AL ULA and Beyond

late start of the day with a tour around the city to check out the main landmarks such as the tallest fountain , the floating mosque, Jeddah water front and the F1 circuit which is the longest in the world

Enjoy a local lunch before heading in the afternoon to visit the old city of Jeddah, known as El Balad which means “ the town” as reference to the base of Jeddah.

Al-Balad was founded in the 7th century and historically served as the center of Jeddah. Its defensive walls were torn down in the 1940s. Al Balad is registered as a world heritage UNISCO site and since then the old buildings with its unique window designs and doors are being preserved along with its unique buildings which some have been built using sea shells and stones. 

Our tour will go through the history of these building including going inside some of the buildings to see the interior designs , furniture and life back then.

Afterwards embark on a foodie tour as you will  pass by some famous vendors known to offer the best local snacks such as the local drink made of bread “ Sobia” and the old bakery which its famous for its fresh bread. Another local snack that consist of Bean and pickles “ Balilah”. Sample some of these local snacks and drinks while you learn about the origin of each food.

Later on visit one of the art houses and museum offering its unique local art collection and antiques then take a walk in Jeddah souq, where you can shop and bargain from different local artisians and craftsmen.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Check out in the afternoon from your hotel in Jeddah and head to the airport for a domestic flight to Tabuk. Upon arrival take a 4X4 car a go for 2 hrs safari in desert of Tabuk, explore its amazing rock formations, caves and dash dunes. End your day with a camping experience in the desert under the stars with a local Bedouin dinner cooked in front of you while listening to live arabic and bedouin music. 

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Leave the camp site behind and drive for 2 hours to Wadi Al Dissah, a complex of a series of six sandstone canyon-like valleys that run in an East to West direction, and prominently features towering, dramatic, red cliffs similar to the Grand Canyon.

Hike through this magical natural wonder with its unique water streams water stream that runs through the western part of the canyon allowing abundant palm trees to grow naturally along the valley

After the hike feast on a bedouin lunch cooked by locals living around the valley then head to Tabuk city. On your way to the hotel make a stop at Edge of Neom, a view point that offers an amazing scenery over Arabia desert.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast we take a 4 hours drive to Al Ula. Upon arrival go on a guided tour to explore the old town. Al Ula’s old-town ruins are among the best examples of traditional northern Arab architecture, and with a history that stretches back to the 6th century BC, the town is surrounded by a host of fascinating pre-Islamic sites.

After our tour  we will have a home cooked lunch in the middle of the local farm surrounded by palms trees.

for the adventure and active travelers you are opt for a hike through the mud houses, palm trees and the surrounding oasis. This is a nice trail can last for around 2 hours and is suitable for anyone.

End today’s expedition with a stop at the Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal AlFil, one of AlUla’s many geological marvels. This is a seating area with nice coffee to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Start your day with a guided visit to Madain Saleh , also called litle petra of Saudi, which is famous for its 111 monumental tombs, among which 94 were decorated with majestic facades on the sandstone massifs of the area, especially the Jibal Ithlib. The smallest tomb is barely 2,7 meters tall but the biggest reaches an impressive 21,5 meters! Madain Saleh was the second largest city of the Nabatean kingdom whose capital was Petra (in today’s Jordan) where the Nabatean people created more than 600 tombs. What most people dont know that there are many other fascinating archeological sites attest to the thousands of years of human occupation of the area thanks to the underground water available for millennia.

Afterwards explore the ancient oasis of Dedan, that was once the capital of one the oldest kingdoms of Arabia, along with Tayma. The city benefited from both its strategic location along the ancient frankincense trade road between ancient Yemen and the Levant and the abundant underground water resources. Explore this archeological site and learn how they developed their own culture including a specific language and alphabet, that resulted in a mix of Arabian traditions and strong influences from the surrounding empires.

Continue your tour to visit the Hejaz Railway, that was originally designed to speed Muslim pilgrims from Damascus to the holy cities of Makkah and Medina but ended in ruins less than two decades after its start. Its sun-scalded remains can be seen today, cut adrift across northwestern Saudi Arabia in the form of sand-dusted rails, abandoned stations and rusted locomotives. stations and rusted locomotives.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today you have a half day free in Al Ula before you fly back to Jeddah. Enjoy lots of optional activities to do, for the adventure and active travelers you are opt for a hike through the mud houses, palm trees and the surrounding oasis. This is a nice trail can last for around 2 hours and is suitable for anyone, or may choose to cycle through the city. For a more thrilling experience you can go for a ziplining adventure and see Al Ula from above.

In the evening you will be transferred to Al Ula airport from your return flight to Jeddah.

Meals: Breakfast