After breakfast, meet your private guide and visit Diriyah, considered the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia. From there, travel to Al Masmak Palace to learn about the Battle of Riyadh. Contine with a visit Souq Al-Zal, famous for its textiles and rare antiques, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, join a guided tour of the National Museum, composed of eight galleries that together tell the story of Saudi Arabia. Continue to the massive Murabba Historical Palace, built by King Abdulaziz Al Saud – the founder of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Finish the day with a visit to the Kingdom Tower shopping mall, including stops at the womens-only Ladies Kingdom and the Sky Bridge, offering soaring views over Riyadh. Return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the ancient oasis of AlUla. Transfer to your accommodation, check in and enjoy lunch at the hotel restaurant before a tour of AlUla’s fascinating Old Town, with a heritage stretching back seven centuries.
Visit the vibrant AlJadidah Arts District, a neighbourhood that rewards exploration with an endless abundance of local bakeries, murals, food trucks and artisanal coffee shops.
As dusk arrives, see AlUla’s magnificent Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil), a massive rock formation that’s naturally come to resemble the animal of the same name. Enjoy the sunset with traditional oasis refreshments – local dates and a cup of Arabic coffee or tea.
Return to your hotel to enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Flight – approx. two hours
Start the day with a visit to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. After exploring Hegra, stop at the nearby Hejaz Railway station, a historic stop designed to service a line that would have travelled from Istanbul to Mecca. Due to the outbreak of World War I, the line was never completed.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue to the ancient city of Dadan, a thriving centre of incense trade in antiquity. Continue onward to Jabal Ikmah, a mountain with a lofty crevasse that is filled with thousands of elaborate ancient inscriptions.
Finish the day with a visit to Harrat Viewpoint, the city’s highest point. Enjoy panoramic views at sunset with traditional Arabic refreshments – tea, coffee and dates.
Spend the evening at your leisure.
After breakfast at the hotel, checkout and drive south towards the city of Madinah. Stop along the way in the unique oasis of Khaybar, built upon a volcanic outcrop and gifted with freshwater springs, wadis (river valleys) and palms. Embark on a walking tour of the area before enjoying a local lunch, with time to exploring on your own before departure.
Continue to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam – it’s where Muhammad was said to have established the Muslim community and where his body is entombed today.
Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
After breakfast, meet your private guide in the hotel lobby and embark on a day tour of the city.
Start at the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, a cutting-edge museum dedicated to depicting the life of Muhammad. Continue on to Quba Street, a vibrant cultural landmark between two of the city’s famous mosques, the Holy Mosque and Quba Mosque, connected by Souq Taibah, one of the city’s popular markets.
Please note: Access to the Mosques is not permitted to non-Muslims.
In the late afternoon, board the Haramain High Speed Railway bullet train through the Arabian Desert to Jeddah, the world’s only desert bullet train. Built on the shores of the Red Sea, Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s commercial hub and has a storied history. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Train – approx. two hours
After breakfast, follow your guide on a tour of Jeddah’s traditional architecture within Al-Balad, the city’s Old Town. Built during the 1850s and now a cultural centre and museum, Nassif House Museum is one of the city’s finest examples of Turkish architecture.
Continue to the House of Islamic Arts, showcasing a one-of-a-kind collection that wonderfully celebrates the Islamic Golden Age.
After lunch, you’ll go to the privately owned Tayebat Museum, offering an insightful glimpse into Jeddah’s long and storied past. Afterward, gaze upon the Al Rahma Mosque that overhangs the northern tip of Jeddah’s waterfront. Nearby, visit King Fahd’s Fountain, the tallest water fountain in the world.
Return to the hotel and enjoy your final evening at your leisure.
After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to Saudi Arabia. Collect your luggage and depart for King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) as your journey ends.