Saudi Arabia

Jul 23

Discover the Wonders of Kingdom

February 12 - 25, 2025

Tour is escorted by Undiscovered Frontiers
Tour Manager & Local Guides

Tour Introduction:

The origins of Saudi Arabia date back to the oldest civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. As an old trading center and the birthplace of Islam, one of the world's major monotheistic religions, the peninsula has played a key role in world history. Since King Abdulaziz founded the present Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, it has seen a remarkable development. In a few short decades, the Kingdom has transformed itself from a desert nation into a modern, sophisticated state and a prominent international power. The birth of Islam affected the country's recent history as well as its architecture, and it today governs daily life. The Arabian Peninsula's largest country has a population of 27 million people, and the capital city is Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has a diversified geography, with forests, grasslands, mountain ranges, and deserts. Join us on this fascinating journey of discovery and adventure to learn about the Saudi Arabia and how the Kingdom's daily life is rooted in Islamic traditions that call for peace, justice, and equality.

Tour Itinerary:

Welcome to Saudi Arabia! Arrive in Riyadh and proceed to Passport Control for immigration followed by baggage collection and clearing customs formalities. After baggage collection, walk towards the arrival lounge where you shall be met by our representative who will assist you while transferring to Centro Olaya 4-star or a similar hotel for check-in. Free evening at leisure and enjoy your welcome dinner with fellow travelers.
Note: Hotel is available for check-in at 2:00 pm.
Begin your journey by visiting historic Diriyah. The cradle of the first Saudi kingdom, a historical crossroads for pilgrims and merchants, and the site of one of the Kingdom's most ambitious preservation projects. Diriyah's mud-brick walls, which encompassed the Wadi Hanifa riverbank, formerly surrounded a busy desert metropolis that was a cultural and economic powerhouse. Visit Al Turaif, the area's citadel-marked major district was the original seat of authority for the Al Saud family of the Kingdom. Once the residence of religious scholar Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab, its winding alleyways now lead to low-lying mud cottages that have been turned into glittering heritage monuments, such as the Diriyah Museum, a former palace with displays on Saudi history, and the Al Zawihra Mosque. We will visit Muraba palace and Masmak Fortress which are one of the important palaces in the history of Saudi Arabia. For example Muraba Palace was constructed in the local Nadji style utilizing exclusively native building materials. Then visit the Saudi Arabian National Museum. It was founded in 1999 as part of Riyadh's King Abdul-Aziz Historical Centre. Dira Souq is renowned for its selection of antique copper and brass goods, such as silver daggers, silver Bedouin jewelry, and costumes. When coming from the main entrance, guests always smell sandalwood. Enjoy your dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at Centro Olaya 4-star or a similar hotel in Riyadh.
You will begin your adventure through the desert today. You'll stop by the clay-structured village' of Ushaiqer along the way. The community is divided into seven neighborhoods, and the palm palms and orchards are nicely interwoven into the maze of roads. You can walk through the shaded and lovely trails that snake amongst the village's 400 mud dwellings and 25 mosques. Some of the houses still preserve the names of the original residents. On the way to Al- Qassim region we will make another authentic stop at Unyzah town which is known for the Ladies' market. Continue to Buraydah the capital of the Al Qassim region. Upon arrival check into the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Buraydah, including the vibrant Souq and date market. In the evening enjoy your dinner in the town and overnight at Towers 4-star Hotel or similar.
After our enjoyable breakfast, we will head towards the famed Buraydah’s Camel Market, the world's largest camel market, located on the outskirts. It is a beautiful sight, with thousands of camels for sale and hundreds of Saudi men trying to acquire them. Many traditional handicrafts, such as handcrafted leather products, are also available nearby. The market opens at 6:00 a.m., and in addition to camels, there are lots of goats and sheep for sale. Because the deals end at 10:00 a.m., an early start is essential to see the activity. Many Bedouins are present at the market, both buying and selling one-humped Dromedary camels, which have been domesticated for thousands of years. Our next stop will be Fayed which is a significant oasis city located on the pilgrimage route in the most strategic site in the Darb Zubaydah, halfway between Kufa and Makkah, and close to the crossroads between one road leading to Madinah and another leading to Makkah. Excavations of the Fayed’s archeological site have revealed an area with ovens that were once used by the Fayd inhabitants. Fayd is noted for its enormous cisterns that collect water pouring from the neighboring Harrat Umm Hurruj into the oasis. If time allows we will visit Fayed’s museum which displays artifacts excavated in this region. Continue to Hail for check-in to the hotel and dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at Holiday Villa 4-star or a similar hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will start our day to explore Jubbah, Saudi Arabia's most famous rock art site, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The carvings on Jebal Umm Sinman span a wide spectrum of images and periods, with some sculptures perhaps 10,000 years old. Jubbah is home to two of Saudi Arabia's most famous carvings. The first is a larger character who dominates a smaller one. The second is a chariot drawn by two horses. We will return to Hail, it has been the doorway for Pilgrims from the north on their route to Mecca and Medina who met here with traders from the south of the Arabian Peninsula on their way to the Middle East. The Aarif citadel on a mountain may be seen from the city. This mud fort was built in the 17th century by the Al-Ali dynasty and then modified by subsequent rulers. Throughout the city, forts and palaces have been converted into museums or libraries. Some of these monuments date back to the Ottoman period. We will stop by the Aarif Fort and the Qashlah Fort which can only be seen from the outside. Enjoy dinner at the local restaurant in Hail and overnight at Holiday Villa 4-star or a similar hotel.
Today we depart from Hail and travel to Tayma, one of the oldest human settlements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tayma is a city located on the western side of the huge desert known as Nafoud Al-Kebir. Tayma still uses millennia-old natural wells after approximately eight millenniums of desertification. Tayma's natural passageway between the Nafoud Al-Kebir on the east and the Sarawat mountains on the west made it a key stopover for caravans transporting frankincense and other Yemeni goods. We will stop by Haddaj Well which is an iconic landmark of Tayma. Adjacent to Haddaj Well is Tayma's Governor's Palace, a mud-brick fort in the Nejdi style, although its stone-made foundations could be older. If time permits we will visit stop at Tayma Museum which covers the millennium of human activity in the region. Continue to Tabuk Province which has some of the finest histories in the Arabian Peninsula. Enjoy dinner at the local restaurant in the city of Tabuk and overnight at the Swiss Inn 4-star or a similar hotel.
Today we will explore the Red Sea coast and the newly planned 500 billion NEOM metropolis project constructed along the Gulf of Aqaba. Our next stop is Maqna a picturesque beachfront fisherman’s village on the Gulf of Aqaba that overlooks Egypt and the Sinai Mountains. However, the town is well-known for its wells, which witnessed a crucial event in the life of the Prophet Moses. Tayeb Ism (The Valley of Moses) is one of Saudi Arabia's magnificent natural wonders of Tabuk Province is located on the Gulf of Aqaba, some 15 kilometers north of the Maqna. Madyan, which dates back to the end of the second millennium BC, is famous for being the location where the Prophet Moses sought sanctuary after escaping Egypt. There he met the Prophet Jethro, who saw in Moses a clean soul and bestowed upon him one of his daughters. Moses then spent ten years in Madyan with his wife and father-in-law before returning to Egypt to free its people from Pharaoh Ramses II. Return to Tabuk town and enjoy dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the Swiss Inn 4-star or a similar hotel.
Today we travel to Saudi Arabia's natural beauty, Wadi Qaraqir, also known as Wadi Al Disah, a 15-kilometer-long canyon running through the Jebel Qaraqir, a beautiful palm oasis with crystal clear running water. This natural wonder was a well-kept secret among explorers for a long time, before the road leading to the adjacent city of Deise was built and satellite pictures were available to the public. This natural wonder is becoming one of the must-see sites in Saudi Arabia. Continue to Al Ula Oasis where two ancient Arabian kingdoms were born. During the first millennium BC, Al-Ula witnessed the birth of the ancient city of Dadan, which became the capital of two succeeding kingdoms, Dadan and Lihyan, who dominated throughout the Arabian Peninsula's northwest and, around the end of the first millennium BC, a new force from the north, the Nabateans, established their southernmost outpost and second most important city in Hegra "Madain Saleh," 20 kilometers north of Al Ula town. Upon arrival check into Sahary 4-star Resort or a similar hotel and enjoy your dinner.
Today we visit Al Ulla, the cradle of two ancient Arabian kingdoms. Visit the Dadan Tombs first. Built over three thousand years ago, Dadan was the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms in turn. The most well-known remnants of these former kingdoms are the Lion Tombs. They were carved out of rock and the tombs' current English name comes from the carvings of lions, which are thought to mark the graves of royalty. Continue to Musa Ibn Nusayr Fort, located in the heart of Al Ulla's Heritage Village. Some Dadanite inscriptions were etched on the rock where the fort was built, indicating that it was a fortified construction as early as the Dadanite or Lihyanite periods. Al-Ula Heritage Settlement (old town), also known as Ad-Deerah, is a typical Arabian village where oasis dwellers moved approximately eight centuries ago and remained until the twentieth century. It was constructed on a higher area of the valley to avoid flooding during the rainy season. At its peak, the town comprised several hundred buildings that were built next to one another, forming a wall around the town to protect the residents. On the way back enjoy leisurely sunset at the beautiful Elephant Rock. Enjoy your dinner and overnight at Sahary 4-star Resort or similar.
After breakfast, we will continue exploring the Al Aula region and start with Hegra which is known as Madain Saleh. Hegra is the most iconic historical site of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the first to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, back in 2008. The Nabateans called it Hijra (as it appears in some ancient inscriptions at the site), and the Romans used to call it Hegra. The Nabatean people were Arab merchants actively involved in the frankincense trade originating from ancient Yemen from which they gained their great wealth. The extensive settlement of the site took place during the 1st century AD, when it came under the rule of the Nabatean king Arêtes IV Philopatries, who made Madain Saleh the kingdom's first capital, before Petra which is located 500 kilometers to the north. We will have a unique opportunity to witness well-preserved tombs and observe exclusively carved entrances into massive rocks. As a result of war and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the railway discontinued its existence. The former Al Ula station is now occupied by a tiny museum known as Hejaz Railway Museum. A locomotive and additional artifacts are on display. Enjoy your dinner in the local restaurant and overnight at Sahary 4-star Resort or a similar hotel.
Enjoy breakfast and it is time to say goodbye to Al Ula oasis. We will start our drive to the holy city of Medina. It is one of Islam’s holiest cities (after Mecca), making it a key destination for millions of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah. Al-Masjid a Nabawi, popularly known as the Prophet's Mosque, was built by the Prophet and is also where he is buried. The Prophet Muhammad lived and taught in Medina following his departure from Mecca in 622 A.D., known as the Hijrah. This year is so significant in Islamic history that it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Although the city is commonly referred to as Medina in English, its actual name is Al Medina Al Munawara, which means "the City of Enlightenment. Only Muslims are allowed to visit the Mosque but we will be able to view it from a distance from Mount Uhud which is located outskirts and is associated with the historical Uhud battle could be one of the best spots. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Medina and overnight at Le Meridien Hotel or similar.
After breakfast, enjoy the morning at leisure to explore the local streets of Medina and local souqs where locals do their daily shopping. In the afternoon we will catch a comfortable high-speed train to Jeddah. The city of Jeddah is known as the commercial heart of Saudi Arabia because of the biggest port on the Red Sea. Upon arrival in Jeddah, we will transfer to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy a leisurely evening walk along the Jeddah Corniche featuring parks, playgrounds, sculptures, and cafes. King Fahd's Fountain, located along the Jeddah Corniche, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest fountain in the world. Dinner at the local restaurant in Jeddah and overnight at Park Inn by Radisson 4-star Hotel or similar.
After breakfast we will visit the most intriguing antique Ottoman mansions in Jeddah. The old neighborhood is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is noted for its houses made of coral. The Nassif home is one of the few renovated old structures that currently serves as a museum and cultural center. You continue walking through the old town and visit the Al Alawi Souq, a market that weaves through the old districts and sells incense, jewelry, coffee, and other items. We will visit the museum Al Tayebat which displays the art collection of collector Abdul Raouf Khalil. The museum has artifacts from the pre-Islamic period, as well as furniture and traditional costumes from various regions of the country. Enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers at the local restaurant. Dinner at the local restaurant in Jeddah and overnight at Park Inn by Radisson 4-star Hotel or similar.
Breakfast at the hotel. You will be transferred to Jeddah Airport for your international flight back home.

Land Tour Price Only: (International Airfare, Taxes & Fuel surcharges are not included)

4-5 Travelers:

USD 8,750 Per Person

Based on double room

occupancy

6-7 Travelers:

USD 8,100 Per Person

Based on double room

occupancy

8-10 Travelers:

USD 7,500 Per Person

Based on double room

occupancy

Single Room Supplement:

USD 1,400 Per Person (For all nights of the tour if you wish to stay in a single room).

Note: Group tour rates are quoted on a transparent and competitive pricing basis for brackets of 4-5, 6-7, and 8–10 travelers. A minimum of 4 participants is required to run the tour, and the tour will have a maximum capacity of 10 participants. Tour booking is subject to the booking terms and conditions outlined in the reservation form. Please read the terms and conditions carefully, and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Tour Fitness Level

Moderate: Fits all age groups with good health, some fitness level, and a sense of adventure. There will be some long walking days and a bit of standing while touring. Access to some of the sites and attractions will require walking on uneven terrain or steep staircases. Few elevations, a pleasant but busy schedule, and several long overland drives during the tour. Feel free to discuss the details of the trip with us.

Lodging Level

Comfortable (3/4-stars): Lodges and hotels that provide a decent size room & an ensuite bathroom. A limited range of enhanced services, some of the onsite amenities, and a level of service that is acceptable by international standards.

Visa & Passport

U.S. passport holders require a Saudi Arabia visa. Further details related to the visa application process will be sent out sixty (60) days prior to the trip. Ensuring that correct & valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client. Your passport must be valid for at least six (6) months from the last day of the trip & should include an empty page to stamp the visas.

Tour Includes:

One-on-one virtual tour briefing before the trip.
Final documents tour packet will be mailed.
Group arrival/departure transfers between airports and hotels at the destination for tour participants.
Fourteen (14) nights of accommodation at 3* & 4* hotels as per itinerary.
Air-conditioned transportation for sightseeing days as per itinerary.
Services of Tour Manager and local English-speaking guides throughout the itinerary.
Medina – Jeddah train ticket.
Entrance fees to all mentioned sites are as per the itinerary.
All meals as per the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Portage at the hotels.
Local taxes for hotels, meals, and tour services overseas.
Mineral Water during the tour.
Tips to the local guides, drivers, and waiters.

Tour Does Not Include:

International air USA – Riyad, Jeddah - USA.
Expenses due to excess baggage charges, flight delays or schedule changes, strikes, bad weather, or other reasons
Consular visa fees for a Saudi Arabia visa. (Obtained online)
Personnel expenses such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, mineral waters, photo/video camera fees, telephone, laundry bills, &, etc.
Any expense for a ’la carte meal items not included in preplanned menus.
Travel Insurance (highly recommended).
Refunds for hotel accommodations, meals, or any other tour services not used.
Departure/Arrival transfers between home city – US airport – home city.
Baggage handling at airports in the US and overseas.
Increase in tariffs or dollar exchange rate after publication.
Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants.

Useful Details to Know and Tour Map:

This trip will require long driving distances overland. The roads are paved and in a good condition. For the comfort of the travelers, air-conditioned transportation will be provided throughout the trip. We will be making several restroom stops, stretching our legs, and enjoying the scenic views on the way. During the sightseeing days, travelers must be able to walk a minimum of two to three miles to keep up with fellow travelers. Walking to and from sites could be on uneven surfaces or unpaved paths. Please note that elevators are not available at tour sites. We may have a few drives on poor-quality roads which are required to access the historical and archeological gems of the country. Please make sure to have a comfy outfit and shoes for the sightseeing days. By signing up for this tour, participants agree that they have read and understood all the terms and conditions and that they are in good physical and mental health and have an open mind, a sense of adventure, and the ability to be tolerant and patient for the entire period of the tour. To ensure that the itinerary runs efficiently and for the comfort and/or safety of travelers, Undiscovered Frontiers reserves the right to modify the order of the sightseeing activities at any time before departure or after the tour begins or cancel the tour if the planned itinerary is not possible to operate in the event of Force Majeure.