Escorted Tour of Saudi Arabia
- Information
- Tour Plan
- Gallery
- Reviews
- Additional Info
What's included
- Accommodations
- Domestic Airfare
- English-Speaking Guide
- Entrance Fees
- Meals - Full Board
- Sightseeing
- Transfers
- Transportation
- Visa Authorization
- Water
- Airfare- International
- Optional Activities
- Personal Expenses
- Snacks
- Tips
- Trip Insurance
- Visa Services
- Day 1/Saturday
- Day 2/Sunday
- Day 3/Monday
- Day 4/Tuesday
- Day 5/Wednesday
- Day 6/Thursday
- Day 7/Friday
- Day 8/Saturday
- Day 9/Sunday
- Day 10/Monday
- Day 11/Tuesday
Arrival in Riyadh
On arrival in Riyadh, we will be met and assisted and transferred to our hotel to check in. Dinner and overnight. (D)
Hotel: Riyadh Hilton
Riyadh
After breakfast we begin our tour of Riyadh, the administrative capital of Saudi Arabia. It has grown into a modern, shining city in the middle of the desert and its unique architecture makes for a spectacular skyline. We begin our morning sightseeing at the King Abdul Aziz Museum, followed by a visit to 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. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, and afterwards we will go to the ancient city of Al Diriyeh, initially a small oasis on the banks of Wadi Hanifa, Al Diriyah became the birthplace of the Saudi state. It is now a cultural and historical site and we will go to the Visitor Center to get an overview of the restoration project and the historic significance of the city. Our tour ends with a visit to Faisaliah Tower where we will go to the observation deck to view the city. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Riyadh Hilton
Riyadh - Abha
After breakfast we check out and transfer to be the airport at 10:00 for our flight at 11:35 (SV1865) to Abha. Once we arrive in Abha we will transfer to our hotel, check in and have lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the Abha Museum. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Abha Palace Hotel
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 visit the Tuesday Market. After lunch we will see the picturesque mountain village of Rijal Al Maa and to view Sarawat Mountain. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Abha Palace Hotel
Abha - Al Baha
Early breakfast at the hotel, then check out by 08:00 to drive to Al Baha. We will do some sightseeing on arrival in Al Baha, which is known for its forests. It is also known for an ancient village built on to a marble rock outcropping. The village was abandoned but has been restored as a historical site. We will check in at our hotel and have lunch. After lunch we will visit the museum and continue our sightseeing around Al Baha. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Golden Tulip
Al Baha - Al Ula
Early breakfast and check out from our hotel and transfer to the Jeddah Airport for our flight to Al Ula on SV 1630. Arrival in Al Ula and check in to our hotel for lunch. After lunch we will begin our sightseeing in Al Ula and the surrounding area. We will visit the Old City Al Ula, founded in the 6th century BC and located on the incense route through Arabia. It was part of the Nabatean kingdom, ruled from Petra to the north in Jordan. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Accommodations: Madakhil Camp
Al Ula – Hail
After breakfast we continue our sightseeing in Al Ula. Today we will visit the Museum and the Famous Mammoth Rock. Return to hotel for refreshing and lunch and check out. In the afternoon we transfer to Hail. Arrive Hail, check in at the hotel, and dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Millennium Hotel
Hail – Jubbah – Al Jouf
Early wake up call, breakfast at the hotel and check out. Proceed to visit the archaeology center of Jubbah where we will view rock paintings, petroglyphs and inscriptions that date back over 10,000 years and are located in an area that once overlooked a fresh-water lake. Proceed to Al Jouf and check in at our hotel. After lunch we proceed to sightseeing in Sakaka, the main city of the Al Jouf Governate and visit Bir Saisra (Well), Qalat (fortress) Za’abal then proceed to Al Rajajeel to see the mysterious standing stones and enjoy the sand dunes until sunset. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Raoum Inn
Al Jouf – Jeddah
Early wake up call, breakfast at the hotel and check out. Proceed to Dumat Al Jandal to visit Qasr Marid, Omar Mosque and Museum and the lake. Transfer to the Airport for our flight SV 1381 to Jeddah. On arrival in Jeddah we will check in to our hotel and have lunch. After lunch we will begin our sightseeing in Jeddah with a visit to the unique Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum. Afterwards we will take a drive along the Corniche to enjoy the many sculptures along the road and also the Red Sea coast. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Hilton
Jeddah
After breakfast we will start our sightseeing Jeddah with a visit to the historic Nasif House, which is an excellent example of Arabian and Islamic architecture, and is now a museum. We will walk through the old city see other examples of older restored homes and buildings before going to the Alawi Souq for jewelry, perfumes, fabrics, incense, coffee, and more. We will break for lunch, then continue our sightseeing around Jeddah followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Jeddah. (B/L/D)
Hotel: Hilton
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
End of services.
More about this tour
About the tour escort:
Samia El-Moslimany, a Seattle native, is the daughter of two of Seattle’s pioneer Muslim activists, Ann and Mohammad El-Moslimany. In addition to Seattle, she has lived in Kuwait and currently splits her time between her two countries of citizenship, the US and Saudi Arabia. Samia is mother to a daughter and two sons and is foster mother to three sons.
Samia received her Bachelor of Arts in Film Making and Television Production and her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Washington.
Samia has photographed professionally for more than thirty years and was the owner of one of one of Arabia’s top photography studios located in Jeddah. In addition to numerous Saudi publications, Samia has photographed for Business Week, Fortune, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Marie Claire Magazine, Institutional Investor, Le Figaro, Saudi Aramco World, The Christian Science Monitor, the Associated Press, and has photographed for the cover of TIME magazine.
Since 1983 Samia has spoken locally, nationally and internationally on the subjects of Islam, Women, Civil Rights and Photography. Her volunteer activities have included serving as a founder and the Chair of the Board of Directors of CAIR-Seattle, as a founding member of the Jeddah Orphan Eid Gift Project, as a member of the steering committee of Together We Build, as a volunteer for SCM Medical Missions, as a board member of a Seattle interfaith coalition working with Habitat for Humanity, as a member of the Muslim Youth Camp of California board of directors, as a volunteer and Community Activity Chairperson at the Islamic School of Seattle, as the President of the Board of Directors of Cherry Street Mosque of Seattle, and as a co-founder of the Wanisa Sisterhood, a support network for First Wives and victims of domestic abuse, in Saudi Arabia.
Samia is arranging visits to friend's homes and meals with locals so you will have a unique opportunity to really experience Saudi Arabia like a local.
Notes:
- Women are required to wear an abaya when in public in Saudi Arabia. The group will have an opportunity to visit a shop to purchase an abaya on the first day if you don't have one. Please bring a scarf to cover your head on arrival in Riyadh.
User Reviews & Comments
June S
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the trip to Saudi Arabia. All of my friends wondered why I was going to go there, thinking that it was mostly desert with a lot of people who didn’t much like Americans. Boy, were they wrong. What I saw was fascinating. From the mountains in the south to the tombs in Madinah-Saleh to the fabulous sites in the north to amazing Jeddah on the coast – it was all beyond what I expected to see myself. The people were gracious and friendly, and hospitality reigned all over. We met so many wonderful people, and we had a superb guide during our journey throughout the whole country. I was surprised to learn that we didn’t have to wear our scarves over our heads in many places, which was really nice. The abayas were positively comfortable and easy to wear. I learned a lot about Saudi life on the trip, and I was pleased to see everywhere I went that Saudi men were loving and affectionate with their daughters, unlike what I had read in a couple of books intimating that Saudi men only wanted and cared about their sons and not their daughters. That was great to see. We also visited a couple of homes, which gave an insight into family life and how guests are received in Saudi Arabia. I would recommend this trip highly to anyone who is interested in Arab culture and all of the historical gems that Saudi Arabia has to offer. The accommodations were excellent, and Hatem (our guide) was kind, considerate, and super efficient. He also had a terrific sense of humor, which brought out the best (or worst) in us. We just loved him. Thank you for making it possible for us to see this magnificent country. It was one of the best trips I have ever taken.
November 14, 2019
Iryna J.
It was a wonderful trip around most of the country, everywhere we were met with delicious Arabic coffee and dates for which Saudi is famous. All meals were fresh, tasty, multiple courses, and with a variety of delicious breads (stopped counting calories after Najran!). The Saudis we met were – without exception – friendly and hospitable and we reluctantly turned down many invitations to visit their homes due to shortage of time. The highlight of my trip was meeting many different people and being invited into their homes and having the opportunity to ask many questions about their lives and society. Although we saw many awesome sites, Jameel is the star of Arabia! He has so much local knowledge which he proudly shared without hesitation, with infinite patience and humor, plus he added a color and depth which would have been impossible to get if travelling alone. In Jeddah, we met Jameel’s family who are wonderful people and I really looking forward to keeping in touch with them. This was my first trip with Caravan Serai but definitely will not be the last! Saudi Arabia Tour 2010
November 14, 2019