Explore the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Arrive in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Once a desert trading post on the caravan route, this skyscraper-filled city is fighting a battle between the old and the new. Riyadh has a more traditional atmosphere than its red sea sister, Jeddah, and its historical significance as the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia can be seen in the contrast between the modern, gleaming buildings in the business district, and the many forts, museums and colourful souks that confirm the city's ancient past. Due to the number of evening flights into Riyadh, the Tour Leader plans to do the welcome meeting in the morning of Day 2. There are no planned activities today, so you can arrive into Riyadh at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary transfer today, you'll need to arrive into King Khalid International Airport (RUH), which is around 40 minutes' drive. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may wish to explore one of the city's souks, or watch the sunset at the Sky Bridge in the Kingdom Centre. This 99-story skyscraper is open to the public (going up to the top costs a small fee) and gives you a great vantage point over the city. We will visit again tomorrow but not at sunset, so you may wish to ascend this evening to kick off your Saudi Arabian journey.

Riyadh is a chaotic, sprawling city, where ancient palaces and palm trees are found just a few traffic-laden streets away from bright, modern architecture. We'll get a feeling of both the old and new today. Before the 1930s, Riyadh was a small, walled oasis town in what was then known as the Second Saudi State. After Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud conquered the state in the late 1920s he retook his family's ancient seat and brought together most of the Arabian Peninsula in what he went on to name 'Saudi Arabia'. We'll learn some of this history in a trip to the National Museum this morning - the museum is enormous so we will pick and choose some of the key exhibits. If you arrive to Riyadh early on day 1 it's well worth spending more time here. We'll go on to visit Masmak Fortress, the most prominent remnant of the old walled oasis town of Riyadh. From here, we visit the modern part of the city, taking the lift up the Kingdom Tower skyscraper for impressive views. During our city tour we will aslo visit the unmissable mud-brick architecture of Diriyah. In the afternoon, we will continue our tour of Riyadh which, like most Saudi Arabian cities, is a slave to the motor vehicle. Due to a combination of the heat and the status that cars give, Saudis drive everywhere - this means that you're unlikely to find people walking around. We, however, will be exploring on foot today in one of the neighbourhoods that still enjoys some life on the streets. We'll start at the Tabya Souk, a classic market with mostly female vendors. Then we'll stroll to Tahliya Street and Suleimaniya Street, where the 70's meet modern day architecture. We'll see how the city has grown quite dramatically over the last 30-40 years, and enjoy some tea and pastries at a local bakery. We then drive to Deera, close to our hotel, where we will explore this market area and some of the vendors who have been selling here for years. This walking tour will give you the opportunity to discuss the changes that Saudi Arabia has experienced in recent years, and talk to a woman whose family has lived through many of the Kingdom's changing governments. Note that the timings for this day may change.

Leaving Riyadh this morning, we'll drive north-west to the Ushaiger Heritage Village, a winding maze of alleyways and mud-brick houses in the desert. Nearby springs and palm groves made this a convenient stopping point for ancient pilgrims to Mecca. The village is still inhabited today and is a glimpse into an old way of life, with some incredible examples of ancient Nadji architecture. From here we drive on to Buraidah. The area is famous for its date farms, and sampling some of the local produce this evening is highly recommended. Many dessert options in Saudi Arabia revolve around dates, either plain or stuffed with nuts. The traditional dish 'hainini' is a dessert made from dates, flour and butter, spiced with cardamom and saffron - sugary, warm, spicy and usually served with traditional Arabic coffee. Delicious!

Rise early this morning to drive to the dusty outskirts of Buraidah, where we find the world's largest camel market. A chaotic melee of people, sounds and smells, the daily market sees thousands of camels, as well as sheep and goats, being bought and sold by local Saudis. A visit to the market is a glimpse at traditions that haven't changed in hundreds of years. The auctions are loud and theatrical, with the best camels going for many thousands of dollars. In the early afternoon we take a two-hour train to Ha'il, a modern service that offers comfortable seats, a cafe car and, usually, WiFi available on board. At around 2pm we'll arrive into Ha'il, a small town on the edge of the massive Jabal Aja protected area, a red granite mountain range that is a surprising haven for plant and birdlife. We'll explore the town this afternoon, including the massive mud fortresses of Al Qashlah and Aarif. The former was built by Ibn Saud in the 1940s, whereas the latter is a 17th-century monolith, visible on its hilltop position from anywhere in Ha'il.

The oasis of Jubbah was once a huge inland lake, rich in wildlife and plant life and on the edge of the windswept Nafud Desert. On a set of sandstone rocks, which pop out of the sandy floor at the western edge of this oasis town, we'll find some of the Middle East's most extensive and important ancient rock carvings. These Neolithic petroglyphs date back as early as 5500BC, and depict scenes of everyday life; hunting is widely represented, and from the images we can see the kind of animals that would have been prevalent at the watering hole, from camel to ibex. Jubbah's rock art has been a crucial link in the chain for palaeontologists to put together a picture of Neolithic human life not just in the Middle East but also spreading through north Africa. From here we drive five hours, one of the longest journeys of our trip, to Al'Ula and our desert-based accommodation.

A short drive this morning brings us to Elephant Rock, an instantly-recognisable geological feature that takes its name from its elephantine shape. From here, we continue to what may be one of the highlights of our Saudi Arabian journey - the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra (also known as Mada'in Saleh). This set of ornately carved tombs was constructed in the 1st Century AD by the Nabatean people, and it would become their second-largest city after the capital, Petra, in Jordan. These magnificent tombs are eerily quiet in contrast to Petra, but as tourism grows we can expect this to change dramatically within the next few years. For the moment, what was once a thriving city at the southern-most part of the spice trade, and a key part of the Nabatean Empire, is now a deserted outpost, with many buildings partially hidden under layers of sand. On our return to AlUla, we'll stop to visit the Lion Tombs of Dedan. Pre-dating the Nabatean Empire, the kings of Dedan, and later named Lihyan, ruled from the 6th to the 2nd Century BC. At their capital, Dedan, the remains of ancient tombs have been found hewn into the rockface at different heights and of different sizes. The name 'Lions Tomb' comes from the carved lion sculptures found outside several of the necropolis entrances - denoting the importance of their owners. Please note, the order of our visits to Elephant Rock, Hegra and Dedan may change depending on other visitors and environmental factors.

The Hejaz Railway, an ambitious feat of engineering, was the brainchild of the Ottomans, an attempt to pull together their disparate empire from the reaches of Constantinople to the holy site of Mecca. In the early 1900s, the railroad was complete from Damascus to Medina, and it was a strategic crown in the Ottoman Empire. Its glory days didn't last long however, and the railroad was almost completely destroyed during World War One and the Arab Rising. As we travel today from AlUla to Medina, we will see the remnants of this railroad, and the near-legendary story of Lawrence of Arabia will come to life. Rusted carriages half-covered in sand lie abandoned in the desert, and we'll stop at one or two of the old railway stations en route. On arrival to the holy city of Medina, we'll take the bus up to nearby Mt Uhud for outstanding views of the city. The innermost part of the city, including the main mosque, is restricted to Muslims, but we will take the opportunity to visit those places that we can.

Driving south to Medina, the desert extends before us, with the Sarawat Mountains flanking us to the left. On arrival to the holy city of Medina, we will visit Archer's Hill - an important battle site in Islamic history. Medina is the Islamic world's second holy city after Mecca, and the Prophet's Mosque, right in the centre of the city, is home to the grave of the Prophet Mohammed. This innermost part of the city is restricted to Muslims, but we will take the opportunity to visit those places that we can. This evening, we will be having a meal with a local Saudi family, giving us a fantastic opportunity to exchange our lives with local people and discuss the importance of the Islamic faith with those living in its heart. The delicious meal will usually include a tagine, with vegetarian options, a local rice dish, salads, dessert and, of course, coffee and dates. Overall driving time: approx. 4.5 hours

Ta'if is surrounded by lush wadis and mountains that bloom with roses in April. More than 900 farms produce upwards of 300 million roses for worldwide export each year, and it's from this industry that the city takes its name, the 'City of Roses'. We'll visit a rose farm this morning, and while in Ta'if you may like to purchase rosewater, scented rose oil or a refreshing rose tea as a souvenir of your time here. We will also visit the Shubra Palace building, and during our time in the region we may see some of the wild baboons that roam around the mountain roads. In the afternoon we leave the city for Al Bahah. If Ta'if has given us a taster of life outside of the desert, Al Bahah will strip us of all illusions that Saudi Arabia is a mass of dust and sand. This often mist-covered city, at 2200m altitude, is surrounded by lush forests, with hairpin bends taking travellers to small mountain top villages. We'll arrive in the evening and settle in to our hotel. Please note that the Shubra Palace is currently closed for renovations, so while this remains the case we will instead visit another traditional museum in the city that showcases Arabian history and culture.

Spend the day exploring all the beautiful shades of green that this area has to offer. With almost 40 areas of forest surrounding Al Bahah, the region is characterised by its dramatic scenery of verdant valleys and mountain slopes. We'll visit the 600 year-old marble village of Thee Ain, a mysterious looking set of stone houses that were originally built as a citadel on top of a white marble outcrop, surrounded by banana plantations, fruit trees and mountains. The 8th-century construction is visually magnificent from afar, and fascinating close up. We'll also continue to one of the many forest parks in the area for an easy walk in the fresh air, as well as visiting the 'hidden' village of Sheba, concealed in the Sarawat Mountains with outstanding views of the high peak Jebel Mussala. This evening is an opportunity to try some outstanding Saudi Arabian food. The Hejaz region around Al Bahah has some popular dishes such as saleeg, a white rice dish cooked in broth and milk (a little like risotto) commonly served with chicken, or mutabbeq - a stuffed, folded flatbread, pan-fried and served typically as a delicious lunchtime snack.

We meet the Red Sea today, as we journey back northwards towards the coastal city of Jeddah. It's a five hour drive, and there will be the opportunity to get some fresh sea air en route. On arrival in Jeddah, we'll walk some of the city's corniche (sea front), a 30 kilometre palm-lined stretch of coastal path that has been modernised in recent years. You may pass local Jeddah residents running or biking along the Red Sea, taking a coffee at one of the snackstops and cafes lining the path, or even having a late afternoon swim.

Jeddah is the largest commercial city in Saudi Arabia. A major port, a historical Red Sea trading point, and an important gateway for the thousands of yearly pilgrims heading to Mecca or Medina, Jeddah has a bustling atmosphere of opportunity and growth. We will visit the UNESCO-listed old town of Al Balad this morning. Founded in the 7th Century, Al Balad was once the city centre of Jeddah. It's now a wonder of architecture, famous for colourful wooden doors and window coverings, all intricately carved and providing fascinating subjects for photographers. The area is a maze of narrow streets, with traditional souks and tiny mosques hidden between houses and shops. Buy some frankincense - one of the exports that historically made Saudi Arabia so important - or sample dates, Arabic coffee or breads at some of the local street vendors. After spending much of the day exploring this captivating area, including the largest souk - Souk Al Alawi - we'll have a little free time this afternoon before dinner. Our included meal this evening will give us the opportunity to sample Saudi Arabia's national dish, a Kabsa. Traditionally made with rice, vegetables and meat, it is the spice mix that makes the Kabsa special. Black pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, black lime, bay leaves and nutmeg are used to delicious effect! It's a fitting end to our Saudi Arabian journey.

We'll explore Jeddah today and in the morning, we will be meeting a Saudi local for a city tour with a difference. Our exploration beings with a visit to the enormous fish market. Seafood is essential to the economy of Jeddah, and a visit to this thriving fish market puts this into perspective. We'll also explore Jeddah's corniche, which extends many miles along the Red Sea coast - this long sea front incorporates parks, mosques and playgrounds. After lunch we drive to the UNESCO-listed old town of Al Balad. A quirk of Saudi culture, which we will have noticed throughout the trip, is that many places only come alive after 4pm, with souks, shops and cafes opening late into the night. This is no different in Al Balad. Founded in the 7th Century, Al Balad was once the city centre of Jeddah and an essential Red Sea port. This wonder of architecture is famous for its wooden 'roshans' (intricately carved facades), which provide fascinating subjects for photographers. During our guided tour of Al Balad we'll enter some of the houses for a perspective on how people lived and worked in old Arabia. We'll also have some free time to explore the maze of narrow streets that lead into the Souk Al Alawi section of Balad - in the late afternoon this area is transformed into a busy network of shops selling rugs, herbs, silver and perfume, as well as a lively street market with everything from okra and rice to meat and chilli peppers. Our included meal this evening will give us the opportunity to sample what Jeddah is really known for - fish! We'll go to one of the city's popular fish restaurants and try the local catch. Normally the menu includes a delicious and creamy fish chowder, alongside a main of fish (grouper or parrotfish are common) and shrimp, together with hummus, vine leaves, rice and the trimmings. It's a fitting end to our Saudi Arabian journey.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Jeddah.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Jeddah at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from King Abdulasiz International Airport (JED), which is a 20 minute drive from the hotel.