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Sacred lands and Nabataean sites An introduction to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh - Tabuk - Al-Ula - Jeddah
The magnetism of Arabia
Your trip
Your first foray into a country that has only just opened to tourism can feel daunting, even for the most adventurous travellers. That’s why take care of every logistical detail in advance, so all you have to do is enjoy the majesty of this wonderful place. After arriving on a direct international flight, you travel with private vehicles and drivers, as well as a rental car for part of the journey. The car is particularly useful around Al-Ula, where it allows you to explore freely. Major roads are in excellent condition; local driving styles can seem brisk at first, but journeys are generally smooth and straightforward. Visits take place in four-wheel-drive vehicles, well suited to desert tracks and dunes. Two short domestic flights complete the itinerary, saving time and allowing you to experience the country more fully. When it comes to accommodation, standards continue to rise year after year. We have selected comfortable hotels, often with swimming pools, run by attentive and welcoming teams. At each stage, visits and activities are already scheduled to help you understand both Saudi Arabia’s history and the changes shaping its future: behind-the-scenes discoveries in the capital, a culinary encounter with two young local chefs, four-wheel-drive excursions in the Hisma Desert and the Sharaan Nature Reserve, and, of course, time at the extraordinary site of Hegra. Should you wish to add further experiences - spending time in the desert with Bedouins or taking a hot-air balloon flight over Al-Ula, for example - this can easily be arranged. Your adventure remains customisable from start to finish - even once you're on site! This spontaneity is made possible by the expertise of our travel specialists and a strong local concierge team at your destination.
Itinerary
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Upon arrival, you’ll have a private transfer to the Olaya district, the traditional centre of Riyadh, where you’ll settle in for two nights. The hotel offers bright, well-designed spaces in a new building, along with a deli open all day and a charming restaurant serving seasonal local dishes. The rooms are still relatively small but well equipped. Peace and quiet prevail, as the building is just a few steps away but set back from Tahlia Street, the main avenue of the capital, which buzzes with activity in the evening. A lovely panoramic pool is perched on the eighth floor, with a terrace extending from it - an inviting spot for a conversation over tea. As for breakfast, it is as complete as it is excellent, and prepares you for the day ahead.
Scheduled - Diriyah in the footsteps of a local. Your guide for the day is not really a guide. And yet the country holds no secrets for this young Frenchwoman, passionate about her adopted land. The programme? It cannot be presented in advance: it is decided case by case, based on visitors’ interests and the local calendar. One idea could be to head to Diriyah, not far from there. Founded by the Al Saud family in the 15th century, the first Saudi capital quickly became a major commercial centre in the region. Strolling among walls steeped in history, tea on the roof of an old house, and passionate discussions about local life - you’ll leave both enlightened and delighted.
Also planned for the evening - meeting two young Saudi chefs. Nawaf and Waleed see themselves as ambassadors of the renewal shaking up the local culinary scene. They will introduce you to Saudi cuisine, a fusion of Eastern and Indian influences. The gestures are repeated and assured, allowing conversation at the same time. After watching the preparation, dinner tastes even more special enjoyed in an elegant setting. You can carefully note down the recipes to try to recreate them at home.
Optional - Immerse yourself in Bedouin culture; sunset at the edge of the world.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Tabuk, in the northwest of the country.
On your itinerary - a day in the Hisma desert. It’s nicknamed the “Wadi Rum of Saudi Arabia”, which is saying something. The reason: its majestic rock formations, similar to those of its famous Jordanian neighbours. The site holds hundreds of rock art pieces with ancient inscriptions. Some pre-Islamic ones date back to the caravan trade, while others in ancient Arabic go back to the first decades of Islam. You’ll explore this endless expanse of sand and its secrets in a 4x4 driven by a private driver. At the end of the day, a generous dinner is served in this surreal setting, around a campfire. Only then is it time to (re)enter the urban fabric of Tabuk.
You’ll spend the night at an accommodation set slightly back from a shopping avenue, which boasts perfect geometry. A small café welcomes guests at the entrance, followed by a large lounge with comfortable armchairs. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. Modern and practical facilities ensure a certain level of independence. On site you’ll also find a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and a small gym.
After the rental car is delivered to the hotel, you’ll drive to Al-Ula. Three hundred kilometres (186 miles) of rocky desert accompany you to the valley, a small oasis nestled in the west of Saudi Arabia. The area contains several archaeological sites, including one very close to the city of the same name, known in the Bible as Dadan. Here we reach the southern border of the Nabataean kingdom, where the oldest remains date back 7,000 years. Sanctuaries carved into the sandstone, necropolises, hydraulic installations, inscriptions in pre-Arabic languages: the richness and scale of the sites are simply astonishing.
You’ll stay for three nights just outside Al-Ula, at the foot of sandstone cliffs where the light changes the colours. First and foremost, the accommodation enjoys a majestic setting and location, which it seeks to maintain as is. Wood, glass, canvas and wool are the main things you see here. The organisation as a whole is seamless. The décor makes the most of Arab traditions in a chic, stylish way. A large swimming pool is available to guests. As for the restaurant, it serves tasty traditional Middle Eastern dishes.
Our suggestion - Sunset at Jebel Al Fil. It took several million years for wind and water to shape what is known as Elephant Rock - you’ll soon see why. At dusk, the monolith rising 52 metres above the landscape takes on the iridescent hues of sunset, while a few tables and seats - some carved directly into the sand - invite you to pause and take in the view.
On your itinerary - Visit the Sharaan Reserve with a ranger in a 4x4. A local ranger will pick you up from your hotel. You’ll set off to explore the area near Al-Ula in your air-conditioned vehicle. With its rocky canyons echoing the arches sculpted by the wind, and stretches of sand following steep ravines, the reserve is a beautiful playground. Drawn to the décor, the wildlife is ever-present. The local wolf’s grey-golden coat blends with the colours of the rocks. The ostrich wanders across a vast mineral plain. As for the gazelle, its muscles are tense and its senses are on high alert - the Arabian leopard, a critically endangered species, prowls in this part of the country. You can imitate it, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive feline.
Scheduled - Explore ancient Hegra in a vintage Jeep. The Nabataean city was the first site in Saudi Arabia to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, this city on the caravan route became an important stop during Antiquity. It remained so until the Roman conquest. It was the British poet Charles Montagu Doughty who, in 1876, was the first to draw a parallel with the neighbouring country's famous site and nicknamed it the “Petra of Saudi Arabia”. The hundred or so tombs with decorated façades, carved directly into the sandstone, truly evoke the wonders of Jordan. But it is more than that. Your guide for the day will help you uncover the secrets of this site, which impresses at first sight.
To see, to do independently - Take the Heritage Oasis Trail. Stretching for 6 km (4 miles) through palm and date trees, farms and brick houses, the trail lets you soak in the unique setting of the Al-Ula oasis. Set on the ancient incense route and the road to Mecca, it prospered and endured through the centuries thanks to ingenious water management. More of a city person than a nature lover? Nestled at the foot of imposing rocky mountains, the old town of Al-Ula is a maze of narrow alleyways where mudbrick houses stand side by side. Over the centuries, it has seen pilgrims and travellers, both curious and hoping to sell, pass through - so many lives that have shaped the city. A labyrinthine exploration through a complex of around 900 houses.
Optional - Hike along the ridges; fly over the oasis in a hot air balloon.
You’ll drive to the airport, return the rental car, then fly to Jeddah. Upon arrival, you’ll have a private transfer to your final accommodation. This hotel has stood on the Corniche for many years; it is one of the institutions. In front of it, the Red Sea and King Fahd’s Fountain - which can reach up to 312 metres (1,024 feet) high, making it the tallest in the world. The luckiest visitors will enjoy a room that opens onto this aquatic panorama. Each room opens onto a small balcony. Otherwise, they offer standard comfort, understated tones and feature a few Arabic-inspired touches. In this regard, the reception area is impressive. From this golden space, you can easily access the hotel’s different facilities: restaurants, café, gym, spa… To reach the outdoor pool, follow the palm trees that form an enclosure around it.
Optional - Explore the Al-Balad district on foot.
Private transfer to the airport and direct international flight home.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Immersion in Bedouin culture
The asphalt road fades away, giving way to the vastness of the desert. Straight ahead, to the left, on the diagonal - despite the absence of marked tracks, you reach a camel farm, your first stop. The animal holds a central place in nomadic life, and its milk is delicious. You then head deeper into the desert to take part in the Keshta ritual - a traditional refreshment break. Later, dinner is served beneath a Bedouin tent, bringing this day spent in the footsteps of local traditions to a memorable close.Sunset at Edge of the World
Around 30 miles (50 km) from Riyadh, a dramatic escarpment rises from the desert. Along the cliffs of Jibal Tuwaiq, the panorama is breathtaking. Its name - “the Edge of the World” - could not be more fitting. As the sun sets, the last rays brush the sandstone in warm hues. A moment to savour, Saudi coffee in hand, perhaps nibbling a few dates.Jeddah's historic district
Anchored on the spice and incense route, Jeddah established itself as a major port as early as the 7th century, and grew considerably wealthier in the process. With a guide, you wander through the narrow lanes of Al-Balad, a maze of passages lined with old white houses adorned with colourful shutters and wooden mashrabiyas. Souks and small shops overflow with spices, incense and textiles, filling the air with rich scents.With a few extra days: Medina, a holy city of Islam
At the heart of Medina stands Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s most important pilgrimage sites. Non-Muslims view it from the outside, where its striking green dome rises above the tombs of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Islamic leaders - Abu Bakr and Umar. You will also see, from the outside and at a distance, some of the city’s seven mosques - each associated with a chapter in the Prophet’s history. The visit continues at the Dar Al Madina Museum, which presents the heritage of Al Madina through archaeological collections, visual galleries and rare images. Spending the night allows time to explore the surroundings, including an ascent of Mount Uhud.
Why visit Saudi Arabia with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
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