Saudi Arabia: The Kingdom

This privately guided tour of Saudi Arabia reveals the desert kingdom’s most magical cultural highlights including the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Madain Saleh – ‘the southern Petra’. Your tour commences in Riyadh where the story of modern Saudi Arabia began. While in the Saudi capital explore the exquisite mudbrick architecture of Diriyah - a World Heritage Site - and wander through the Souq Al Zal where you’ll catch a glimpse of traditional Saudi life. Then, fly to Ha’il on the edge of the rugged Jabal Shammar and drive through the red sands of the Great Nefud Desert to Jubbah to see the highly accomplished 11,000-year-old rock art. On crossing the desert to Al Ula explore one of Saudi Arabia brightest cultural jewels where highlights include: the Lion Tombs of Dadan, Elephant Rock and a 4WD safari through the Madakhil rocks.  You’ll also see Hegra’s stunning 2,000 year-old Nabataean tombs and have lunch on a date farm. Next, learn about the war in the desert during the Arab Revolt, as you travel south towards Medina along the old Hijaz Railway, and see WW1 period trains abandoned in the desert as well as the site of T.E Lawrence’s first raid. A High Speed train journey then brings you to Jeddah – the Bride of the Red Sea – where you’ll discover one of the finest old towns in the Middle East and your luxury tour of Saudi Arabia concludes.