12D/11N Self-Drive Holiday in Saudi Arabia - On The Traces Of History  

Arrival at JEDDAH International airport, after formalities, you will be able to direct yourself to the Car rental area at the BUDGET car rental counter, or just pick up your car in BUDGET outlet downtown JEDDAH. After the car formalities are done, you will receive the keys , and you will be ready to discover the region. Drive to your hotel.. Check in at hotel .

Overnight in JEDDAH.

Breakfast at your hotel. We will start our tour with the visit of Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum that presents the local and Arabian heritage. A unique site. We will then hit old Jeddah .We will enjoy a wonderful walking in Al-Balad , the old part of the city .This walk tour of the old Town will take you along all the less known must-see local spots: Old Market hidden gems, Old Jeddah hidden galleries, local Jeddah food only for locals… While visiting Al-Balad, visitors will be taken to see Beit Nassif, one of the prominent renovated structures in the old city, which dates back to the mid 1800's. The five-story building provides a rare opportunity for the visitors to experience the blend of traditional architecture with modernity.

We will see also the Baghdadi house. We will visit also the Old gold market in Gabel street and the Ukash Mosque. We will then head to a traditional Saudi restaurant to enjoy our lunch and food . We will pass by the Al Rahmah Mosque. After that, we will visit The Floating Mosque, this single domed architectural marvel that sits literally on the sea, symbolizes Jeddah’s bold storm into the modern age. Sitting on an enviable location, the mosque’s courtyard offers unencumbered views of the Red Sea. Our tour will end with the Jeddah Corniche which is the 30 km coastal resort area of the city of Jeddah. Located along the Red Sea, the corniche features a coastal road, recreation areas, pavilions and large-scale civic sculptures as well as King Fahd's Fountain, the highest fountain in the world.

Dinner and overnight in Jeddah .

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our journey to the mountains of TAIF located over the Hada Mountains above Mecca and on the Eastern slopes of the Al-Sarawat mountains .The city of Taif, has a cool and green Summer People travel to TAIF for its Green nature and its weather , its beautiful scenery and the town’s relaxed atmosphere. Our tour will start with a drive enjoying the majestic panoramic view of al Hada mountain. We will pass by a Rose Farm/factory. We will then reach the Sharif Museum before we enjoy a traditional lunch in the mountains. In the afternoon, after enjoying the view of mountains, the old stone paths, cars that passing though the road from Alhada Cable car. Then check in in our hotel.

Dinner & overnight in TAIF .

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we set off early driving through the open desert to the spectacular Al Waba Crater, a dramatic volcano formation with a salt field at its center. Here there is the option to circumnavigate part of the crater or you may opt for the more challenging steep climb down to the basin and then back up again (approx. 2.5hrs return). After our exploration we will enjoy a much-needed picnic lunch at the crater’s edge taking in this awesome natural wonder. In the afternoon we make our way to the outskirts of the holy city of Medina .In the city center, the vast Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) is a major Islamic pilgrimage site. Its striking Green Dome rises above the tombs of the Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar. The Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) is known as the site where the Prophet Muhammad received the command to change the direction of prayer to Mecca . We will visit the outskirts of the city ONLY, except the holy pilgrimage areas and we conclude the day with a short hike up Mount Uhud to enjoy the sunset over the city .Check in hotel.

Dinner & Overnight in Medina.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will head this morning to the ancient town of Al Ula was an important staging post on the frankincense trade route to Oman and Egypt. We will follow the same route than the historic Hijaz Railway. We will stop at the abandoned Buwayr & Muduraj train stations both of which offer an eerie reminder of a turbulent and bloody past .The Hijaz Railway, which connected Medina with Damascus and eventually Istanbul was built by the Ottomans in the early 20th century to speed ,up the journey to Mecca during the pilgrimage season, but the railway was only in use for a short period. During WWI, Lawrence of Arabia and his Arab allies blew up the railway in their revolt against the Ottoman Empire. We will visit the ancient city of Khaybar. This is probably the best-preserved ancient oasis of Saudi Arabia as it is built in a natural depression that can be flooded, reason why the modern city was built further away. It is mention in a Neo-Babylonian text that tell its conquest in 552 BCE by Nabonidus, the last King of Babylon. It became in the year 7 of Islam an important battle place between the Muslim and the Jews that saw the troops of Mohamed (PBUH) and Ali victorious. Arrival in Al Ula area at the end of the afternoon. Check in in our camp.

Dinner and overnight in Al’Ula.

Breakfast at the hotel. Al-Ula is an ancient oasis that is inhabited for the last 7000 years as testify ancient carvings in and around the oasis. During the 1st millennium BC the city of Dedan develops thanks to its strategic location on the frankincense trade road to become one of the oldest Arabian kingdoms that ruled over most of what is today Tabuk and Madinah provinces. We will meander through the impressive natural rock formations and man-made monoliths scattered in the area. Then will pass by the OLD city of ALULA. The ancient town of Al Ula was an important staging post on the frankincense trade route to Oman and Egypt. We continue then to Dedan , will lunch en route then visit Ekma and Abu ‘Aoud before we reach Harrat Al- “Uwayrid ( Al Ula ) for an amazing view . At the end of the afternoon, drive to the hotel.

Dinner & accommodation in Al Ula.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start our journey with the visit of the famous Hegra (Madain Saleh). We will be exploring the first UNESCO World , heritage site of the Saudi Kingdom , the monolith of Mada’in Saleh , also known as “ Southern Petra “ , dating from the Nabateans period ( 100-500 BC Our visit will be followed by a lunch before we head towards Jibal AlRukkab & Leopard trail . We will then visit Jebel Al- Fil the “Elephant mountain”. The visits are exciting and full of emotions . At the end of the day, we go back to our camp and enjoy dinner.

Overnight in Al Ula.

Breakfast at the Camp. This morning we will start our journey to Jubbah that lies on an ancient lake. Several archaeological sites of human settlement from the Middle Paleolithic period were found around the margin of the paleolake. Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops that are filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions on the rock face. Jubbah benefited from past humid phases that turned the arid Arabian Peninsula into a savannah similar to what is found today in Africa. During the last humid period that took place from the 10th to the 6th millennium BCE the African monsoon rains filled rivers and lakes where wildlife thrived. If the animals that used to live there became instinct because of the desertification that started during the 6th millennium BCE, some men fixed forever their presence in Jubbah thanks to carvings of aurochs, cheetahs, lions…Those drawings are still visible today in the sides of several sandstone outcrops located on the western side of the paleolake like the Jebel Umm Sanman. Jubbah, the other major carving site of Hail Province, where listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2015 for their numerous petroglyph panels and rich.We will pass through the famous desert of Nefuda Al Kabir or Al-Nefud , it is occupying a great oval depression. It is 290 kilometers long and 225 kilometers wide, with an area of 103,600 square kilometer. Lunch will be served en route. After this visit, we continue our route to the famous city of Ha’il. Renowned for its hospitable people, Hail is traditionally the home of Saudi Arabia’s poets and writers. An interesting point about Hail, most of the early European explorers passed by this city during the 19th century (Charles Doughty, Lady Blunt, Charles Huber, Julius Euting…Upon arrival , we will transfer to our hotel.Dinner and Overnight in Ha’il.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our day with the visit of Al Ha’il, we will visit the A’Arif Fort and the nearby heritage museum. Then we will have a walk at the traditional market where we will find the local delicacies. We will pass also by the Hail Regional Museum, and if it is open , we will drop there to admire its collection. Lunch in the city. Then we start our way to Buraydah , we will pass the imposing Shammar mountain range , we will stop at a major historical site on our road called Fayd. It is the most important pilgrimage city that thrived during the golden age of Baghdad as it is located half way between Baghdad and Mecca. We will visit a small museum and a large archaeological site that has been restored. Buraydah is the capital of Al-Qassim Region in North central Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, and it is considered being the most conservative city of Saudi Arabia. On arrival, quick orientation of the city before we check-in at hotel. Dinner and overnight in Buraydah.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we need to start early to make the most of a truly unique Saudi experience. Buraydah’s lively camel market is located just a short distance outside modernday Buraydah but the experience may feel like stepping into a distant era of times gone by. This is the world’s largest camel market where thousands of camels, goats and sheep are traded every day and this morning is sure to be a feast for the senses. We head back into the city to stroll through the mouth- watering date market to pick some tasty treats before driving towards the capital city of Riyadh. Lunch before departure . En route we will pass the villages of Mithnab and Al-Ghat , before we reach the highlight of our day the heritage village of Ushaiger, one of the oldest settlements in the region which boasts some stunning traditional Najdi architecture and considered one of the most attractive places in the country. We will reach finally Riyadh the capital at the end of the day . Check in , dinner and overnight in Riyadh.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting the National museum .The National Museum is the primary custodian of the Saudi national heritage and culture, the Museum is a place of learning and discovery, it completes the story of Arabian civilization from the creation of the universe to our modern era . We continue thereafter to the Murabba Palace that is one of the historic buildings of the city . The palace was named after its square with the form of 400 by 400 meters. It is one of the museums in the city . We will continue our drive through the city passing the famous Kingdom tower , the Faisaliah hotel , both a great architectural achievement. We will see also many other landmarks that make the city famous today . We will stop then for Lunch in a typical local Saudi restaurant . Afternoon we will continue our tour of mystic Riyadh by visiting The Masmak Fort, one of the most important monuments in Saudi Arabia from where modern Saudi history start. This Fort is the birthplace of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in.The palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. to serve as military garrison for the Abdullah bin Rashid army. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of the nation today, captured the fort in 1902. We will then visit the Dira Souq famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques, while walking we will always smell sandal wood fragrance. At the end of the afternoon , back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Riyadh. Optional : Access to Skybridge on Kingdom tower.