Tour overview

This 14-day tour explores the full breadth of Saudi Arabia, from the capital and the heritage towns of the Najd to the ancient sites of AlUla, the Red Sea coast and the green mountains of the south-west. Travellers aged 16 and over are accompanied by a tour leader and local Saudi guides. You stay thirteen nights in city hotels and three nights at a desert camp in AlUla. Thirteen breakfasts, two lunches and six dinners are included, among them three dinners at the AlUla camp and a home-cooked dinner with a local Saudi family.

Riyadh, once a desert trading post, is now a sprawling, ambitious capital, and a guided tour reveals both its old and new faces, from the Masmak Fortress and souks to its modern skyline. You drive north-west to the Ushaiger heritage village, a maze of mud-brick houses and palm groves, then rise early for the bustling camel market in Buraidah before heading to Ha'il via the UNESCO-listed rock carvings at Jubbah.

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AlUla is the highlight of the tour, with three nights at a desert camp. You visit Hegra, with its monumental Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone outcrops, the Lion Tombs of ancient Dadan, the mirrored Maraya concert hall and AlUla's old town. Driving south past the Sarawat Mountains, you reach Medina and continue to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second city, for a boat trip on the Red Sea.

Heading into the Asir mountains via Ta'if, you stay in Al Bahah and visit Thee Ain, a remarkable marble village perched on a rocky outcrop above banana and palm groves. Back in Jeddah, you walk through the UNESCO-listed old town of Al-Balad with a Saudi woman guide, exploring coral-stone houses with carved wooden balconies, before a traditional evening meal with a local family.

The physical rating is medium, with long drives and walking in the heat. This tour suits curious travellers who want to see the variety of Saudi Arabia, from desert heritage to coast and mountains. Departures run in the cooler months, from autumn to spring, for the most comfortable weather in the desert. Pack modest, loose clothing and a hat.

Trip highlights

  • A guided tour of Riyadh (Day 2)
  • Buraidah's camel market (Day 4)
  • Hegra and the Lion Tombs of Dadan (Day 6)
  • Maraya and AlUla old town (Day 7)
  • The marble village of Thee Ain (Day 11)
  • Jeddah's old town with a Saudi guide (Day 13)

Your route

15 stops from Riyadh to Jeddah

14-day route: Riyadh – Ushaiger – Buraidah – Ha'il – AlUla – Medina – Jeddah – Al Bahah – Jeddah
  1. Riyadh Days 1–2
  2. Diriyah Day 2
  3. Ushaiqer Heritage Village Day 3
  4. Buraidah Day 3
  5. Jubbah Day 4
  6. Ha'il Day 4
  7. AlUla Days 5–7
  8. Hegra Day 6
  9. Medina Day 8
  10. Yanbu Day 9
  11. Jeddah Day 9
  12. Ta'if Day 10
  13. Al Bahah Days 10–11
  14. Thee Ain Heritage Village Day 11
  15. Jeddah Days 12–14

Why choose this tour

Saudi Arabia's desert, coast and mountains in two weeks. Three nights at a desert camp in AlUla and a home-cooked dinner with a family.

Best suited to

  • Curious, open-minded travellers
  • History and archaeology lovers
  • Return travellers looking for somewhere new
  • Solo travellers looking for a group
An old stone village in the Al Bahah region

Day-by-day itinerary

14 days from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

  1. Day 1 · Riyadh Arrive in Riyadh

    Arrive in the capital.

    Hotel
    Warwick Riyadh Al Wezarat or similar
  2. Day 2 · Riyadh Riyadh

    A guided tour of old and new.

    Hotel
    Warwick Riyadh Al Wezarat or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Ushaiger, Buraidah Buraidah

    A heritage village on the way.

    Hotel
    Qassim Towers Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Buraidah camel market, Jubbah, Ha'il Ha'il

    Camels and ancient rock carvings.

    Hotel
    Holiday Villa or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · AlUla AlUla

    Drive to the desert camp.

    Hotel
    Sahary AlUla Resort or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Hegra, Dadan Hegra

    Nabataean tombs and the Lion Tombs.

    Hotel
    Sahary AlUla Resort or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Maraya, AlUla Old Town AlUla

    A mirrored hall and the old town.

    Hotel
    Sahary AlUla Resort or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Sarawat Mountains, Medina Medina

    Through the desert to Medina.

    Hotel
    Season Star Hotel Madinah or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Jeddah, Red Sea Jeddah

    Drive to the coast for a boat trip.

    Hotel
    Ewaa Express Al Hamra or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Ta'if, Al Bahah Al Bahah

    Into the mountains.

    Hotel
    Warwick Al Baha or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Thee Ain Thee Ain

    A marble village on a rocky outcrop.

    Hotel
    Warwick Al Baha or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Jeddah Jeddah

    Drive back to Jeddah.

    Hotel
    Ewaa Express Al Hamra or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Al-Balad Al-Balad

    The old town and a family dinner.

    Hotel
    Ewaa Express Al Hamra or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Jeddah Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Sandstone cliffs and desert in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Where you stay

  • Riyadh (2 nights) Warwick Riyadh Al Wezarat or similar
  • Buraidah (1 night) Qassim Towers Hotel or similar
  • Ha'il (1 night) Holiday Villa or similar
  • AlUla (3 nights) Sahary AlUla Resort or similar
  • Medina (1 night) Season Star Hotel Madinah or similar
  • Jeddah (1 night) Ewaa Express Al Hamra or similar
  • Al Bahah (2 nights) Warwick Al Baha or similar
  • Jeddah (2 nights) Ewaa Express Al Hamra or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights in hotels and a desert camp
  • Meals 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Private transport
  • Riyadh tour, Ushaiger and Buraidah camel market
  • Jubbah rock carvings
  • Hegra, Dadan, Maraya and AlUla old town
  • Red Sea boat trip and Thee Ain village
  • Jeddah old town tour and a home-cooked dinner
  • Tour leader and local guides

Not included

  • International flights
  • Saudi Arabia e-visa
  • Meals not included 10 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Jeddah's corniche

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike long drives
  • You want a beach holiday
  • You want luxury
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–14 · Lunch: Days 9 and 11 · Dinner: Days 5–8, 10 and 13
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom Centre in Riyadh

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £4,390 per person, twin share, tour only. 6 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What should I wear?

Modest, loose-fitting clothing covering shoulders and knees. An abaya is no longer required for visitors.

What is the desert camp like?

A comfortable desert resort near AlUla, with dinners included.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors need an e-visa for Saudi Arabia, applied for online.

Can non-Muslims visit Medina?

Yes, the city is open to all, though the Prophet's Mosque is for Muslims only.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 16.

Who leads the tour?

A tour leader travels with you, with local Saudi guides.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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