involved in the frankincense trade originating from ancient Yemen from which they gained their great wealth. The Nabatean Kingdom developed from the 2nd century BC. The extensive settlement of the site took place during the 1st century AD, when it came under the rule of the Nabatean king Aretas IV Philopatris (Al-Harith IV) (9 – 40 BC), who made Hegra the kingdom’s first capital, before Petra, located 500 kilometers to the north. In the early 19th century BC, the Ottomans built a railway station at Hegra that was along the Hejaz Railway linking Damascus to the holy city.

Continue to Tabuk and visit Tabuk Castle (4hrs). It is an ancient castle which dates to 1559, The castle has been rehabilitated and transformed into a museum open to all visitors. It was constructed to protect the water station as well as for security and surveillance purposes and was one of the stations on the Levant-Medina Haj Road to welcome the pilgrims. Check in hotel. Overnight in Tabuk.

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed (2hrs 30mins). It is a beautiful sandy cape located in Tabuk Province, at the junction between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. The sand banks of the Ras Al-Sheikh Hameed used to be the westernmost point of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until the cession of Tiran Islands by Egypt to Saudi Arabia in 2017.

Next, visit Maqna (3hrs) – a charming coastal town located on the Gulf of Aqaba that faces Egypt and the Sinai mountains clearly visible from it. This town is famous for its wells that witnessed an important episode in the life of the Prophet Moses. Then, visit Tayyib al Ism (30 mins) also known as The Valley of Moses. Nestled in the middle of the mountains, this valley is located in the Tabuk province, on the Gulf of Aqaba. It is also known as the ‘Valley of Moses’ because it is where he spent ten years in voluntary exile after fleeing from Egypt. Return back to hotel (3hrs 30mins). Overnight in Tabuk.

After breakfast at the hotel and check out, visit Wadi Qaraqir also known as Wadi Disah (3hrs). It is a 15km long canyon running through the Jebel Qaraqir, a heaven palm oasis with crestal clear running water. This natural wonder was for a long time a well-kept secret among explorers before the road leading to the nearby city of Deise was built. Today, this natural wonder has become one of the must-see places in Saudi Arabia. Visit Al-Shaq, meaning the tear or rip as it is the location where the earth has been torn apart by tectonic forces and that is the reason why this place is also known as the Great Canyon of Saudi Arabia. Head to Bajdah Desert. Overnight in Bajdah Desert.

After breakfast and check out, visit Jebal Hisma. Located between the majestic Jebel Al-Lawz on the west and the plain surrounding the city of Tabuk on the east. The name “Jebal” which means “ensemble of mountains” designates the fact that Hisma is not about one mount but thousands of rocky formations spreading over hundreds of kilometers, each one of unique size and shape and out-of-this-world landscapes. Jebal Hisma is home of ancient rock art and thousands of Kufic Arabic, Thamudic and Nabatian inscriptions. Next, visit Wadi Dham. It has different types of sandstone formations that have created deep canyons and impressive giant rocks whose silhouettes are a true masterpiece of nature. Transfer to Tabuk for your flight departure to Jeddah. Upon arrival, head to hotel for check in. Overnight in Jeddah.

After breakfast at the hotel and check out, begin your city tour by visiting the Red Sea corniche located along the boulevard. It features a coastal road, recreation areas, pavilions and largescale civic sculptures as well as King Fahd’s Fountain, the highest fountain in the world. Next, visit some of Jeddah’s most captivating old Ottoman houses.

The old quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its coral-built houses. The Nassif house is one of the few historic buildings that have been restored and now serve as a museum. You walk further through the old town and visit the Al Alawi Souq, the market that winds through the old neighborhoods and where products such as incense, jewelry, coffee, and clothing are sold.
Visit the Central Fish Market comes to life at daybreak, selling row upon row of colorful produce fresh from the sea. Transfer to the airport for departure.

Thank you and do not forget to book your next travel arrangement with CIT!