Saudi Arabia in the Spotlight

DAY 1: Riyadh
Arrival at Riyadh airport (King Rkalid International Airport), reception by the local representative and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast.

The country's capital and largest city in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is the country's political, economic, and cultural center. A city with more than 7 million inhabitants, located in the middle of the desert that is constantly growing, with luxurious hotels and shopping centers filled with boutiques and renowned restaurants.


DAY 2: Riyadh
After breakfast at the hotel, private full-day tour of mystical Riyadh, with an English-speaking guide.

Visit the National Museum, the main central guardian of Saudi heritage and culture, highlighting the rich Arab heritage and reverence for Islam. Composed of eight galleries, the museum covers the complete history of Arab History, from the creation of the universe to the modern day, essential for understanding the evolution of the region.

Then, visit the Murabba Palace, with memories of the site and witnessed historical events and the outdoor area of Masmak Fort.

Free time for lunch and visit to Souk Al Zal, considered the largest and oldest market in the city, specializing in the carpet trade. An opportunity to connect with Saudi artisans and understand their traditions and techniques.

Finally, enter the Sky Bridge at 300 meters high, for a panoramic view of the city.

Return to the hotel.


DAY 3: Riyadh
After breakfast at the hotel. Visit the ancient city of Al-Diriyah, built in the 15th century on the banks of Wadi Hanifa. This historic site is one of the most important in Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of the story of the conquest of the Arabian Peninsula by the Al Saud family. Their ancestors, known as the Bani Hanifa, settled there about five centuries ago.


DAY 4: Riyadh/AlUla
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Private transfer to Riyadh airport for boarding a flight to AlUla (not included).

Arrival, reception and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast.

In the evening, night tour of the old city of AlUla, in the narrowest part of the AlUla Valley, with nearly 900 houses, 400 stores and 5 squares. This ancient city preserves traces of some of the original buildings of the past.

Return to the hotel and have dinner.


DAY 5: AlUla
Breakfast at the hotel, for a regular full-day tour of Al Ula, with an English-speaking guide.

Visit the Kingdom of Liã, also known as Dadán. Dadan was the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms, notable for inscriptions and several tombs. Visitors can explore past agricultural innovations in addition to defensive and water management innovations. Date palms cultivated as plantations are still visible today.

Then, in Jabal Ikmah, an opportunity to observe the inscriptions. It is a kind of open-air library that contains inscriptions and rock art, with a variety of themes, such as rituals, kings, animals, and agriculture, important elements for the history of Al Ula's past.

In the afternoon, hike the AlUla Oasis Trail and visit the 52-meter-high Elephant Rock, also known as Jebel Al-Fil. This is an iconic and much photographed landmark in the country.

Return and dinner at the hotel.


DAY 6: AlUla
After breakfast at the hotel, regular half-day tour of Hegra, with an English-speaking guide.

Hegra, known as Mada'in Salih, is an ancient city located north of Hejaz and 22 kilometers from the city of AlUla, in Saudi Arabia. The area is a historically significant archaeological site, with remnants dating back to the Nabataean kingdom, representing a historical testimony to the architecture of the region's peoples during that period.

In the evening, go out for stargazing. Short walk to admire the landscapes and the stars, followed by a traditional Saudi dinner.

Optional activity suggestion (not included):

• Zipline descent, covering a total of 1.5 km at a speed of up to 120 km/h, while enjoying the incredible landscape of the Al Ula mountains.

DAY 7: AlUla - Medina - Jeddah (Jeddah)
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Journey of about 4 hours and 30 minutes to Medina. Private tour, with guide in English, to the main points of the city.

Visit to the Dar Al Madinah Museum, with different archaeological collections, visual galleries and rare images selected from Medina. Then visit the area outside the Prophet's Mosque and visit the Qubaa Mosque, considered to be the first mosque in the world.

Transfer to Medina train station to board the high-speed train, on a 2-hour journey to the city of Jeddah (Jeddah).

Arrival, reception and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Historic Jeddah is situated on the east coast of the Red Sea. Starting in the 7th century, it was established as an important port for Indian Ocean trade routes, channeling goods to Mecca. It was also the gateway for Muslim pilgrims arriving in Mecca by sea. The city has transformed into a thriving multicultural center characterized by a distinctive architectural tradition, including the towers built in the late 19th century by the city's mercantile elites, which combine coral-building traditions from the Red Sea coast with influences and craftsmanship from the trade routes.


DAY 8: Jeddah (Jeddah)
Breakfast at the hotel. Private full-day tour to the city's main tourist attractions.

Visit the Tayebat Museum (closed on Fridays), for an insight into Jeddah's long and cosmopolitan past. Then stop for photos at Jeddah's Corniche, a coastal area 30 km from the city.

Next, visit the Floating Mosque (Rahmah Mosque) built in 1985 on the surface of the water, with bases planted under the surface of the sea. Marked by its bright white color and its turquoise dome, which creates a wonderful scene, especially when the sun shines on it, reflecting the beauty of the architecture associated with Islamic and traditional constructive art. The beauty of the mosque is not limited to its construction, as it is also equipped with advanced sound and lighting technologies, to complement the elements that distinguish it from the others with serenity and extreme beauty.

Continue through the historic area of downtown Jeddah (Al-Balad), known as the “Old City”, where many of the oldest families used to live and work. This region stands out for its old buildings, a traditional souq and several restaurants. Opportunity to walk through the old streets and experience the traditional landscape.

Visit lesser-known but unmissable local spots: Nassif House, the Makkah Gate, and other historic houses that offer a rare opportunity to experience the fusion of traditional architecture with modernity.

Free time at the Old Souq to explore the galleries and shops frequented by the locals.


DAY 9: JEDDAH (JEDDAH)
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel in Jeddah. Private airport transfer.