Highlights of Saudi Arabia

Upon arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, proceed through customs and immigrations. Once you exit through the arrivals area you will be met by Goway's local representative holding a signboard with your name on it and then transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

The coastal city of Jeddah is a commercial hub sitting to the west along the Red Sea with the second busiest seaport in the Middle East. It’s the principal gateway to Makkah, the holiest city in Islam, and sees over a million pilgrims a year on their way to perform the Hajj. Despite this, Jeddah is perceived to be the most liberal city in Saudi Arabia and is a popular tourist destination, offering the beauty of ancient architecture mixed with the latest luxuries.

Start the day at the Tayebat museum to gain background about Islam, Saudi Arabia and Jeddah, the city to be explored. The Tayebat museum makes a good base for a first talk about Islam. After visiting a selection of what is on display, let’s head out into the real Saudi!

Continue to the Central Fish Market, the hotspot where buyers and sellers come together. Squid, shrimp, lobster and a great variety of fish, some only native to the Red Sea, are all fresh and on display. Next we embark on a culinary journey that celebrates Saudi culture with a cooking class in historical Jeddah, led by a skilled Saudi female chef. This immersive experience goes beyond tasting to offer hands-on learning. Uncover the intricacies of traditional Saudi dishes, explore the fusion of spices, and trace the origins of each creation. As the class
concludes, you'll proudly craft your own dish, infusing it with your unique touch and the guidance of your Saudi culinary expert.

In the afternoon enjoy drinks on the city’s attractive corniche. Take a stroll along the waterfront, admire the artworks in the ‘open air museum’ and relax on your ‘takwa,’ the smart Saudi picnic seat.

Head to the atmospheric old town Al Balad, which achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. Its traditional multi storey buildings and merchant houses are an architectural treasure trove. The roshan or wooden window covers are the ancient way to create shade and cool in this hot and humid climate, and they make these alleys especially picturesque. Visiting Al Balad is like a dive back in time with the buzz of trading, pilgrims shopping and the occasional tourist mixed in.

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant in modern style, befitting fast-paced Jeddah.

Today is for following ‘the footsteps of prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him)’ to The Holy City of Medinah. His early followers undertook this journey on foot and by camel. Present day’s pilgrims go by Haramain, Saudi Arabia’s state-of-the-art high-speed train system, which makes it a short (under two hours) hop from Jeddah to Medinah, one of Islam’s holiest pilgrimage sites.

Medinah is one of the two holiest cities in Islam (the other is Makkah, or Mecca). Medinah is centered around Al Masjid an Nabawi, also known as the Prophet’s Mosque, a 10-minaret giant mosque that can accommodate 1 million people. Walk around the outside region of the mosque and watch pilgrims visiting. Later, enjoy a uniquely Arabic shopping experience with some browsing time at the city’s central market.

After lunch with a grand view, overlooking the giant Prophet’s Mosque, resume your overland journey to AlUla by private vehicle (approx. 3.5 hr drive). AlUla is home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated deep in the desert, the draw to AlUla 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, and for most travelers the biggest highlight of their Saudi adventure.

Arriving in AlUla before sunset leaves ample scope for a visit 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. It is interesting to see how the AlUla local government gave the natural site an arty vibe with their design make-over.

You’ll 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, visitors follow their ‘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.

Onward to a modern marvel; hidden in the exclusive Ashar Valley sits the world’s largest mirrored building, the Maraya, a multi-purpose center for the arts. Maraya, meaning mirror or reflection in Arabic, celebrates AlUla's significant role in history as a crossroads of cultures for centuries. The mirrors themselves become a contemporary canvas, reflecting the remarkable heritage of the area. As the perfect modern ode to the past, Maraya is the centerpiece of AlUla's growing cultural scene. The outside can be admired, and is the perfect, surrealistic backdrop for artsy pictures.

Next, head for the green zone that is the AlUla oasis, and enjoy a cup of coffee at The Pink Camel, situated beautifully amid the date farms. Take a stroll where lush palm trees sway gently and the smell of citrus fills the fresh air, adding to the oasis-feeling that AlUla still retains. Follow the winding, shaded Oasis Heritage Trail through the orange grove, hear birds and imagine how the nomads of the past found water and refuge from the desert here.

Exit the lush oasis at AlJadidah, an area known also as ‘Art Town’ which has a colorful vibe with street art and art exhibits spread out in its walking streets. Continue exploring AlUla historic city, often called ‘the Old Town,’ a charismatic place that once sat at the crossroads of the Silk Road and the Incense Route, and that rewards a leisurely stroll. Recent renovations have turned it into a magical mix of ancient alleys and trendy restaurants and upmarket souvenirs shops. Dinner at one of the restaurants here, enjoying the night lights of the old town.

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

Enjoy your remaining afternoon at leisure. Choose to relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel or continue your exploration of AlUla’s landscapes with an optional activity such as a mountain bike venture off the beaten path into desert dunes or hike of the valley’s edge to better soak in AlUla’s expansive vistas. Your Goway destination specialist can provide more details if you like.

Take a regional flight from Jeddah to Riyadh, the Kingdom’s modern capital. Arriving in Riyadh you’ll immediately see how rapidly the city is modernizing. From towering skyscrapers to long boulevards, shopping centers, mosques and luxury hotels, this is a city that is set to surprise you.

Put things in perspective by taking the high-speed lift to the 99th floor of the iconic Kingdom Center for access to Riyadh’s best urban panorama. Suspended 300 meters above the city, the tower’s curved Sky Bridge offers spectacular views across the Riyadh skyline and beyond.

Let’s begin the day with The Line Experience. This stunning complex of halls explains how The Line, the future main city of NEOM will be built and how life inside will be for its 9 million inhabitants. It’s an audacious urban development project with the most advanced engineering and design imaginable.

Continue to the Diriyah area, the birthplace of the first Saudi state called At-Turaif which ruled between 1744 and 1818. The UNESCO World Heritage site has just been stunningly restored to its former glory and is poised to become a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s tourism offerings. Discover all about the architecture and heritage at the site. 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 common comforts.

Then leave the city center and head out to Jebel Fihrayn, more famously known as “The Edge of the World,” nicknamed for the uninterrupted view of the horizon from atop it’s 300 meter high cliffs that overlook the plains below. Go for a stroll along the edge and then get cozy on your carpet and takwa for a prime sunset view. Enjoy freshly brewed Arabic coffee and tea, the flames of the fire and picnic-style dinner before returning to your hotel mid-evening.

Today highlights the wealth of contrasts that distinguish Riyadh from any other city in the Kingdom. Visit the fabulous KAFD Grand Mosque, the spiritual center of Riyadh’s shiny new Financial District. Its award winning ‘desert rose’ design is a contemporary take on the use of geometry and ornament in Islamic architecture.

Also visit 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 neighborhood on foot you’ll discover mud houses, just like in Diriyah, abandoned not long ago. You’ll learn more about Saudi history at Murabba palace and at the fantastic National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

Continue with a visit to a genuine Saudi home, where every family member extends hospitality. Be invited for a delightful meal hosted by a gracious Saudi housewife, savoring the flavors of her homemade meal and engaging in conversation. After the meal, gather in a traditional Majlis, where cultural takes and heritage discussions are enriched over cups of aromatic Saudi coffee and dates.

After taking a break in the afternoon, have your guide take you out for one final taste of Saudi cuisine before you can say ‘ma al salama’, goodbye, until next time.’

At leisure until you check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport.