Saudi Arabia Spring Tour

DESCRIPTION

Join our tour group to the once notoriously hard to access Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which has only recently opened up to tourism and offers a new tourist visa program for 51 nationalities, both males and females can join us on our tour.

Our tour begins in the capital city, Riyadh, where you’ll explore the modern centre of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as its ancient history in and around, from the Al Masmak fort to the Edge of the World!

From Riyadh you’ll board the train to Qassim, one of the 13 provinces of Saudi Arabia and located within the heart of the country. Known to the locals as the “alimental basket” of the country, for its agricultural assets, this area is most renowned to the outside world as the most conservative part of the entire Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia does not lack sand, and whilst in Qassim you’ll have the opportunity to watch the sun set over the huge dunes surrounding the city. We’ll continue our journey to the ancient city of Haʼil where you’ll be able to visit Jubbah town and explore the forts and mosques of this famous city.

You’ll then board a flight to Jeddah, and explore the stunningly beautiful, labyrinthine Al Balad old town and its coral houses and souqs as well as walking the famous corniche. You’ll then spend an evening within the mountains at Ta’if, famous for its rose farming. The trip concludes in Jeddah with a unique opportunity for you to go snorkelling in the Red Sea!

Make this trip the ultimate Arabian experience and join us in Bahrain before the tour before going on to our follow-up tour to Kuwait.

ITINERARY

Saturday 12th March – Riyadh

Arrive at your convenience into Riyadh – the capital city of Saudi Arabia which have limited flights from with flights from the UAE, Europe and Hong Kong.
Airport transfer to our centrally located hotel
Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
Dinner and overnight in Riyadh

Sunday 13^th March – Riyadh

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
We begin today by heading straight to Al Masmak – this clay and mud brick fort in Riyadh city centre is one of the most iconic part of Saudi. Its location was centre stage for the restoration of the House of Saud.
Visit the Grand Mosque – not only the largest active place of worship in Riyadh, it is one of the largest mosques in Saudi Arabia and seats up to 17,000 worshippers.
Explore Dheera Souq – located in the old part of the city, this market has a plethora of little shops arranged in rows along narrow streets selling carpets, gold, silver, souvenirs, antiques, traditional clothes, accessories and even furniture. Most of the shop owners here speak English and welcome good hagglers.
Stop by the Dukhanah and Athomairy Gate
Dinner and overnight in Riyadh

Afternoon

Lunch in town
Visit the National Museum of Saudi Arabia – first opened in 1999, the design of this museum was inspired by the form and colours of the sand dunes of the “Red Sands” located outside Riyadh. The museum showcases 14 pre-Islamic Arabian kingdoms that had existed in the Arabian Peninsula from 5 BC till 700 AD. It also includes a unification hall which shows the establishment of modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud after he captured Riyadh. A hand written Quran is also in display.
Stop by the Al Muraba Palace – the former home of King Abdul Aziz.
Visit Kingdom Centre Tower and go to the highest observation deck – this building is a 99 stories, 302 metres tall and the countries fifth tallest tower. Below is one of Saudi’s most popular malls.
Dinner and overnight in Riyadh

Monday 14^th March – Riyadh – Edge of the World

Morning

Early wake up and breakfast at hotel
Begin our two and a half hour drive to the Edge of the World – an unexpected and dramatic geological wonder within the rocky desert northwest of Riyadh. This area got its unique name because from atop the escarpment, you have an uninterrupted view of the horizon.

Afternoon

After lunch we’ll continue to where it all began at Diriyah – this area was the original home of the Saudi royal family, and served as the capital of the Emirate of Diriyah under the first Saudi dynasty from 1744 to 1818. It is now recognised as a UNESCO heritage site.
Return back to Riyadh
Dinner and overnight in Riyadh

Tuesday 15^th March – Riyadh – Qassim – Haʼil

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Check out of the hotel and head to Riyadh railway station which first opened in 1981.
Board our train departing at 9:30am to Qassim, arriving at 12:00pm.

Afternoon

On arrival we’ll have lunch
Begin exploring the Al Mothnb Mud Village – the village was built from the pre-tenth Hijri century using raw materials such as clay, plaster, stone, tamarisk wood and palm leaf.
Visit the heritage museum and tour around the local palm tree, fruits and vegetable farms
Explore the local souq and the nationally famous date market.
As the end of the day approaches, we’ll watch the sun set over an expanse of sand dunes whilst sipping Saudi coffee. The locals drive their pickup trucks to these locations and drive like a madmen up the dunes at breakneck speed. If you’re nice/silly enough, they may even take you for a spin!
Drive for 3 hours northwest through the desert to Ha’il
Dinner on arrival in Ha’il
Overnight in Ha’il

Wednesday 16^th March – Haʼil – Um Sanman Mountain

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Explore the gorgeous town of Ha’il – Ha’il is an oasis town famous for its natural beauty
Visit the Al Qashlah Fort – located within the city centre, the fort was built during the 1940s.
Explore Earf Castel as well as the local souk

Afternoon

Lunch of local dishes
Drive out to Um Sanman Mountain – located west of Jubba city in the middle of the Nafud desert, these sedimentary rocks feature impressive illustrations, carvings and inscriptions that tell historical stories about their ancestors, showcasing Ha’il’s beauty and history. This tall mountain is considered a prominent landmark that dates back to around 7,000 BC.
Return to Ha’il for dinner and overnight

Thursday 17^th March – Ha’il – Jeddah

Morning

Wake up early and breakfast at hotel
Depart on our 6:30am flight to Jeddah, the second largest city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a port city on the Red Sea.
On arrival check into our hotel and head straight out to explore Jeddah, taking in the city centre and old Jeddah – al Balad.
Explore the old city gates and traditional markets in this labyrinthine part of the city. This is where traders from all over Arabia and Africa live and work in a surprisingly colourful world.

Afternoon

Lunch in town and continue to the most famous architecture are Jeddah’s coral houses, these still stand in various states of disrepair.
Stroll along the beach and view the ‘floating’ mosque, before a walk along the Jeddah Corniche for great views of the Red Sea
Seafood dinner in one of the cities famous seafood restaurants
Overnight in Jeddah

Friday 18^th March – Jeddah – Ta’if

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Drive 2 hours to Ta’if located within the Mecca region and one of the oldest towns in Saudi Arabia – famous for its rose production
Visit the Al Katib and Kaaki House – The house boasts its architecture, which combines Roman style with Islamic motifs.
Drop by the Bin Abbas Mosque and then explore the local souq

Afternoon

Lunch in Ta’il
Tour the Al Gadee Factory and learn how roses are distilled to produce rose water and oil
Visit the Al Koaa Mosque and Dam
Drive out to the Al Shafa mountains and visit a local rose farm
Bin Abbas Mosque and city centre souk
Overnight in Ta’if

Saturday 19^th March – Jeddah

Morning

Breakfast at hotel and begin drive back to Jeddah
Optional extra – snorkelling in the Red Sea!

Afternoon

Enjoy a late lunch in Jeddah to celebrate our time in the country
Tour concludes with airport drop-off arranged according to your flight details – YPT is also able to arrange advice for flights.
Group members apart of our Kuwait tour board an 8:15pm flight arriving in Kuwait at 10:20pm

GALLERY