Classic Saudi

Ramadan: 10 March - 08 April 2024 and 28 February -31 March 2025 Hajj Season: 09 May 2024 - 20 July 2024 Rates on application Private Holiday 8 Days ex Jeddah Daily Departures The birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, Saudi Arabia is rich in attractions and stirring symbolism. As rich as it is vast, the country's absorbing cities, remarkable culture, and breathtaking landscapes offer gloriously fresh experiences for adventurous travellers. Highlights:

- Catch the sea breeze at Jeddah: Saudi’s most liberal city offers ancient architecture, fresh seafood, and the latest luxuries
- Follow the footsteps of prophet Mohammed to The Holy City of Medina
- Discover ancient desert civilizations near AlUla: Explore remarkable rock formations with giant tombs from the Nabatean era carved into the cliff faces
- Experience Riyadh’s contemporary culture: a showcase for modern Saudi Arabia, the capital city has the best hotels and restaurants in the country

- Itinerary
- Accommodation
- Important Information Day 1: Jeddah (D)

Welcome to Saudi Arabia. On arrival you will be met by a representative of our local operator and transferred to your reserved hotel for a two-night stay.

Jeddah, located on the Red Sea, serves as a bustling commercial hub with the Middle East's second busiest seaport. Recognized as the primary gateway to Mecca, it attracts over a million pilgrims annually for the Hajj. Despite its religious significance, Jeddah is considered the most liberal city in the country, making it a popular tourist destination.

Celebrate your arrival in the Kingdom with sunset drinks on the city’s attractive corniche. Take a stroll to admire the artworks in the ‘open air museum’ and spread out your carpet and your ‘takwa’, the smart Saudi picnic seat. Join the locals when the sun sets, the call for prayer sounds and the world's tallest fountain comes to life in front of the beach walk. Complete your first day in Saudi Arabia with a welcome dinner in modern style, befitting fast-paced Jeddah. Overnight in Jeddah. Day 2: Jeddah (BL)

Start the day working on the Saudi bigger picture in the Tayebat museum to gain background about Islam, Saudi Arabia and Jeddah, the city to be explored first. The Tayebat museum is ideal for this, consisting of real-live, real-size examples of Saudi and especially Jeddahwi building styles, everyday tools and utensils, art and of course details about the Two Holy Cities; Mecca and Medina. which make a good base for a first talk about Islam. After visiting a selection of what is on display, you will head out into the real Saudi!

Jeddah’s proximity to the Red Sea puts local seafood at the forefront, unlike elsewhere in the country. The Central Fish Market is 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. Follow the flow of the market where customers first choose their pick. Next they move on to have it weighed and get a ticket for the cleaning section, All set? Now it can be prepared in the restaurant right in the market or taken home. To stay in style, experience a seafood lunch in a nearby restaurant.

Optional Program (supplement applies): For those who prefer a great half-day of snorkelling and swimming:
Hop on a private speedboat to experience the Red Sea! Snorkelling gear is packed to discover the wealth of underwater life the region is famous for. Different types of colourful coral, old sorts of exotic fish; snorkelling along the coral sites will impress. These shallow waters make it fun for all levels. The temperatures of the water are at least 21C and the high salinity is beneficial for your health. Top off the trip with a seafood barbeque, skilfully prepared by your skipper.

Find out that things are equally convivial on dry land in 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. It is a step back in time with the buzz of trading, pilgrims shopping and the occasional tourist mixed in. 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. In a quickly modernizing Kingdom, this area might be the last one to find that ‘real Middle Eastern mix of sights and smells’ that you can find in the old souks across the region. Overnight in Jeddah. Day 3: Jeddah - Medina (BL)

Today is for following the footsteps of prophet Mohammed to The Holy City of Medina. His early followers undertook this journey on foot and by ca