Tour of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Bahrain

November 7 to 24/25, 2007

$6724.00 per person, double occupancy
Land only

$500 deposit to reserve space on this tour

07 Nov: 
The group will meet at Washington’s Dulles International Airport for departure on Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV 0038 at 9:15pm.

08 Nov: Riyadh-Bahrain (Manama)
Our first stop is in Riyadh where we will be met and assisted, then wait in the international lounge for our flight to Bahrain (GF164 to Manama). Upon our arrival in Manama we will transfer to the Intercontinental Regency Hotel for overnight. 

09 Nov: Bahrain
This morning we will have breakfast at the hotel before departing on our sightseeing tour of Manama. We will visit the Portuguese Bahrain Fort, one of the main archeological sites in Bahrain. Excavations revealed the fort to be sitting on a tell, a hill formed from the rubble of previous cities. In all, seven layers of occupation were discovered, the earliest dating from 2800 BC. We will then visit Barbar Temple, a complex of three 2nd and 3rd millennium BC temples, probably dedicated to Enki, the God of Wisdom and the Sweet Waters Under the Sea. This will be followed by visits to another temple - Ad Diraz Temple, and Al-Khamis Mosque, built in the 8th century. We will return to the hotel for lunch then proceed to the National Bait Al Qur’an, then enjoy a walking tour to the Bab al Bahrain and the Manama gold Souq. We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

10 Nov: Bahrain – Dammam (Al –Khobar)
After breakfast we depart for a sightseeing tour that will include A'Ali Burial Mounds, Siyadi House, Sheikh Isa Bin Ali's house, the Pearl Diving Museum and Arad Fort. Manama was mentioned in Islamic chronicles at least as far back as 1345. It was conquered by Portugal in 1521 and then by the Persians in 1602. Since 1783 it has been under the control of the Al-Khalifa dynasty. Manama was declared a free port in 1958 and in 1971 became the capital of independent Bahrain. We will return to the hotel for lunch then check out. Ladies in the group will receive their abaya set before departure. We depart for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd Causeway which connects the island country of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. There will be stops for photos along the way. We will cross into Saudi Arabia then proceed to the Gulf Meridien Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

11 Nov: (Al –Khobar) Dammam – Riyadh
After breakfast we depart for more sightseeing around Al Khobar/Dammam, including a view of Tarout Island Fort. Dammam is located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and is considered the industrial capital of the Kingdom. Many petrochemical, oil exploration and refining business are located here. We will be able to see the importance of the oil and gas industry to the development of modern Saudi Arabia when we visit the Aramco Museum. The Aramco Museum teaches visitors about the oil and gas sciences as well as the Arab and Islamic contributions to science. The museum is part of Saudi Aramco, a major oil exploration and exporting company. We will return to the hotel for lunch then check out and transfer to the airport for our flight to Riyadh (SV 1681). Upon our arrival we will transfer to the Radisson SAS Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

12 Nov: Riyadh
After breakfast we will visit Dariyah, the ancestral home of the Al Saud dynasty. It was the capital of Saudi Arabia prior to Riyadh and is located not too far out of the modern city in a wadi. The buildings are made of mud brick and have been very well preserved. We will also visit the camel market then have lunch at a local restaurant called Al Mazraah that specializes in Saudi cuisine. Afterwards we will visit Faisaliah Tower, a new landmark hotel with a restaurant and observation deck at the top of this obelisk-shaped tower. Also there is a luxury shopping mall and entertainment complex in Al Mamlaka Tower. Afterwards we will visit the Masmak Fortress, captured in 1902 in King Abdul Aziz’s battle to regain control of the city, his ancestral home. At the entrance to this mud citadel we will see a spear tip broken off and embedded in the door lintel of the old fort, and preserved that way as a reminder of the battle for the city. Afterwards we will visit the Heritage Souq near the fortress for some shopping – antiques and gold can be found here. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

13 Nov: Riyadh – Hail
After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our flight to Hail (SV1323). Upon our arrival we will transfer to the Al Gabalain Hotel to check in and have lunch. Afterwards we will take a sightseeing tour of Hail. For centuries, Hail was seen as the "key to the desert" because it was the main transit point for pilgrims heading for the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah and for traders traveling north or south in the Arabian peninsula. When, towards the end of the Abbasid Caliphate, Muslim scholars of Hail took it upon themselves to protect and promulgate Arabic in its purest form. As a result the city became an important center of scholarship and learning. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B,L,D)

14 Nov: Hail – Jouf
After breakfast we will continue sightseeing around Hail, viewing ancient palaces, stone circles and rock drawings left by the people who inhabited this land several millennia ago. Afterwards we will return to the hotel for lunch, then check out and drive to Jouf. Dinner and overnight at the Al Nusl Hotel. (B,L,D)

15 Nov: Jouf
After breakfast we will depart for a day of sightseeing in and around Jouf. Jouf is of particular interest because of the role it has played in pre- and post-Islamic history. There is archeological evidence of the presence of the Assyrians and Nabataeans in Jouf. Following its conquest by Muslims in the third year of the Hijira, it became a staging post for Muslim armies, while remaining an important crossroads for traders and their caravans heading to or from Iraq and Syria into the Arabian Peninsula. We will start at Dumat Al Jandal, Qasr Marid, and the Umar Mosque, followed by a visit to the museum and the Old City. Return to hotel for lunch, then go to Sakaka and visit the Bir Saisra (Well), Qasr Zabal and end the day watching the sunset. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

16 Nov: Jouf – Taima - Al Ula
After breakfast we will check out and depart for Al Ula, with a sightseeing stop at Taima, with a box lunch along the way. Taima was part of the ancient kingdom of Midian and was home for the last Neo-Babylonian king, Nabonidus, who moved there in the seventh century B.C. One important archeological find in Taima is Taima Stone, inscribed with a religious text in ancient Aramaic and was discovered there in 1888. It is now in the Louvre. It was found near the great well Ain Haddaj which has been in use since Nabonidus' time and which, until diesel pumps were installed, required up to 60 camels at a time to draw water. Continue on to Al Ula. Upon arrival we will check in to the Arac Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

17 Nov: Al Ula
Our day will start with sightseeing in the ruins of the old city of Al Ula and the Al Ula Museum. Afterwards we will have a view of the ancient tombs cut out of the mountainside from outside Al Khuraibah. Return to the hotel for lunch and to refresh ourselves. After lunch we will visit Mada’in Saleh. Al Ula is a gateway for visitors going to see the Nabatean ruins at Mada’in Saleh, an ancient city built by the same civilization that built Petra to the north in Jordan. We will also visit an Islamic castle, the historic and now defunct Hijaz Railway station No. 21, and get a view of Al Ula valley from the top of 700m hill Al Harrah, and visit the Mammoth Rock. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

18 Nov: Al Ula – Madinah – Abha
After breakfast at the hotel we will visit Mada’in Saleh by the morning light then proceed to Madinah with a box lunch along the way. We will stop at the ancient sites of Khaiber and Zubaida Dam. Once in Madinah we will have dinner at the Meridien Madinah Hotel, then transfer to the airport for our flight to Abha (SV 1660). Upon our arrival in Abha we will transfer to the Abha Palace Hotel for overnight. (B,L,D)

19 Nov: Abha 
After breakfast we will go visit the mountainside village of Al Habala. Al Habala village, 2000 meters above sea level, is no longer inhabited but is a destination for visitors. The terraced village is sometimes called the hanging village because it virtually hangs on the side of the steep mountain. The inhabitants used ropes to climb from one place to another. After our visit here we return to the hotel for lunch, then proceed to the Bin Hamsan Cultural Village and Museum to see the traditions and lifestyles of the people of the mountainous Asir region. We will also visit the souq before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

20 Nov: Abha
This morning we will enjoy the natural beauty of this region with a visit to one of many parks in the area, Al Soodah Park. The area is mountainous and the climate really varies from top to bottom. We will see terraced mountainsides, and green vegetation like nowhere else in Saudi Arabia. We will also take a cable car ride to see the picturesque mountain village of Rijal Alma and to explore Sarawat Mountain. Return to the hotel for a rest and lunch then go to the Abha Museum before ending our tour at the souq. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

21 Nov: Abha – Najran
After breakfast we will check out and depart for Najran. Along the way we will have stops at Dhahran Al Janoub and Al Haraja to visit the old city. We will also stop for a panoramic view of Farrshah from the Tehama mountains. Upon our arrival in Najran we will go to the Holiday Inn Hotel to rest and have lunch before going to the souq. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

22 Nov: Najran
After breakfast we will begin our sightseeing of Najran. Our tour will include visits to the Al Ukhdood Museum, Al Ukhdood Site, “the Massacre of Trench”, Raoum Castle, Najran Gigantic Dam, the local Souq, and the Emarat Historical Palace. Lunch will be at the hotel. Najran is very close to the border with Yemen and at one time was considered part of Yemen. It was on the main frankincense caravan route that ran from southern Arabia to Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. Najran's most prosperous trading time was during the first and second centuries BC when it was known as Al-Ukhdood. Return to hotel dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

23 Nov: Najran – Jeddah
After breakfast we check out and transfer to the airport for our flight to Jeddah (SV1843). Upon our arrival we will check into the Intercontinental Hotel. Jeddah is the commercial capitol of Saudi Arabia and the port through which almost all pilgrims coming for haj or umrah arrives. The city is said to be the burial place of Eve, thus the name Jeddah, which is grandmother in Arabic. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

24 Nov: Jeddah
After breakfast our first visit will be to the Nasif House, which is an excellent example of Arabian and Islamic architecture, and is now a museum. One feature that is interesting is the staircase built specifically to accommodate camels. It was designed that way so that as the house was built, camels could be used to carry the building materials to the upper floors. This method of moving materials and supplies was used again during the restoration. We will also visit the old Alawi Souq. Lunch will be at the Green Island restaurant before continuing our sightseeing tour of Jeddah. We will have a farewell dinner at the popular Al Nakheel Restaurant at the Corniche. Return to the hotel, via the Fountain, for overnight. (B,L,D)

25 Nov: Jeddah – Washington
After breakfast we will check out and transfer to the airport for our flight to Washington Dulles Airport (SV035). End of our service (B)

Included:

• Meals as follows: 17 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches, 16 Dinners

• Accommodations based on double occupancy in hotels listed in itinerary

• Services of English speaking guides throughout and all entrance fees

Transfers in air conditioned motor coach

Not Included:

• International Flights from Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) on Saudi Arabian Airlines*

• Internal flights

• Items of a personal nature such as phone/fax, mini bar, laundry, etc.

• Tips for guides and drivers

• Single supplement (limited availability, $1011)
  
  * Saudi Arabian Airlines is the carrier we are using for the group air and there can be no deviation from this as they are the group’s sponsor for the visas. 
  

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