Page 53 - Middle East

Downtown SAUDI ARABIA Providing Fascinating Travel Experiences
Expert Saudi Arabia
10 days
Riyadh, Ha’il, Jubbah, Al Ula,
Mada’in Saleh, Tabuk, Neom, Hisma (Neom Desert), Jeddah
The marriage of the medieval and the modern in Riyadh creates an alluring cultural union, one that allows one to go back to the origins of Saudi Arabia and to visualize its daring future. The city of Hail was once the capital of the entire Arabian desert and the cradle of legends like The Thousand and One Nights. At Al- Ula, in the heart of the desert of northwestern Saudi Arabia, you can live your dream of an adventurous archaeologist by discovering the kingdom's first UNESCO World Heritage site. No Saudi city has ever been more open to outside influences (merchants, international artists and pilgrims) than the old port of Jeddah..
Day 1 – Fri: Riyadh
After Immigration and Customs formalities at Riyadh International airport, our representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Riyadh for overnight.
Day 2 – Sat: Riyadh
Start your tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National museum, the primary custodian of the Saudi national heritage and culture. We continue thereafter to the nearby Murabba Palace, one of the city’s historic buildings followed by the
Masmak Fort and its museum. The palace is the birthplace of the current 3rd Saudi Kingdom. A stop for lunch in a typical Saudi restaurant before departure for the old city of Diriyah that used to be the capital of the high plateau of central Arabia called the Najd. It is one of the most important historical sites of Saudi Arabia as it is there that begins the history of the conquest of the Arabian Peninsula by the Al Saud family whose ancestors, known as the Bani Hanifa, settled there some five centuries ago. At the end of the afternoon, back to your hotel for dinner and overnight. [B/L/D]
Day 3 – Sun: Riyadh, Ha’il
This morning we depart for Riyadh’s railway station and board the high- speed train to Ha’il lying at the foot of the imposing Shammar mountain range and renowned for its hospitable people. Lunch will be served on the train. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to the hotel. In the after- noon, visit the A’Arif Fort and the nearby heritage museum. Then walk in the traditional market looking for local delicacies. Dinner and overnight. [B/L/D]
Day 4 – Mon: Ha’il, Jubbah, Al Ula
Start the day driving to Jubbah, home to several archaeological sites of human settlement from the Middle Paleolithic period. Jubbah is
surrounded by large sandstone outcrops filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions and carvings of aurochs, cheetahs, lions...Those drawings are still visible today on several sandstone outcrops like the Jebel Umm Sanman and Shuwaymis, the other major carving site of Hail Province. The region between Ha’il and Al-Ula offers some of the best desert experience in the world ...On our way, we’ll pass through the famous desert of Nefud Al Kabir, 180 miles long and 140 miles wide, with an area of 40,000 sq. miles. After lunch en route, continue to the famous Al Ula area arriving early evening at the beautifully located permanent desert camp, for dinner & overnight . [B/L/D]
Day5–Tue:AlUla
Al-Ula is an ancient oasis inhabited for
For prices and other details visit www.holidayswithdowntown.com 53