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Saudi Arabia is the most underrated country I have ever been to, a destination with unrivaled beauty, mesmerizing history and home to large geographical contrasts.
Some of the most mind-blowing deserts can be found in Saudi Arabia, but also 3000-meter mountains with regular snowfall, epic valleys, plus its Red Sea coastline features absolutely dreamy beaches and coral reefs.
The Saudi people are amazing too, extremely kind, hospitable and definitely, one of the highlights of visiting the kingdom.
In this EXPEDITION, we will explore the millennial historical city of Madinah Saleh, swim around otherwordly islands, hike in wonderful valleys, and travel back in time in the historical city of Jeddah.
However, what is truly unique about this expedition, is that it will focus on the local culture, meaning that we are going to experience loads of human encounters, especially with Saudis living in rural areas.
November 26th to December 2nd
2490€
7 days
Lead by Leti Lagarda
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
Day 1 – Arrival in Jeddah
Day 2 – Yanbu
Day 3 – Medina
Day 4 – Full day in Al Ula
Day 5 – Wadi Disa and Wadi Bajda (Tabuk area)
Day 6 – Hesma (Tabuk area)
Day 7 – Domestic flight back to Jeddah and departure
On the first day, we will take things very easy. We will be meeting you at the airport throughout the day, checking in the hotel and, around 4pm, we will head all together to Al Balad, the historical city of Jeddah and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Al Balad was established 1,300 years ago as the gateway for Muslims on their way to Mecca, mostly arriving by sea from Africa. It’s a lively area composed of buildings with colorful windows, narrow streets, and a great local life that turns into a bustling and vibrant area right before sunset.
At the end of the visit, we will have our first dinner together in one of the local restaurants.
Overnight in Jeddah.
After an early breakfast, we will head for Yanbu, a 2500-year-old town, which used to be an important stopover for traders sailing from Yemen to Egypt. Today, Yanbu is an important trading point with one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the country.
It also has a pretty well-preserved old town, which is packed with seafood restaurants, but the most awesome thing about Yanbu is that its shores are not far away from absolutely stunning coral reefs.
For that, we will spend the whole day on a boat, looking for dreamy islands, snorkeling and just hanging out. There is the possibility of scuba-diving too.
Overnight in Yanbu.
On day 3, you will be able to say that you were one of the very first Western tourists to visit Medina, the second holiest place in Islam after Mecca, and a city which until very recently, was off-limits to non-Muslims.
Medina is the place where Prophet Muhammad is buried, so it’s a pretty big deal. Technically, we are not allowed to go inside the mosque, but the surrounding atmosphere is pretty cool, and definitely worth the visit.
In the evening, we will drive all the way to Al Ula.
Overnight in Al Ula.
The fourth day will be an even more exciting day because Al Ula is home to Madinah Saleh, the most iconic historical site in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Madinah Saleh, or Hegra, was an ancient city founded by local tribes 5000 years ago, but it was not until the 2nd century BC that the Nabateans, the same guys that built Petra in Jordan, made it a great city, so that it could serve as the new capital if the Romans conquered Petra.
The Romans did conquer both cities, Hegra and Petra, but the more than 100 jaw-dropping tombs carved from the giant desert rocks still remain, and I find it more stunning than Petra because it is located in the middle of nowhere.
With our private vintage Jeep, we will drive all around the area, visiting all the highlights.
Then, we will also check Hejaz Railway, a railway station built by the Ottomans in the 19th century, serving as a link between Damascus (Syria) and the holy city of Makkah
On the way back to the historical village of Al-Ula, we will pass by the Elephant Rock, one of the most impressive geologic marvels in the area, a massive Elephant-shaped monolithic red sandstone.
Dinner and overnight in Al Ula.
Early morning, we will drive north towards Tabuk, a northern province bordering Jordan.
On the way to Tabuk, we will first drive through Wadi Al Dissa, a 15-kilometer-long canyon with spectacular 500-meters cliffs, and our team of guides will prepare us a traditional lunch in the best possible location with the best view.
After lunch, we will drive towards Wadi Bajda, another highlight of the expedition.
Have you ever been to Wadi Rum in Jordan?
Wadi Bajda is exactly like Wadi Rum, but without tourists and authentic Saudi Bedouins.
Overnight in Wadi Bajda, in a desert campsite.
After having a hearty breakfast with our Bedouin family, we will start exploring Wadi Bajda with our SUV cars, driving through red sand dunes, visiting camel farms, and jaw-dropping desert scenery.
In the evening, we will head back to Tabuk city to visit some of its highlights.
On the last day, we will all fly back to Jeddah, therefore saving a 1000km journey by road.
The trip ends in Jeddah airport.
Domestic flight from Tabouk to Jeddah
Airport Pick up/Drop off
6 nights of accommodation (twin shared) in hotels mentioned in FAQ
Driver and private transportation
Breakfast and lunch + (dinner only on the day we camp in Tabuk)
Local guides
Entrance fees to the places listed in the itinerary
International flights
Visa fees (80USD + 48USD for the insurance)
Dinner
Single supplement. Having your own private room costs 50€ a night
November 26th to December 2nd
2490€
7 days
Lead by Leti Lagarda
These are the hotels where we always stay but note that once in a while, they might be subject to availability
Price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.
If you are a solo traveler, you will be sharing the room with another like-minded traveler from the group. We always try to group people of same gender and age together but note that this won’t always be the case. Moreover, in the hypothetical case there weren’t perfect pairs, one of the rooms would be a triple room.
If you wanted to have your own single room, you will have to pay an additional €50 a night .
Saudi Arabia has introduced an e-visa system.
Just enter this website, and you’ll have your visa in less than an hour, it’s very easy.
Only those nationalities who are eligible for the e-visa.
All EU countries + Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, and United States.
As of today, travelers traveling to Saudi Arabia are required to be vaccinated.
The trip starts in Jeddah.
There are direct flights to Jeddah from many European cities such as Munich, Paris, Madrid or London, with Saudia Airlines, for example.
Otherwise, common transit points are Istanbul (Pegasus or Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways) or Dubai (Emirates).
Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries in the world, no kidding.
I think it is, check my article: Is it ethical to visit Saudi Arabia?
We always limit all our groups to 12-13 people.
In order to secure your spot on the tour, we require a €500 deposit.
Then, the remaining amount should be sent no later than 45 days before the departure date.
Methods of payment will be shared upon booking your spot.
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions.