AlUla to Petra : nabatean civilization

Reception at the airport by our team and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Riyadh.

Welcome to Riyadh - « the garden », capital city of Saoudi Arabia. 

Discover Darya and its historical centre Al-Turaif (UNEXCO), cradle of the Al Saoud dynasty.

Lunch at restaurant.

Visit of Fort Al Masmak, dating from the end of the 19th century. Located in the heart of the ancient city, this adobe fortress, whose color and curves recall those of desert dunes, is made up of four watchtowers as well as a mosque and a water well.

The fort now houses the national museum, whose collections retrace the history of the country from before its creation until the beginning of the 20th century.

Dinner and overnight in Riyadh.

Visit of fort Al Masmak, dating from the end of the 19th century. Located in the heart of the ancient city, this adobe fortress, whose color and curves recall those of desert dunes, is made up of four watchtowers as well as a mosque and a water well. The fort now houses the national museum, whose collections retrace the history of the country from before its creation until the beginning of the 20th century.

Lunch at the restaurant.

Free time then transfer to the airport and flight to AlUla. On arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in AlUla.

In the morning, stroll through the alleys of the old town of AlUla, abandoned since the beginning of the 20th century. Built of mud brick, the lower part was once used as a warehouse and the upper floor as a dwelling. Enjoy remarkable panoramic views from Musa Ibn Nusayr Fort. Then stop at Jabal Al-Fil, the "elephant rock" cut by erosion, 50 meters high.

Lunch in an oasis.

In the afternoon, discovery of the Maraya cultural center. "Mirror" in Arabic, the 5,000 m² building covered with reflective panels rubs shoulders with the history of several millennia inscribed in the rock. This gigantic square blends in perfectly with its natural environment and reflects it according to the meteorology.

Dinner and overnight at AlUla.

The morning will be dedicated to the visit of Madain Salih (Hegra). The first Saudi site to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its "outstanding universal value", the ancient Hegra is a major city of the Nabataean civilization in continuity with Petra in Jordan, and which stretches over some twenty kilometers. The remarkably preserved site houses an exceptional funerary heritage carved out of the rock, the architecture of which is reminiscent of the Hellenistic, Roman or even Eastern style. Then visit of Dadan (Al-Khuraybah), capital of the kingdom of Lihyan (2nd century BC) erected at the foot of a cliff carved with square-shaped tombs, another stage on the caravan route, mentioned in the Bible. Lunch during the visit.

In the afternoon, visit Jabal Hikmah, an open-air library where inscriptions in different languages ​​(Aramaic, Dadanic, Thamudic and Nabataean) are visible.

Dinner and overnight at AlUla.

In the morning, drive to Aqaba.

Lunch break in Tabuk.

Continuation of the road, crossing the Saudi Arabia / Jordan border to reach Aqaba.

Dinner and overnight in Aqaba.

Distance: 625 km

In the morning, drive to Petra.

On arrival, explore Wadi Farasa. In the morning we visit the Lions Fountain then different styles of tombs, including those of the Garden, the Roman Soldier and the Triclinium. Then we reach the Lower Town.

Lunch during the visit.

We spend the afternoon on the site then at the end of the day we return to the hotel. This free time will be the ideal opportunity to take the time to contemplate the beautiful facades.

Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Distance : 130 km

Day dedicated to Petra, the Pink City. To get there, we will have to cross the Siq, a kilometer of narrow gorge lined with 80m high cliffs! The dazzling colors and formations of the rocks will lead us to the magnificent Treasure (Al-Khazneh) carved out of the sandstone rock. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is huge and contains hundreds of rock-cut tombs, a Roman amphitheater, temples, a sacrificial altar and a colonnaded street.

Lunch at the restaurant on the site.

Dinner and overnight in Pétra.

Depart for the dead Sea by taking part of the Kings Road linking Aqaba to Amman. Along the way, visit Kerak, a large fortress built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. Stop at Madaba, a biblical site with 14 Byzantine churches. Visit of St. George's Church, famous for its 6th century mosaic depicting the oldest map of Palestine and Jerusalem. Continue to Mount Nebo to enjoy the panorama of the Jordan Valley and the memorial of Moses, with its Byzantine frescoes.

Lunch during the visit.

Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea.

Distance: 330 km

Free morning at the Dead Sea with the possibility of swimming.

Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon, drive to Jerash. The city experienced its golden age under the Roman reign, then called Gerasa. Today, this site is considered one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden under the sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored for 70 years, Jerash exemplifies extensive and formal Roman municipal planning throughout the Middle East. It is adorned with cobbled streets, colonnades, immense temples on the crest of hills, charming theaters, spacious public squares, thermal baths, fountains and walls pierced by towers and gates. On arrival in Amman, panoramic night city tour.

Dinner and overnight in Amman.

Distance : 145 km

Transfer to the airport with assistance with departure formalities.