Known to be the birth place of Islam culture, Saudi does not lack of unique historical and cultural sites to be discovered. This trip covers the capital of the kingdom – Riyadh, from there, we will go by road to Al Ula, the ancient Nabatean city and end the trip in the trading center of the Red Sea – Jeddah.
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Day 1 - Riyadh arrival
Upon arrival, be met and transfer to your hotel.
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Day 2 - Riyadh
In the morning, you will visit the National Museum of Riyadh, it was founded in 1999. Housed within striking modernist architecture and flower-wreathed gardens, the National Museum exhibits everything from Neolithic rock art, to replicas of the buildings of old Jeddah, as well as transporting visitors on a magically interactive tour of the ages. Afterward, viist Murraba palace is among the most important palace built by King Abdul-Aziz.
In the afternoon, visit Masmak fortress, which is a museum showing maps and photographs of Saudi Arabia dating from 1912 to 1937. At the end of the day, take a stroll in Dira Souq, which is famous for its variety of old copper and brass objects including silver daggers, silver Bedouins, Jewelry and dresses.
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Day 3 - Diriyah & End of the World
This morning, you will make an excursion to Historical Diriyah. As the birthplace of the first Saudi state, Diriyah is a historical crossroads of pilgrims and traders, and home to one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious heritage developments. Including the banks of Wadi Hanifa, Ad Diriyah’s mud-brick walls once housed a thriving desert city that was a powerhouse of culture and commerce. You will visit Al Turaif district, Diriyah Museum, the restored Al Zawihra Mosque and the ruins of At-Turaif.
In the afternoon, you go towards the old Camel Caravan Trail to the Edge of the World. What makes Edge of the World special is a rock-framed "window" with a wonderful view of the plateau and the view from them looks “endless”, in other words, it seems as though you are standing on the Edge of the World, and only a flat plain can be seen in the horizon as far as the eye can reach. Sunset view at this point is always very fascinating.
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Day 4 - Riyadh / Buraydah
After breakfast, transfer 4 hours to Buraydah.
In the afternoon, visit Al Oqilat Museum. This historic site features over ten thousand rare documents related to the first people who lived in the region - as well as the tools and commercial maps used to navigate the surrounding area and beyond. Spending a day at the museum should provide an absolutely unique opportunity to learn more about the region and culture. Afterward, spend some time in the largest date market on earth.
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Day 5 - Buraydah / Jubbah / Hail
In the outskirts of Buraydah in Al-Qassim, across two square miles, lies the largest camel market in the world. Every day at six in the morning, the Buraydah camel market comes to life as vendors and buyers exchange riyals for camels, sheep, goats, and goods such as saddles, halters and blankets.
Return to the hotel for breakfast, then visit one of Saudi Arabia’s most ancient archaeological and historical cities - Fayd, it is the third city of the old pilgrimage route after Kufa and Basra, and it is the largest station on the Iraqi pilgrimage route (Derb Zubaydah).
In the afternoon, transfer 3 hours to Hail, en route visit Jubbah, a place where millennia are carved in the rock.
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Day 6 - Hail / Al Ula
Visit Al Qishlah Fort and Aarif in the morning. Then, you will visit a workshop featuring Hail's most famous traditional handicrafts, the "Arabian Dalah", which dates back more than 100 years and has formed a heritage associated with the identity of the region.
In the afternoon, transfer 4 hours to Al Ula.
In the evening, spend some time at elephant rock for a cup of tea.
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Day 7 - Al Ula
Visit the Lion's tomb of ancient Dadan in the morning. Then visit Jabal Ikmah where you can find the ancient inscription thought to date as far back as the 1st millennium BCE.
After lunch, visit Ad-Deerah, an abandoned Arabian village, and Harrat Uwayrid to appreciate the spectacular landscape of Al Ula. Before sunset, you will visit the Maraya, the concert hall what made with mirror.
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Day 8 - Al Ula
You will spend the whole day in Hegra. It is the most iconic historical site of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first to be listed as a "UNESCO Word Heritage Site", back in 2008. The Nabatean people were Arab merchants actively involved in the frankincense trade originating from ancient Yemen from which they gained their great wealth. The Nabatean Kingdom developed from the 2nd century BC until the beginning of the 2nd century BC.
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Day 9 - Al Ula / Jeddah
Transfer to airport for a short flight to Jeddah.
In the afternoon, visit Al Balad District where the merchants sell their goods. Enjoy some local shops to see some crafts being made such as the local sandals, perfumes & gold jewelry crafts. By sunset, make a stop at Corniche Jeddah, which is known as the "tallest fountain in the world".
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Day 10 - Jeddah departure
After breakfast, visit the Tomb of Eva and Nassif House, and you will spend some time in Al Alawi Souq.
In the afternoon, transfer to airport for your flight home.