Jeddah and AlUla
Together present Saudi Arabia’s most user-friendly face. Jeddah may be the traditional gateway to Mecca, but the coastal city is far from conservative. Indeed, its location on the Red Sea coast imbues it with an outward-facing atmosphere that makes it one of the most appealing and liberal-feeling destinations in the Kingdom. More inland, AlUla’s old-town ruins are among the best examples of traditional northern Arab architecture and it serves as a gateway to the UNESCO-listed Nabataen relics at Hegra.
Highlights:
- Catch some sea breeze at Jeddah: Saudi’s most liberal city offers ancient architecture, fresh seafood, and the latest luxuries
- Discover ancient desert civilizations near AlUla: Explore remarkable rock formations with giant tombs from the Nabatean era carved into the cliff faces
- Hop into a 4x4 for a sand dune adventure topped off with a desert picnic, complete with shady tent, takwa and local delicacies
- 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 hotel for a two-night stay.
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 Mecca, 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.
Celebrate your arrival in the Kingdom with sunset drinks on the city’s attractive corniche. First, take a stroll to admire the art works in the open-air museum. Next, show your local self and spread out your carpet and your ‘takwa’, the smart Saudi picnic seat. Join the Jeddahwi when the sun sets, the call for prayer sounds and the world's tallest fountain comes to life in front of the beachwalk. 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 a background about Islam, Saudi Arabia and Jeddah, the city to be explored first. The Tayebat museum is ideal for this, consisting of real-life, 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, 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, indulge in a seafood lunch in a nearby restaurant.
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 dive 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. Day 3: Jeddah - AlUla (BL)
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.
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. Close
- Price:
- $10,289