AlUla Jadida and Old Town
AlUla Oasis Trail
AlUla
AlUla Elephant Rock
AlUla Hegra

Jeddah and AlUla

From: 
Regular price
$10,289.00
Sale price
$10,289.00

Ramadan: 10 March - 08 April 2024 and 28 February - 31 March 2025
Rates on application
 
Private Holiday
6 Days ex Riyadh | Ends in AlUla
Daily Departures
 

Together Jeddah and AlUla present Saudi Arabia’s most user-friendly face. Jeddah may be the traditional gateway to Mecca, but the coastal city is far from conservative. Indeed, its location on the Red Sea coast imbues it with an outward-facing atmosphere that makes it one of the most appealing and liberal-feeling destinations in the Kingdom. More inland, AlUla’s old-town ruins are among the best examples of traditional northern Arab architecture and it serves as a gateway to the UNESCO-listed Nabataen relics at Hegra.

Highlights:

  • Catch some sea breeze at Jeddah: Saudi’s most liberal city offers ancient architecture, fresh seafood, and the latest luxuries
  • Discover ancient desert civilizations near AlUla: Explore remarkable rock formations with giant tombs from the Nabatean era carved into the cliff faces
  • Hop into a 4x4 for a sand dune adventure topped off with a desert picnic, complete with shady tent, takwa and local delicacies

Day 1: Jeddah (D) 

Welcome to Saudi Arabia. On arrival you will be met by a representative of our local operator and transferred to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Jeddah is a commercial hub sitting to the west along the Red Sea with the second busiest seaport in the Middle East. It’s the principal gateway to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, and sees over a million pilgrims a year on their way to perform the Hajj. Despite this, Jeddah is perceived to be the most liberal city in Saudi Arabia and is a popular tourist destination, offering the beauty of ancient architecture mixed with the latest luxuries.

Celebrate your arrival in the Kingdom with sunset drinks on the city’s attractive corniche. First, take a stroll to admire the art works in the open-air museum. Next, show your local self and spread out your carpet and your ‘takwa’, the smart Saudi picnic seat. Join the Jeddahwi when the sun sets, the call for prayer sounds and the world's tallest fountain comes to life in front of the beachwalk. Complete your first day in Saudi Arabia with a welcome dinner in modern style, befitting fast-paced Jeddah. Overnight in Jeddah.

Day 2: Jeddah (BL) 

Start the day working on the Saudi bigger picture in the Tayebat museum to gain a background about Islam, Saudi Arabia and Jeddah, the city to be explored first. The Tayebat museum is ideal for this, consisting of real-life, real-size examples of Saudi and especially Jeddahwi building styles, everyday tools and utensils, art and of course details about the Two Holy Cities; Mecca and Medina, which make a good base for a first talk about Islam. After visiting a selection of what is on display, head out into the real Saudi!

Jeddah’s proximity to the Red Sea puts local seafood at the forefront, unlike elsewhere in the country. The Central Fish Market is the hotspot where buyers and sellers come together. Squid, shrimp, lobster and a great variety of fish, some only native to the Red Sea, are all fresh and on display. Follow the flow of the market where customers first choose their pick. Next they move on to have it weighed and get a ticket for the cleaning section, All set? Now it can be prepared in the restaurant right in the market or taken home. To stay in style, indulge in a seafood lunch in a nearby restaurant.

Find out that things are equally convivial on dry land in the atmospheric old town Al Balad, which achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. Its traditional multi storey buildings and merchant houses are an architectural treasure trove. It is a dive back in time with the buzz of trading, pilgrims shopping and the occasional tourist mixed in. The Roshan or wooden window covers are the ancient way to create shade and cool in this hot and humid climate, and they make these alleys especially picturesque. Visiting Al Balad is like a dive back in time with the buzz of trading, pilgrims shopping and the occasional tourist mixed in. In a quickly modernizing Kingdom, this area might be the last one to find that ‘real Middle Eastern mix of sights and smells’ that you can find in the old souks across the region.

Day 3: Jeddah - AlUla (BL) 

Leave the coastal city by air for AlUla, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sits deep in the desert in the northwestern region of the country. It is an area rich in historical and geographical significance.

Climb up to the Harrat Viewpoint before diving into all the history around. The road snakes up sharply, away from the red rocks and onto a black and seemingly endless plateau. Discover the viewpoint towering over the old city and let your guide put things into perspective. Closer to sunset it is time for a pilgrimage to Elephant Rock. Set in golden desert sands and climbing into the blue Arabian skies, the rock (also known as Jabal Alfil) is one of AlUla’s most impressive geological marvels. Overnight in AlUla.

Day 4: AlUla (BL) 

The draw to AlUla is its remarkable natural rock formations and canyons, extensive and varied pre-Arabic rock art, and immaculately preserved tombs built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans. You will start the day with a visit to the Nabataean site of Hegra, which was the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom, dating back to the first century BCE. Today, you will follow your ‘rawee’ or storyteller, to explore several of the more than 100 well-preserved monumental tombs, most with elaborate facades carved from rock formations scattered around the desert.

Beyond the old town in the wadi or valley are numerous farms where lush palm trees sway gently and the smell of citrus fills the fresh air, adding to the oasis-feeling that AlUla still retains. Walk the winding, shaded Oasis Heritage trail through the fields that provide fresh herbs and vegetables to AlUla’s restaurants. Hear the birds sing and imagine how the nomads of the past found water and refuge from the desert here. Leave the valley and enter an area often called ‘the art city’ which has a colourful vibe with street art and exhibits spread out in its walking streets, making for a great stroll with numerous options for a drink on a terrace, watching the world go by while the sun changes the colours of the towering cliffs around. Overnight in AlUla.

Day 5:  AlUla (BL)

A trip to Saudi Arabia is not complete without a 4x4 excursion into the desert. Start this day with an unforgettable sortie around the towering cliffs that surround AlUla. Following the ups and downs of the morning’s four-wheel safari, settle down for a delicious Bedouin-style picnic lunch encompassing a traditional range of Saudi and other Middle Eastern delicacies. As true navigators of the deserts, a camp set-up with protection from the elements and the finest of Arabian hospitality awaits.

In the afternoon there will be time at leisure. Experience the facilities of your hotel or continue your exploration of AlUla’s landscapes with an optional activity (supplements apply) Some of the optional activities available include: see the sandstone mountains from above in a helicopter or hot air balloon, hop on a mountain bike and venture off the beaten path into desert dunes or climb the valley’s edge to better soak in AlUla’s expansive vistas. Overnight in AlUla.

Day 6: AlUla (B) 

At leisure until you check out of your hotel and transfer to Al Ula airport for your onward flight.

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

  • Airport arrival transfer during daytime hours (NOTE: for flights arriving before 6.00am and after 10.00pm and departures before 8.00am and after 11.00pm, surcharges will apply)
  • 5 night’s hotel accommodation with private facilities
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Transfers and tours by private air-conditioned vehicles, unless otherwise mentioned
  • Domestic Flight Jeddah/AlUla
  • English speaking local guide (often station guides: 1 guide per location)
  • Bottled drinking water (1L per person per day) during touring days
  • All entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
  • Exclusive corniche experience with soft drinks & local snacks in Jeddah
  • Exclusive 4x4 desert trip with bedouin-style lunch in the desert of AlUla
  • 15% VAT tax & up to 5% municipality tax (where applicable) are included for all services mentioned in the program
  • 24/7 support in Saudi Arabia
  • Assistance of local representatives
  • Saudi Arabia Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

TOUR EXCLUSIONS:

  • International and domestic airfares, unless specified otherwise
  • Supplements for early/late transfers if required
  • Meals other than mentioned above
  • Beverages with meals
  • Camera/video entrance fees
  • Optional tours and excursions
  • Porterage
  • Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
  • Personal Expenses
  • Departure taxes
  • Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
  • Visas (unless specified)
  • Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above
Accommodation based on the following or similar.
The hotel selection may change – please use this as a guideline only.

Jeddah

First Class: Shada Shatea Boutique Hotel

Deluxe Class: Sheraton Jeddah

AlUla

First Class: Shaden Resort AlUla

Deluxe Class: Habitas Resort AlUla

Arrival and Departure Transfers
For flights arriving before 6.00am and after 10.00pm and departures before 8.00am and after 11.00pm, surcharges will apply (night transfer)

Dress Codes
Tourists visiting Saudi Arabia are expected to dress modestly and respect the country's conservative customs and traditions. The dress code for women is more strict, and it is important to be aware of the guidelines before traveling to the country.
Most Saudi men prefer to wear the thobe (or thawb) on both formal and informal occasions, but in most public places, shorts (below the knee) and short sleeved shirts worn by Saudi or tourist men are allowed, except in governmental offices and mosques. Men must not be shirtless under any circumstances.
Officially Saudi women only need to dress modestly and are not required to wear the abaya (traditional Saudi cloak), the hijab (hair covering veil) or niqab (face covering veil), yet in many parts of the country Saudi women are still expected or choose to wear them in public. Although tourist women are exempt from such rules, providing they dress modestly, it is highly appreciated that tourist women wear some type of abaya and hijab, particularly when entering mosques or other religious sites.
It's worth noting that the dress code is more relaxed in some areas, such as in Jeddah and other coastal cities, but it's always better to be safe than sorry and err on the side of caution.

Holiday periods
Surcharges or compulsory meals may apply for holiday periods such as Christmas, New Year, Water Festival.

Luggage
Includes 1 carry-on baggage (max. 5-10 kg depending on the airline) and 1 check-in baggage (max. 20 kg). Traveling light with smaller baggage sizes is more practical on the road and is recommended.

Ramadan
During the Holy Month of Ramadan Muslims fast, abstaining from eating, drinking & smoking during daylight hours (approx. 7am-6.30pm). As a sign of respect, tourists should also try to refrain eating in public during the fasting hours. Restaurants and Cafes in Hotels and Cruise boats will be open, however limited alcohol may be available over this time. In 2024, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Sunday 10th March. After 30 days, or on sighting the full moon, Eid Al Fitr is celebrated & most public and private institutions close for at least three days.

Sightseeing
All sightseeing tours require a moderate amount of walking around historical / cultural sites. A good level of fitness will ensure you get a maximum enjoyment from your visit.

Vehicles
Outside the big cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, using a 4x4 vehicle adds to the Arabian experience so this is included for groups of 1-4passengers - the guide also acts as the driver. In the busy cities, a non-4x4 vehicle with separate driver and guide is provided for additional safety and convenience.

Trip prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however all offers are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking. All featured tour itineraries and offers may be subject to change due to seasonal variations without notice, or due to local conditions or other conditions. Please confirm all details at time of booking. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Innovative Travel bookings. All passports must be valid for 6 months prior to your return to your home country. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller. Special VIP meet and assist offers are available in some destinations for New Zealand passport holders, for other nationalities please check at the time of booking. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.