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The Award-Winning Tour Specialist

Secrets of Saudi Arabia

11 days Fully Inclusive Classic Group Tour

Celebrating 25 Years of tour excellence

Secrets of Saudi Arabia

The winds of change are blowing through Saudi Arabia, which only recently opened to non-pilgrims. Discover ancient fortresses, camel markets and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in its vast deserts, then experience the cosmopolitan comforts of its cities and high-speed bullet trains. On the final night of your 9-day tour, enjoy a farewell dinner with a Saudi businesswoman and her family, and reflect on how this intriguing country is looking ahead to a new vision of the future.
  • Fully Inclusive
    Touring with Guides and entrance fees
  • Included Meals
    Breakfasts: 8 , Lunches: 7 , Dinners: 8
  • Flights
    International flights and current taxes
  • Accommodation
    8 nights in 3+/4 star accommodation
  • Visas
    Visa fees & processing for Australian passports
  • Group Tour
    Max Group Size: 24
  • Physical Rating 1
    A reasonable level of fitness is required but it's more about spending time on your feet rather than covering large distances. You'll be getting on and off coaches and boats, walking around the sights and climbing some steps.
    Learn More
    Walking, some steps and time on your feet.
Classic Group Tour
11 DAYS
From $12,980PP
Riyadh (2N) – Buraidah (1N) – Ha'il (1N) – AlUla (2N) – Medina - Jeddah (2N)
Check Availability

Day by Day Itinerary

Riyadh (2N) – Buraidah (1N) – Ha'il (1N) – AlUla (2N) – Medina - Jeddah (2N)
  • Days 1-2
    Fly to Riyadh
    Dinner
    Day 1-2: Fly to Riyadh

    Fly overnight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's dynamic capital city. Transfer to the hotel ahead of this evening's welcome dinner.

    Dinner
  • Day 3
    Diriyah & Riyadh
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 3: Diriyah & Riyadh

    Head to the outskirts of Riyadh to visit Diriyah, the original capital of the Saudi dynasty. Uncover the secrets of its UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district, known for its mesmerising maze of traditional Najdi mudbrick architecture. The citadel here was the centre of power for the House of Saud in the 18th and early 19th centuries; this emirate was the first unifying power in the Arabian Peninsula. Pay a visit to the National Museum to learn more about the rich tapestry of Saudi history before exploring the nineteenth-century Masmak Fort. Finally, explore the alleyways of the Souq Al-Zal, one of Riyadh's oldest traditional markets.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 4
    Ushaiger Heritage Village - Buraidah
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 4: Ushaiger Heritage Village - Buraidah

    Depart Riyadh and drive north to the captivating Ushaiger Heritage Village, a labyrinth of charming side streets, palm groves and historic Najdi buildings that evoke the essence of old-world Saudi Arabia. Visitors may enter any house with an open doorway. Continue to Buraidah and check in at your hotel.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 5
    Buraidah Camel Market & Ha'il
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 5: Buraidah Camel Market & Ha'il

    Head to Buraidah to experience the hustle and bustle of the world's largest camel market – a truly immersive experience, where prized Arabian camels command astounding prices at auction. Continue to Ha'il, stopping en route to see the archaeological remains of the oasis city of Fayd, once an important stop on the Hajj route from Baghdad to Mecca. Admire Hutaymah Crater before checking in at your hotel in Ha'il.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 6
    Ha'il & Jubbah
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 6: Ha'il & Jubbah

    Explore the historical treasures of Ha'il. Stop for a photo at the formidable Qishlah Fortress before driving through the red sands of the Great Nefud Desert to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jubbah. Discover its rich variety of rock art dating back some ten thousand years, with petroglyphs depicting camels, archers, chariots, kings and more. Continue to your accommodation in AlUla, home for the next two nights. This evening, stop to enjoy sunset at Elephant Rock, a monolithic sandstone formation standing 52 metres high. As the sun sets, the sandstone turns a beautiful shade of red.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 7
    AlUla & Hegra
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 7: AlUla & Hegra

    Explore the wonders of AlUla, once a crossroads of ancient civilisations. The region offered rest for merchants on the caravan routes between Egypt and Arabia. Begin with an exploration of AlUla's atmospheric Old Town, and feel the vivid history of a once-thriving settlement. Later, join a a two-hour 'hop-on' coach tour of Hegra, Saudi's answer to Petra in Jordan. Founded by the Nabatean Arabs in the first century AD, Hegra was built to protect the Nabateans' long-distance caravans, which brought precious goods from southern Arabia to Petra in Jordan. Marvel at the grandeur of the site’s rock-hewn tombs, dating back two thousand years. Dozens of well-preserved tombs stand amid the stunning desert landscape, carved into its dramatic cliffs and rock formations.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 8
    Medina & Bullet Train to Jeddah
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 8: Medina & Bullet Train to Jeddah

    Spend the morning driving through a landscape of desert and mountains to reach Medina, the second holiest city in Islam. While non-Muslims cannot enter the mosques, visitors can now explore some of the previously forbidden central area for the first time. See the battlefield site of Jabal Uhud and admire the façade of the Prophet's Mosque. Visit Medina's attractive Ottoman railway station and see the Hijaz Railway memorabilia. Finally, experience the sleek Haramain Railway. Board the bullet train from Medina to the vibrant city of Jeddah on the shores of the Red Sea. This modern, air-conditioned train travels at 186 mph, covering the 260 miles to Jeddah in less than two hours.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 9
    Jeddah City Tour & Dinner with a Local Businesswoman
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Day 9: Jeddah City Tour & Dinner with a Local Businesswoman

    Known as 'the Bride of the Red Sea', the coastal city of Jeddah has been the port for Mecca for centuries. Begin at the House of Islamic Art, housing a vast collection of beautiful artistic items. Later, take a drive along the spectacular Corniche and admire the gleaming façade of the Floating Mosque, built on stilts over the waves of the Red Sea. This afternoon, discover Jeddah's UNESCO-listed Old Quarter, Al Balad, home to ornate houses built of coral stone. Look out for the beautiful roshan-style bay windows, overlaid with intricate wooden latticework. Finally, settle down to a farewell dinner with a local host and her family and enjoy an insight into modern family dynamics in Jeddah. Your host, a female entrepreneur, will be pleased to talk about her life as a Saudi businesswoman after dinner.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Days 10-11
    Departure
    Breakfast
    Day 10-11: Departure

    Transfer to the airport in accordance with the time of your onward flight. Should you wish, this tour can usually be combined with a departure of our popular Journey through Jordan tour - please ask your reservations consultant for details.

    Breakfast
Secrets of Saudi Arabia map

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Pricing & Availability

All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected

2024
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1 Room, 2 Guests
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    Additional Price Information

    • Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 December 2023. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
    • Customary tipping amount approximately US$100pp (AU$149pp) is paid locally in Saudi Arabia.
    • Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
    • Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
    • Price listed is based on new bookings only

    Group Tour includes

    • International flights and current taxes (excluded if a land only option is selected)
    • 3* plus – 4* accommodation
    • Domestic transportation
    • Touring with guides and entrance fees
    • All meals (as per itinerary)
    • Visa fees for Australian passport holders

    Important Information For Your Tour

    Before Booking
    Travel Protection, Booking Conditions
    and more
    Before you go
    Passports & Visas, Travel Guides & Packing Lists, Holiday FAQ’s and more

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