Riyadh and AlUla

Discover the wealth of contrasts that distinguish Riyadh. Begin the day with a visit to Ad Diriyah, the birthplace of the first Saudi state called At Turaif which ruled between 1744 and 1818. The UNESCO World Heritage site has been restored to its former glory and is spectacular! Discover more about the architecture and heritage at the site and find out how the mud-brick houses were built; how homes were cooled during the hot summer days; and how people lived without electricity and creature comforts.

Continue to explore other pointers toward Saudi’s charismatic past. You’ll find Al Masmak Fortress in the heart of the old town. A large clay and mud-brick citadel that witnessed the birth of a kingdom, the 150-year-old edifice stands as a reminder of Saudi’s storied past. Justice Square is another reminder of the past. Roaming this ordinary neighbourhood on foot you discover mud houses, just like this morning, abandoned not long ago. Learn more about Saudi history at Murabba palace and at the fantastic National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Towards the end of a busy day head for Souq al Zel and Souq Bisht, two of the most characteristic traditional marketplaces in town and uniquely atmospheric hubs of Arabian commerce. This is the perfect place to purchase an Abaya for use during your travels. Naturally, as a foreigner the use of an Abaya is completely voluntary. Complete the Riaydh feeling by mingling with the locals in one of the city parks or squares that come alive with socializing activities once the sun rays disappear.

Leave the coastal city by air for AlUla, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sits deep in the desert in the northwestern region of the country. It is an area rich in historical and geographical significance and for most travellers the biggest highlight of their Saudi adventure. To appreciate this, let’s first climb up to the Harrat Viewpoint before diving into all the history around. The road snakes up sharply, away from the red rocks and onto a black and seemingly endless plateau. Discover the viewpoint towering over the old city and let your guide put things into perspective. Closer to sunset it is time for a pilgrimage to Elephant Rock. Set in golden desert sands and climbing into the blue Arabian skies, the rock (also known as Jabal Alfil) is one of AlUla’s most impressive geological marvels. Overnight in AlUla.

The draw to Al Ula is its remarkable natural rock formations and canyons, extensive and varied pre-Arabic rock art, and immaculately preserved tombs built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans. You will start the day with a visit to the Nabataean site of Hegra, which was the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom, dating back to the first century BCE. Today, you will follow your ‘rawee’ or storyteller, to explore several of the more than 100 well-preserved monumental tombs, most with elaborate facades carved from rock formations scattered around the desert.

Beyond the old town in the wadi or valley are numerous farms where lush palm trees sway gently and the smell of citrus fills the fresh air, adding to the oasis-feeling that AlUla still retains. Walk the winding, shaded Oasis Heritage trail through the fields that provide fresh herbs and vegetables to AlUla’s restaurants. Hear the birds sing and imagine how the nomads of the past found water and refuge from the desert here. Leave the valley and enter an area often called ‘the art city’ which has a colourful vibe with street art and exhibits spread out in its walking streets, making for a great stroll with numerous options for a drink on a terrace, watching the world go by while the sun changes the colours of the towering cliffs around. Overnight in AlUla.

No trip to Saudi Arabia is complete without a 4x4 excursion into the desert. Start this day with an unforgettable sortie around the towering cliffs that surround AlUla. Following the ups and downs of the morning’s four-wheel safari, settle down for a delicious Bedouin-style picnic lunch encompassing a traditional range of Saudi and other Middle Eastern delicacies. As true navigators of the deserts, a camp set-up with protection from the elements and the finest of Arabian hospitality awaits.

In the afternoon there will be time at leisure. Experience the facilities of your hotel or continue your exploration of AlUla’s landscapes with an optional activity (supplements apply). Some of the optional activities available include: see the sandstone mountains from above in a helicopter or hot air balloon, hop on a mountain bike and venture off the beaten path into desert dunes or climb the valley’s edge to better soak in AlUla’s expansive vistas.Overnight in Al Ula.

At leisure until you check out of your hotel and transfer to AlUla airport for your onward flight.

• Airport arrival and departure transfers during daytime hours (NOTE: for flights arriving before 6.00am and after 10.00pm and departures before 8.00am and after 11.00pm, surcharges will apply)
• 5 night’s hotel accommodation with private facilities
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
• Transfers and tours by private air-conditioned vehicles, unless otherwise mentioned
• Domestic flight Riyadh/AlUla
• English speaking local guides (often station guides: 1 guide per location)
• Bottled drinking water (1L per person per day) during touring days
• All entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
• Exclusive 4x4 desert trip with bedouin-style lunch in the desert of AlUla
• 24/7 support in Saudi Arabia
• Assistance of local representatives
• Saudi Arabia Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

• International and domestic flights, unless specified otherwise
• Meals other than mentioned above
• Beverages with meals
• Camera/video entrance fees
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal expenses
• Supplements for early/late transfers
• Optional tours/activities mentioned in the program
• Departure taxes
• Hotel charges for minibar or extra charges
• Other services not clearly indicated in the package inclusions