Secrets of Saudi Arabia
Secrets of Saudi Arabia
Secrets of Saudi Arabia
9 Days Starting in Riyadh Saudi Arabia and ending in Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Visiting: Riyadh, Buraidah, Ha'il, AlUla, Medina, Jeddah
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2413
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 28
Age range:
12-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Cultural, History, Religion and Spiritual, Ruins-Archaeology
Activities:
Tour Overview
The winds of change are blowing through Saudi Arabia, which only recently opened to non-pilgrims. Discover ancient fortresses, camel markets and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in its vast deserts, then experience the cosmopolitan comforts of its cities and high-speed bullet trains. On the final night of your 9-day tour, enjoy a farewell dinner with a Saudi businesswoman and her family, and reflect on how this intriguing country is looking ahead to a new vision of the future.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Fly To Riyadh
Location: Riyadh
Meals Included: Dinner
Fly to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's dynamic capital city. Transfer to the hotel ahead of this evening's welcome dinner.
Day 2: Diriyah & Riyadh
Location: Riyadh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head to the outskirts of Riyadh to visit Diriyah, the original capital of the Saudi dynasty. Uncover the secrets of its UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district, known for its mesmerising maze of traditional Najdi mudbrick architecture. The citadel here was the centre of power for the House of Saud in the 18th and early 19th centuries; this emirate was the first unifying power in the Arabian Peninsula.
Pay a visit to the National Museum to learn more about the rich tapestry of Saudi history before exploring the nineteenth-century Masmak Fort. Finally, explore the alleyways of the Souq Al-Zal, one of Riyadh's oldest traditional markets.
Day 3: Ushaiger Heritage Village - Buraidah
Location: Buraidah
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Riyadh and drive north to the captivating Ushaiger Heritage Village, a labyrinth of charming side streets, palm groves and historic Najdi buildings that evoke the essence of old-world Saudi Arabia. Visitors may enter any house with an open doorway.
Continue to Buraidah and check in at your hotel.
Day 4: Buraidah Camel Market & Ha'il
Location: Ha'il
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head to Buraidah to experience the hustle and bustle of the world's largest camel market – a truly immersive experience, where prized Arabian camels command astounding prices at auction.
Continue to Ha'il, stopping en route to see the archaeological remains of the oasis city of Fayd, once an important stop on the Hajj route from Baghdad to Mecca. Admire Hutaymah Crater before checking in at your hotel in Ha'il.
Day 5: Ha'il & Jubbah
Location: Ha'il
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the historical treasures of Ha'il. Stop for a photo at the formidable Qishlah Fortress before driving through the red sands of the Great Nefud Desert to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jubbah. Discover its rich variety of rock art dating back some ten thousand years, with petroglyphs depicting camels, archers, chariots, kings and more.
Continue to your accommodation in AlUla, home for the next two nights. This evening, stop to enjoy sunset at Elephant Rock, a monolithic sandstone formation standing 52 metres high. As the sun sets, the sandstone turns a beautiful shade of red.
Day 6: Alula & Hegra
Location: AlUla
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the wonders of AlUla, once a crossroads of ancient civilisations. The region offered rest for merchants on the caravan routes between Egypt and Arabia. Begin with an exploration of AlUla's atmospheric Old Town, and feel the vivid history of a once-thriving settlement.
Later, join a a two-hour 'hop-on' coach tour of Hegra, Saudi's answer to Petra in Jordan. Founded by the Nabatean Arabs in the first century AD, Hegra was built to protect the Nabateans' long-distance caravans, which brought precious goods from southern Arabia to Petra in Jordan. Marvel at the grandeur of the site’s rock-hewn tombs, dating back two thousand years. Dozens of well-preserved tombs stand amid the stunning desert landscape, carved into its dramatic cliffs and rock formations.
Day 7: Medina & Bullet Train To Jeddah
Location: Medina
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the morning driving through a landscape of desert and mountains to reach Medina, the second holiest city in Islam. While non-Muslims cannot enter the mosques, visitors can now explore some of the previously forbidden central area for the first time. See the battlefield site of Jabal Uhud and admire the façade of the Prophet's Mosque. Visit Medina's attractive Ottoman railway station and see the Hijaz Railway memorabilia.
Finally, experience the sleek Haramain Railway. Board the bullet train from Medina to the vibrant city of Jeddah on the shores of the Red Sea. This modern, air-conditioned train travels at 186 mph, covering the 260 miles to Jeddah in less than two hours.
Day 8: Jeddah City Tour & Dinner With A Local Businesswoman
Location: Jeddah
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Known as 'the Bride of the Red Sea', the coastal city of Jeddah has been the port for Mecca for centuries. Begin at the House of Islamic Art, housing a vast collection of beautiful artistic items. Later, take a drive along the spectacular Corniche and admire the gleaming façade of the Floating Mosque, built on stilts over the waves of the Red Sea.
This afternoon, discover Jeddah's UNESCO-listed Old Quarter, Al Balad, home to ornate houses built of coral stone. Look out for the beautiful roshan-style bay windows, overlaid with intricate wooden latticework.
Finally, settle down to a farewell dinner with a local host and her family and enjoy an insight into modern family dynamics in Jeddah. Your host, a female entrepreneur, will be pleased to talk about her life as a Saudi businesswoman after dinner.
Day 9: Departure
Location: Jeddah
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport in accordance with the time of your onward flight. Should you wish, this tour can usually be combined with a departure of our popular Journey through Jordan tour - please ask your reservations consultant for details.
What's Included
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Accommodation
8 nights in 3+/4 star accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Fully Guided
Touring with Guides and entrance fees
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International Travel
Flights from/to the UK
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Meals
Breakfasts: 8 , Lunches: 7 , Dinners: 8
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Visa Included
Visa fees for UK passport holders
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
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Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
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What is 'Happy to Share'?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance in line with our normal booking conditions. Either way, our Operations Team will contact you around 75 days before departure to let you know whether a share partner has been found or not. We regret that Happy to Share requests cannot be accepted within 75 days of departure. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to change or withdraw this arrangement at any time.
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Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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