Day 1. Riyadh – National Museum & Masmak Fortress
Arrive in Riyadh. National Museum, Masmak Fortress, Souk Al Zal. Overnight in Riyadh.
9 DAYS
Best of
Saudi Arabia
Day 2. Riyadh – Diriyah & Murabba Palace
Diriyah UNESCO site. Murabba Historical Palace. Evening at Boulevard City. Overnight in Riyadh.
Day 3. Train to Hail – Jubbah Rock Art
Train from Riyadh to Hail. A’Arif Fort, Heritage Museum, Hail Regional Museum. Day trip to Jubbah petroglyphs. Overnight in Hail.
Day 4. Desert Drive to Al Ula
Epic desert drive through the Nefud Al Kabir red-sand desert to Al Ula. Sunset at Elephant Rock. Overnight in Al Ula.
Day 5. Al Ula – Hegra UNESCO
Full day at Hegra — the extraordinary Nabataean rock-cut tomb complex, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Oasis Heritage Trail walk. Overnight in Al Ula.
Day 6. Al Ula – Dadan, Jebel Ikmah & Sharaan Reserve
Dadan Lihyanite archaeological site. Jebel Ikmah open-air inscription library. Sharaan Nature Reserve. Desert drive to Medina. Overnight in Medina.
Day 7. Medina – Historic Sites
Tour of Medina: exterior of Al Masjid An Nabawi, Masjid Al Qiblatain, Mount Uhud, Dar Al Medina museum. Drive to Jeddah. Overnight in Jeddah.
Day 8. Jeddah – Al Balad & Red Sea Museum
Full day in Jeddah: Al Balad guided tour, Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, Red Sea Museum, Al Rahma Mosque, Souk Al Alawi. Corniche dinner. Overnight in Jeddah.
Day 9. Jeddah – Old Town & Departure
Final morning in Old Jeddah. Transfer to King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Must see
ATTRACTIONS
Options
ACCOMMODATIONS
Riyadh
★★★★★
- Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre
- The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh
- Waldorf Astoria Riyadh Ithra
★★★★
- JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh
- Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace
- Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers
★★★
- Novotel Riyadh Al Anoud
- ibis Riyadh Olaya
- Citymax Hotel Riyadh
Hail
★★★★★
- Hail Rotana Hotel
- Hail Palace Hotel
- Golden Tulip Hail
★★★★
- Hail International Hotel
- Al-Wasim Hotel Hail
- Crown Prince Hotel Hail
★★★
- Al-Fanar Hotel Hail
- Al-Rashid Hotel Hail
- Hail City Hotel
Al Ula
★★★★★
- Habitas AlUla
- Banyan Tree AlUla
- Shaden Resort AlUla by Accor
★★★★
- Caravan by Habitas AlUla
- Dar Tantora The House Hotel AlUla
- Maraya Hotel AlUla
★★★
- AlUla Lodge
- Rose Governate Hotel AlUla
- Dadan Hotel AlUla
Medina
★★★★★
- Anwar Al-Madinah Mövenpick Hotel
- Dar Al-Taqwa Hotel Madinah
- Madinah Marriott Hotel
★★★★
- Al-Salam Hotel Madinah
- Pullman ZamZam Madinah
- Hilton Madinah
★★★
- Al-Haram Hotel Madinah
- Taibah Hotel Madinah
- Al-Nour Hotel Madinah
Jeddah
★★★★★
- Rosewood Jeddah
- Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club & Spa
- InterContinental Jeddah
★★★★
- Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah Al Hamra
- Hilton Jeddah
- Marriott Jeddah
★★★
- Holiday Inn Jeddah Al Salam
- ibis Jeddah City Center
- Premier Inn Jeddah Al Murjan
Must try
FOOD
Kabeba
A classic Middle Eastern dish consisting of a filling of ground beef surrounded by layers of a ground beef and cracked burghul (bulgur) wheat mixture; commonly found in single-serve preparations shaped into conical, fried, meatballs.
Madini Rice
Consists of white steamed rice topped with tender meat, served in a rich and flavorful broth that gives it a distinctive red color; the chicken (or lamb) is marinated in a blend of spices, then cooked until tender in a pot with rice that is infused with the flavors of the spices and the meat.
Sayadieh
A seasoned fish and rice dish from the Middle East, made with cumin and other spices, as well as fried onions; the spice mix is called baharat in Arabic and its preparation varies from cook to cook but may include caraway, cinnamon, cumin and coriander.
RESTAURANT
Options
Halal Certified
Riyadh
- Najd Village – Traditional Saudi Najdi cuisine served in a heritage setting, authentic experience
- Al-Orjowan at The Ritz-Carlton – Arabic fine dining, rooftop terrace, panoramic city views
- Bab Al-Yemen – Traditional Yemeni and Arabic food, highly popular local institution
- Gaucho Riyadh – Premium Argentinian steakhouse with Saudi-certified halal meats
- Nusret Riyadh – International steakhouse (Salt Bae brand), extravagant presentation, prime cuts
Hail
- Al-Reem Restaurant – Traditional Najdi cuisine, desert ambiance, local favourites
- Al-Baik Hail – Saudi fast food franchise, fried chicken and rice, family favourite
- Kabsa House Hail – Local rice and meat specialty, slow-cooked lamb and rice
- Turkish Delight Hail – Turkish restaurant, grills and pide bread
- Al-Andalus Hail – Middle Eastern mixed grill, generous portions and fresh bread
Al Ula
- Ashar Restaurant – Modern Saudi cuisine with views over the ancient Hegra archaeological site
- Maraya Concert Hall Café – Fine dining inside the mirror-cube Maraya venue, extraordinary setting
- Al-Nakheel Restaurant AlUla – Traditional oasis cuisine, dates, meats and Saudi rice
- Turkish House AlUla – Turkish restaurant, popular with tour groups and adventure travellers
- Al-Wadi Restaurant AlUla – Saudi and Levantine mixed menu, good value, near Old Town
Medina
- Al-Baik Medina – Saudi Arabia’s beloved fried chicken chain, iconic for pilgrims
- Nawab Restaurant Medina – Authentic Indian-Pakistani cuisine, biryani a specialty
- Turkish House Medina – Turkish restaurant, grills and meze, near the Prophet’s Mosque
- Kabsa Kingdom Medina – Traditional Saudi Kabsa rice dishes with slow-cooked lamb
- Al-Safa Restaurant Medina – Local Hijazi cuisine, generous portions near the Haram district
Jeddah
- Al-Nafourah – Lebanese fine dining with panoramic Red Sea views, Corniche location
- Fakieh Aquarium Restaurant – Seafood restaurant with live aquarium backdrop, Al Hamra district
- Bab El-Yemen Jeddah – Traditional Yemeni cuisine, famous for slow-cooked lamb
- The Globe Restaurant – International cuisine at Park Hyatt, floor-to-ceiling ocean views
- Kaia Jeddah – Modern Japanese halal restaurant, sushi and teppanyaki, Corniche Road
