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Saudi Arabia, 9 Days · Classic tour
From Riyadh to Jeddah
Delve into the mystery of a unique destination
If you are passionate about exoticism, history, landscapes and places full of magnetism, this is your journey. We propose a tour to discover the main places of Saudi Arabia, the great unknown country of the Middle East. Visit its capital, Riyadh, with labyrinthine souks and interesting museums; Haʼil and its rock art samples, Al-Ula and its immense desert, the holy city of Madinah, and the modern and multicultural Jeddah with amazing landscapes of the Red Sea in the background that will be forever etched in your memory.
Can you think of a better plan?
Departure date
Departures from January 2025 till November 2025
From
Dublin, Knock, Galway, Shannon, Donegal, Cork, Kerry county...
Travel details
City of origin - Riyadh
Departure with destination Riyadh. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Riyadh
Breakfast. We will start our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National Museum, which is the primary custodian of the Saudi heritage and culture that offers an overview to the Arabian civilization from Prehistory to our modern era. We continue thereafter to the Murabba Palace (only exterior visit due to renovation works) that is one of the historic buildings of the city. Lunch in a typical local restaurant. Afternoon, we will continue our tour of Riyadh by visiting the Masmak Fort and its museum that 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 the year 1895 A.D. to serve as military garrison for his army. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of the current nation, captured the fort in 1902, making it the birthplace of the modern Saudi state. At the end of the afternoon, we will pass the kingdom tower and the Faisaliah, back to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Riyadh - Haʼil
Breakfast. This morning we will depart for Riyadh’s railway station and board the fast train for Ha’il - the railway link was constructed very recently and allows us to reach this city in just under 5 hours. Ha’il lies at the foot of the imposing Shammar mountain range, whose name is also the one of a large northern Arabian tribe, and is the home of Saudi Arabia’s poets and writers. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Then, we will visit the A’Arif Fort and the nearby Heritage Museum. We will continue with a walk at the traditional market, where we will find the local delicacies. Finally, we will pass by the Ha’il Regional Museum and, if it is open, we will drop by to admire its collections. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Haʼil - Jubbah - Al-Ula
Breakfast. Today we will depart to Jubbah, which lies on an ancient lake surrounded by several archaeological sites of human settlements from the Middle Paleolithic. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops that are filled with ancient inscriptions and petroglyphs, including the carvings done by the locals of aurochs, cheetahs, lions, etc. that used to live in this desertic area during the last humid period that took place millenniums ago. These drawings are still visible today on several sandstone outcrops like the Jebel Umm Sanman, listed as UNESCO World Heritage. After visiting Jubbah, we will depart towards Al-Ula. On our way, we will pass through the famous desert of Nefud Al Kabir which literally means the “great extent of sand dunes” - it is 290 kilometers long and 225 kilometers wide, with an area of 103.600 square kilometers. We will arrive in the famous Al-Ula area in the early evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Al-Ula
Breakfast. We will start our exciting day with the visit of two ancient carving sites in Al-Ula, an ancient oasis that has been inhabited for the last 7.000 years. Then, we will pass by the ancient city of Dedan. During the 1st millennium BCE the city of Dedan developed thanks to its strategic location on the frankincense trade road and became one of the oldest Arabian kingdoms, ruling over most of what is today Tabuk and Madinah provinces. We will continue with the visit of the ancient sites of Ekma, where the people of the oasis wrote texts in ancient scripts that we will decipher for you. Then visit of Jebel Al-Fil, for a moment of relaxation by the ‘Elephant Rock’. Return to the hotel. Arrival, dinner and overnight stay.
Al-Ula - Mada'in Salih - Madinah
Breakfast. We will start our journey with the visit of the famous Hegra (Mada'in Salih) which is the first site of Saudi Arabia that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mada'in Salih, whose original name was Al-Hijr or Hegra in Greek, is the southern most important city of the Nabataean Kingdom that flourished thanks to the caravan trade between the 2nd Century BCE until the Roman conquest in 106 CE. Mada'in Salih is also the second richest Nabatean city in terms of monumental tombs with 94 decorated funeral monuments, including some of the most vibrant and well conserved architectural prowess of the Nabateans builders. We will lead you through this fascinating site and reveal to you the secrets of its tombs, ancient inscriptions, stone structures, and many others. In the afternoon, we will drive to the Old City of Al-Ula, which became an important stopping point along the pilgrimage route to Mecca in the early Islamic era. Continue towards the city of Madinah passing the old Hijaz route railway. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Madinah - Jeddah
Breakfast. This morning we will visit the holy city of Madinah. In the city center, the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) is a major Islamic pilgrimage site, whose 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. Except for the holy pilgrimage areas, only the outskirts of the city will be visited before concluding the day with a short walk near Mount Uhud to enjoy the sunset. We will also visit the Dar al Madinah Museum, which relates the story of Islam and the prophet biography. Then, departure towards Jeddah. Arrival and visit to Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, which shows the Arabian and local heritage. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Jeddah
Breakfast. We will start our tour with a wonderful walk-in Al-Balad, the old part of the city. This walking tour will take us along all the less known but must-see local spots: its hidden galleries, the Old Market secret gems, local food establishments with only local clients… While visiting Al-Balad, we will be taken to see Beit Nassif (from outside), one of the many prominent and renovated structures of the old city which dates back to the mid-1800s. This five-story building will provide us a rare opportunity to experience the blend of traditional and modern architecture. We will continue passing by the Al Rahmah Mosque also known as The Floating Mosque, a single domed architectural marvel that sits literally on the sea and symbolizes Jeddah’s bold storm into the modern age. Sitting on an enviable location, the mosque’s courtyard offers unencumbered views of the Red Sea. Our tour will end with the Jeddah Corniche, which is the 30 km coastal resort section of the city with recreation areas, pavilions, and large-scale civic sculptures as well as King Fahd's Fountain, the highest fountain in the world. Finally, we will head to a traditional Saudi restaurant to enjoy our dinner. Overnight stay.
Jeddah - City of origin
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Internal train.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Transfers according to the itinerary.
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Transport in air-conditioned vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Regular tours mentioned in the itinerary, not stated as optional.
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English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 6 dinners.
Your trip doesn't include
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Tips for drivers and guides (we recommend USD3 per person/day for guides and USD2 per person/day for drivers).
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
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Insolvency protection.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Category B
Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace, An Ihg Hotel
Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz St., Ministries Area. P.O. Box 2691, Riyadh
Category A
Grand Plaza Riyadh
Al Takhasossy Street, Riyadh
Important remarks
- You may be denied entry in Saudi Arabia by the authorities if your passport contains an entry or exit stamp from Israel.
- Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and the month of Ramadan is of major significance to its residents. During Ramadan, entertainment and alcohol will be restricted in most of the country. The sale of alcohol will be restricted in many places, although some establishments will offer alcohol for sale to tourists. During this period, local businesses may also have shorter opening hours.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.