Arabia Felix

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Riyadh

  Welcome at the airport by our team and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Riyadh.

• day 2

  Riyadh, Sakaka

  Welcome to Riyadh, or "the garden", the capital of Saudi Arabia. The discovery of this vast country will begin with Darya and its historic center Al-Turaif, the birthplace of the Al Saud dynasty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the alleys of this small town with its traditional Najdi architectural and ornamental style, made of raw clay brick, a former stop on the route of merchants and pilgrims from Africa, Europe, and Asia. Lunch during the visit. Then, visit the Al Masmak fort, dating from the late 19th century. Located in the heart of the old city, this adobe fortress, whose color and curves recall those of the desert dunes, is composed of four watchtowers as well as a mosque and a water well. The fort now houses the National Museum, whose collections trace the country's history from before its creation up to the early 20th century. Not far away is the Al Murabba Palace, the last residence of the founder of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz al-Aziz. At the end of the day, enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the Al Mamlaka Tower, which stands 302 meters tall. Dinner at the restaurant, then transfer to the airport and flight to the province of Al Jawf. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and overnight in Sakaka.

• day 3

  Sakaka

  Located in the northwest of the country, the Al Jawf region remains today a meeting and exchange point for the Bedouin tribes of the north of the country. Visit to Qasr Za’Abal, a 19th-century desert fortress situated on a rocky spur, then stop at the rock engravings of Jabal Burnous dating from the Neolithic period. Lunch during the visit. Visit to Al Rajajil, which is estimated to date back to around the 5th or 6th millennium; the standing stones are believed to belong to a burial site. Visit to the oasis of Dumat Al-Djandal, a major commercial crossroads between Mesopotamia, the southern Levant, and the Hejaz in pre-Islamic times. Stop at the Omar Al-Khattab mosque (exterior visit), whose minaret, in a 13-meter-high pyramidal shape, is the very first in Islam. Dinner and overnight in Sakaka.

• day 4

  Sakaka, Ha'il

  In the morning, drive to Ha’il (4 hours by road). Stop at Jebel Umm Sinman to discover Jubbah, an iconic rock art site in the country listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Indeed, the rock engravings, dated between 7,000 and 9,000 years old, depict, among other things, animal and human figures, as well as weapons and clothing from that era. Lunch at the restaurant. With its geographical location and numerous wells, Ha’il was once the capital of the Arabian desert and, as such, was protected by three fortresses. Visit two of them: A’arif Fortress, the oldest (17th century), located on a rocky promontory with a remarkable view of the city; and Qishlah Fortress, more recent (1940), built at the initiative of Prince Abdelaziz Ibn Saud. Dinner and overnight in Ha’il.

• day 5

  Ha Il, AlUla

  Departure for AlUla by road (4h drive) Arrival and lunch with a local family. In the afternoon, stroll through the alleys of the old town of AlUla, abandoned since the beginning of the 20th century. Built of mud bricks, the lower part was once used as a warehouse and the upper floor as living quarters. Enjoy a remarkable panoramic view from the Musa Ibn Nusayr fort. Dinner and overnight in AlUla.

• day 6

  Mada'in Salih (Hegra), Dadan

  The morning will be dedicated to visiting Mada'in Salih (Hegra). The first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its "outstanding universal value," the ancient Hegra is a major city of the Nabataean civilization, in continuity with Petra in Jordan, and extends over about twenty kilometers. The site, remarkably well preserved, houses an exceptional funerary heritage carved into the rock, whose architecture is reminiscent of the Hellenistic, Roman, or even Oriental style. Then, visit Dadan (Al-Khuraybah), capital of the kingdom of Lihyan (2nd century BC), built at the foot of a cliff carved with square-shaped tombs, another stop on the caravan route, mentioned in the Bible. Lunch in an oasis. In the afternoon, discovery of the Maraya cultural space. "Mirror" in Arabic, the 5,000 m² building covered with reflective panels stands alongside several millennia of history inscribed in the rock. This gigantic square blends perfectly into its natural environment and reflects it according to the weather. Dinner and overnight in AlUla.

• day 7

  AlUla, Jeddah

  The morning will be dedicated to a 4x4 ride in the desert (3 hours). Lunch under a Bedouin tent. In the afternoon, visit to Jabal Hikmah, an open-air library where inscriptions in different languages (Aramaic, Dadanitic, Thamudic, and Nabataean) can be seen, as well as Jabal Al-Fil, the "elephant rock" carved by erosion, 50 meters high. Then transfer to the airport and flight to Jeddah. Dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

• day 8

  Jeddah

  Economic capital of the country and its most dynamic city, with its large port on the Red Sea, Jeddah is the maritime gateway to Mecca. The visit begins in the old town, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Nassif House was once the residence of the former governor of Jeddah. It was here that Prince Abdelaziz Ibn Saud took up temporary residence when he entered Jeddah in 1925. Now transformed into a museum, it notably houses a beautiful collection of Arabic calligraphy. Time will then be dedicated to strolling through the historic center and its markets, the most famous of which is the fish market. Lunch in a restaurant near the corniche. The day will continue with a walk along the corniche, frequented by the Saudi population with its restaurants and picnic areas: the Al Rahman floating mosque (exterior visit) was built on the water, so at high tide it appears to float; King Fahd's fountain, meanwhile, has the tallest water jet in the world, visible from all over the city. Then, visit to the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, which houses a large collection of art objects tracing the history of the kingdom's different eras. The day will end with a panoramic city tour. Dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

• day 9

  Excursion to Taif

  In the morning, on the way to Taif, stop to see the remains of the al Arfaa fortress, which overlooks a site of rock engravings depicting figures of animals and humans, as well as writings describing their way of life. Then, we will head to downtown Taif for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Shobra Palace (1905), former summer residence of Prince Abdelaziz Al-Saoud, which traces the history of the city of Taif. The city of Taif is renowned for the cultivation of the thirty-petaled Damask rose, probably imported from the Balkans by the Ottomans. Visit to a rose grower's farm. On the way back, stop at the Samallagi dam, dating from the pre-Islamic period. Dinner and overnight in Jeddah.

• day 10

  Departure

  Transfer to the airport for the return flight.