Best of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh to Asir

Salam! Welcome to Saudi Arabia. Your adventure starts with a 6 pm welcome meeting in Riyadh – the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia. Once a walled, mud-brick wallalong desert trading routes, this capital is now a contemporary metropolis with more than 4000 mosques, shopping centres, palaces, museums and traditional souq. If you arrive early maybe explore one of the mosques, wander through the National Museum or visit Kingdom Tower. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner with your group.

After breakfast, begin the day with a walking tour of Riyadh’s Deera district. Stroll through Souk Al Zal, a colourful market selling traditional clothing, antiques and jewellery, then continue to Al Murabba Palace – a historic square-shaped residence once home to King Abdulaziz Al Saud. Explore its rooms, exhibitions of personal belongings and photographs, and a remarkable collection of antique cars. Next, take a short walk to the Riyadh Metro. With 85 stations spanning 176 km, the network features distinct architecture designed by world-renowned firms at each station. Ride the metro to a local home, where you’ll be welcomed with warm hospitality and treated to a local Saudi lunch – a local experience of the country’s generous and welcoming hospitality. Later, head to Diriyah, birthplace of the first Saudi state and home to Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage site with beautifully preserved adobe structures.

After breakfast, you’ll hit the road. On the way to Buraydah, stop at the small town of Al-Ghat – one of the largest and best-preserved traditional villages in Saudi Arabia. Learn about the Najdi architecture and the historical significance of this ancient oasis town, which once served as an important centre of the Saudi state. Visit Qasr Al-Imarah (Amara Palace), a 19th-century emirate palace with 50 rooms built around a central courtyard, complete with a small mosque and adjoining residences. Then sit down to a traditional Najdi lunch, prepared as part of a project supporting local women through training and employment. After lunch, with farm views, you’ll continue to Buraydah. This evening, visit the Old Market – a living museum of Najdi heritage, where traditional crafts, clothing, aromatic coffee and 140-year-old homes sit side by side.

This morning, travel to Hail – a historic city once considered the capital of the Arabian Desert and a key stop for pilgrims travelling to Mecca from the north. Enjoy some free time for lunch, then continue to Jubbah. When you arrive, explore Umm Sinman with a local guide. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most significant rock art locations in the Middle East. With carvings dating back more than 12,000 years, the site reveals depictions of humans, animals and inscriptions from the Neolithic period through to early Islam, offering a fascinating glimpse into ancient life and culture. Return to Hail in the evening and head to the outskirts of the city for a traditional Kishta dinner. Enjoy a meal cooked over coals beneath the stars, with rugs, cushions and a welcoming tent creating an authentic Saudi picnic experience.

After breakfast, you’ll travel to AlUla – home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, Hegra (Mada’in Saleh). Today is bit of a long travel day, so it’s a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. This desert region is filled with striking rock formations, ancient canyons, rock art and over 100 tombs carved by the Nabataeans more than 2000 years ago. Your accommodation for the next two nights is a camp surrounded by palm groves and sandstone cliffs. Later today, you’ll visit Elephant Rock (Jabal Alfil). Rising 52 m above the desert, this sandstone giant glows red at sunset. With food trucks, music and occasionally DJ’s, sunken seating and deck chairs it’s the perfect spot to sit back and soak up the atmosphere. Tonight, you’ll have dinner at a local Yemeni restaurant before returning to camp.

Start today with a guided visit to Hegra, the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom and Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore intricate facades of monumental tombs carved into sandstone cliffs, from the smallest tomb at just 2.7 m to the largest at an impressive 21.5 m, as your local rawee storyteller brings the site’s history to life. Later, head back to camp for some free time before an afternoon walk along the AlUla Heritage Oasis Trail – a scenic path through palm groves, farms and mudbrick houses leading into AlUla’s Old Town. Once a crossroads of the Silk Road and Incense Route, the Old Town is now a blend of ancient alleys, artisan shops and cafes. Tonight, you can continue to explore Old Town at your own pace or join an optional stargazing and storytelling experience in the desert, followed by dinner under the stars.

This morning is free for you to do as little or as much as you like! Maybe visit Jabal Ikmah, a UNESCO site of ancient inscriptions known as AlUla’s open-air library, or join a guided tour of Maraya – the world’s largest mirrored building. After lunch, you’ll journey through volcanic landscapes of black lava stone and rugged mountains along an ancient pilgrimage route to Madinah. Along the way, stop at the old Hijaz Railway station – once the arrival point for pilgrims travelling from as far as Damascus. Then continue to Madinah. When you arrive, join a local female guide and take in the incredible atmosphere around Al Masjid an Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, with its 10 soaring minarets. Then, visit Quba Mosque, the first ever built, and learn about the city’s 1,400 years of history before sharing a simple dinner at a local market in Madinah.

This morning, ride the Haramain High Speed Railway to the coastal city of Jeddah – a commercial hub sitting on the Red Sea. When you arrive, visit the central fish market. Here you’ll wander through the stalls and choose your own fresh seafood to take to a nearby restaurant to be cooked for lunch – a popular and local way to dine! Later, explore Al-Balad, Jeddah’s historic old town founded in the 7th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Early this evening, wander through narrow lanes lined with traditional houses, some built from coral stone and seashells and see the intricate wooden window frames and doors. Maybe browse colourful souqs filled with fabrics, jewels, spices and souvenirs – a chance to pick up a bargain like the locals do. This evening, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner by the water.

Today you’ll have some free time to explore at your own pace before your next welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your new group and leader. Consider spending time exploring the Jeddah Corniche waterfront region for views of the Red Sea and a selection of artworks from local museums. Another popular site in the city is the Al Rahma Mosque, known as the ‘Floating Mosque’, which appears to float over the waters of the Red Sea at high tide. Try to catch sight of King Fahd’s Fountain, especially at sunset, to see the world’s highest fountain blast water up to 312 m high. After tonight’s meeting, perhaps head out for an optional group dinner to get to know your new group members.

This morning, travel to Taif, famous for its fragrant Rosa Damascena or Taif rose. Visit a local rose factory and farm to learn about the delicate distillation process used to produce rose water and perfumes. Explore a small museum displaying traditional tools, then watch as farmers extract rose water and oil at this family-run site. Each season, Taif produces over 550 million blooms during a 45 to 60 day harvest that begins in late March or early April. Rose water from Taif is even used to wash the Kaaba in Makkah each year – a cherished Saudi tradition. After lunch, continue to Thee Ain (Zee Ain) in the Al Bahah region – a beautifully restored heritage village perched on a marble hill. Discover its 400-year-old stone homes, palm groves and ancient irrigation canals – perfect for photography during golden hour.

After breakfast, drive to Al Namas, known as the city of fog. Surrounded by wild forests and misty mountains, this scenic region stretches from Cloud Park to Jebel Mareer, where clear days reveal views of the Red Sea. Visit the grand Al Maqar Museum – an architectural masterpiece built over 35 years using more than two million Asir mountain stones. Inspired by Andalusian palaces, it houses an extraordinary collection of Islamic artifacts from the Abbasid, Umayyad and Ottoman eras, gathered by founder Mohammed Al-Maqar Al-Shehri. Then, continue to Tanomah. Known for its pine forests, waterfalls and misty views, Tanomah offers a peaceful stay in dorm rooms or dome tents. When you arrive, join a guided Ridge Walk through acacia and juniper trees, and look for playful baboons along the trail.

Today, travel to Tabab Village, nestled in the fertile Asir Highlands. On arrival meet your local guide, and set off on a guided walk before sharing a traditional light lunch of southern bread, cheese, olives and herbal tea. Known for its terraced farms, honey and rich cuisine, the region showcases deep agricultural traditions. Then, visit the Abo Noghta Castles – six ancient fortresses built from mountain stone and valley marble. After, jump into 4x4's and continue to Rijal Alma'a, known for its striking stone towers inlaid with white quartz. Explore with a local guide, discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art painted by women, and learn about the Flower Men of the Qahtani tribes, whose garlands of wild herbs and flowers preserve traditions over 2000 years old.

After breakfast, you’ll explore Al Muftaha art district – one of Abha’s most iconic heritage landmarks. Its closely built houses, painted in vibrant Asiri patterns, tell stories of the region’s rich culture. Wander through art galleries, museums and workshops that showcase the work of local artists or perhaps have a coffee in this lively hub. Continue to Souq Al Thulatha – one of Asir’s oldest bazaars, where you can chat with honey traders, browse textiles and pottery, and soak up the community spirit that has thrived here for centuries. Later, step into the home of Assas, a beloved local cook, for an intimate meal of traditional Asiri dishes like haneeth (slow-roasted lamb) and masoub (banana bread pudding), paired with fragrant Qahwa coffee. End the day with a visit to the visit to the home museum of Fatima Faye Al-Almaai, famed for her conservation efforts towards the UNESCO-recognised art form of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri the female owned Qatt Asiri.

Today, travel back to Jeddah along the scenic coastal route. Stop in Al Qunfudhah – an ancient Red Sea port once thriving as a key trading post, particularly known for its date trade. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. After a quick lunch, continue your drive north to Jeddah, where modern energy meets centuries of history. Tonight, maybe head out for a farewell dinner to celebrate your journey.

After breakfast, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to spend more time in Jeddah – and it’s highly recommended that you do – just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.