Saudi Arabia Highlights

Upon your arrival in Jeddah, you will receive a warm welcome at the airport and then be swiftly transported to your hotel, situated in the heart of the city. After checking in, take some time to relax in your comfortable lodgings before embarking on your exploration of this fascinating destination.

Later in the afternoon, your journey into the city’s rich past begins with an enlightening visit to the Tayebat City Museum. Here, you can peruse a vast selection of artifacts, manuscripts, and displays that comprehensively document the area’s deep-rooted history and the evolution of its diverse civilizations.

Next, lose yourself in the stone labyrinth of Al Balad’s old city center, where you’ll stroll past ancient merchant houses, peer into historic mosques like Aeen Faraj Yuser, Shafei, and Ukash, and browse the gilded treasures at the lively gold souq. As the sun begins to set over the Red Sea, conclude your first day with a visit to the popular Twina Seafood restaurant, located along the coastal promenade, to enjoy the freshest regional seafood while admiring uninterrupted views of the city at sunset. After a leisurely dinner, retire to your comfortable hotel for a well-deserved overnight rest.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Jeddah Al Salam, an IHG Hotel (5*)

On day 2, kick off your aquatic adventures bright and early by meeting at the predetermined embarkation point. From there, set sail across the sparkling Red Sea waters towards the renowned Bayada Islands. As your vessel cruises farther from the Jeddah coastline, the refreshing sea breeze and beautiful islands dotting the horizon come into view.

Once anchored just offshore, it’s time to dive into the inviting waters and revel in a smorgasbord of exciting activities like snorkeling amongst exotic marine life, scuba diving the coral reefs, or paddle boarding atop the gently lapping waves. Work up an appetite from all the exhilarating watersports and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch served alfresco on deck while you relax and soak up the sun’s golden rays.

Returning renewed and invigorated back on shore during the mid-afternoon, freshen up at your hotel before setting off on a guided bicycle tour at golden hour along Jeddah’s scenic waterfront cornice. Peddle at a leisurely pace, marveling at uninterrupted vistas where the sun melts into the Red Sea, painting the evening sky with its orange hues darted with purple streaks. After an active day discovering Jeddah’s aquatic playgrounds, retire comfortably to your hotel room.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Jeddah Al Salam, an IHG Hotel (5*)

Set out on a journey today by hopping on a comfortable transport for a scenic two and a half hour drive from Jeddah up into the majestic highlands surrounding Taif. As you twist through mountain passes dotted with traditional villages, gaze out of your window upon craggy desert plains transforming into lush palm oases along the way.

Around mid-morning, you’ll arrive at the massive 2 km wide crater of Wahba, the largest crater in Saudi Arabia. Take a brief disembarkation to capture the sheer scale and depth of this dormant volcanic giant in photographs before continuing on the road to Taif. You’ll reach Taif just as the seasonal winds and high altitude create a perfectly pleasant climate to explore the City of Roses.

Take a relaxing lunch to replenish your energy before touring Taif’s cascading public gardens showcasing endemic flowers, diverse markets offering locally grown produce, and heritage architecture reflecting the turn-of-the-century Ottoman aesthetic. As the sun starts descending behind craggy peaks, gather over a scrumptious dinner at a traditional Taif restaurant sampling mouthwatering regional fare to conclude the day’s discoveries.

Bellies full and eyelids heavy, settle in for the nighttime drive through the mountains back to your Jeddah hotel. You’ll arrive just past midnight, concluding this unforgettable day-trip.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Jeddah Al Salam, an IHG Hotel (5*)

This afternoon, you’ll find yourself in the midst of the AlUla desert oasis, where you’ll be transferred to your luxurious resort nestled amongst sandstone cliffs. Take some time to rejuvenate and enjoy the breathtaking views from your accommodations. As the sun sets, venture into the Old Town of AlUla, which is like a portal into the past, with hundreds of intricately carved sandstone homes, shops, and community squares that depict traditional Arabian life.

Stroll through the lively souqs and past the old merchant houses, imagining the caravans that would have stopped here centuries ago to resupply with incense and other goods. As the valley darkens, savor a traditional dinner filled with regional flavors under a canopy of stars that seem endless out here away from the city lights. The night sky is a stunning display of celestial bodies, and professional astronomers will illuminate the most interesting cosmic features visible and regale you with ancient folk tales about them, just like nomadic cultures would have exchanged around campfires.

After an enchanting evening of dancing between ancient history and the infinite cosmos above, return to your resort filled with timeless wanderlust and ancient stories.

Accommodation: Husaak Adventures AlUla Glamping

After a sumptuous breakfast, your guide will pick you up for a thrilling adventure to explore AlUla’s most precious historical treasures. Your first destination will be Hegra, an ancient city constructed by the Nabatean civilization over two millennia ago, which functioned as a hub of commerce. This expansive UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with intricate tombs carved into golden sandstone cliffs that tower over the desert floor and are exceptionally well-preserved.

Subsequently, you will be wowed by the reflective frontage of the architecturally stunning Maraya Concert Hall before taking a break for a delectable lunch. Following lunch, you will take a brief ride to the fascinating remains of Dadan, the capital city of the Dadanitic and Lihyanite Kingdoms that ruled during the first millennium BC. As you wander through the debris that once constituted temples, dwellings, and gates, you will decipher the messages of ancient graffiti etched into the rocks.

As the scorching sun begins to set, you will continue on to see the enormous sandstone Elephant Rock formation, where centuries of weathering sculpted a shape that strikingly resembles its namesake. With breathtaking images of AlUla’s cultural and natural magnificence fresh in your memory, you will return to your resort feeling revitalized and inspired after a day immersed in the region’s ancient past.

Accommodation: Husaak Adventures AlUla Glamping

You’ll leave the AlUla resort early in the morning and head to the holy city of Medina (Madinah). After checking into your hotel and taking a quick break, you’ll start exploring Islamic heritage and culture.

First up is the Dar Al Madinah Museum, where you’ll find a vast collection of Prophet Muhammad’s artifacts (PBUH), ancient manuscripts, and artwork that pay tribute to his life’s work. You’ll learn about the Prophet’s early days in Medina, and how the first Islamic society took shape.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi mosque, the second holiest site in Islam. You’ll be amazed by the intricate architecture featuring golden domes, ornate minarets, and precious inlays. As you wander through the vast courtyard where Prophet Muhammad is laid to rest, you’ll find inner peace amidst the devotees offering prayers.

Finally, before sunset, you’ll conclude your introduction to one of the three most sacred cities in Islam and head back to the hotel.

Accommodation: Le Méridien Medina (5*)

On the final morning of your stay in the Kingdom, take your time and enjoy a relaxing breakfast at your hotel in Medina before the pre-arranged transport arrives to bid you farewell from this holy city.

As you depart feeling spiritually enriched from visiting the landmarks that trace Prophet Muhammad’s momentous journey (PBUH), take a moment to reflect on the Saudi way of life – one that is steeped in enduring hospitality and cultural traditions, and now welcomes guests from all corners of the world to experience it for themselves.

You will be accompanied to Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (PMIA), according to your onward travel plans. While your check-in formalities and luggage transfers are taken care of, fondly reminisce about the cultural treasures you uncovered over the past week, until you return again to discover more hidden gems across this ancient land.