Itinerary
- Day 1
Riyadh
Collect your rental car from Budget when you land at Riyadh International Airport. The drive to your hotel is straightforward, and you'll have the rest of the day to settle in and get some rest before your journey through Saudi Arabia begins.
- Start point
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Riyadh International Airport )
- Day 2
Riyadh
After breakfast at your hotel, head out to see Riyadh's cultural attractions. The National Museum gives good background on Saudi heritage, and from there it's a short walk to Murabba Palace. Masmak Fort and its museum tell the story of the Saudi Kingdom's founding. Spend time in Dira Souq browsing antique carpets and heritage pieces. Later, ride up Kingdom Tower and Faisaliah Tower for city views before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit National Museum
- Visit Murabba Palace
- Visit Masmak Fort and museum
- Browse Dira Souq
- View from Kingdom Tower and Faisaliah Tower
Optional Activities
- Access to Skybridge on Kingdom Tower - 25$ per person
Landmarks National Museum Murabba Palace Masmak Fort Dira Souq Kingdom Tower Faisaliah Tower - Day 3
Riyadh to Wadi Dawassir
After breakfast, you'll drive about 7 hours across Saudi Arabia's interior to Wadi Dawassir, a fertile oasis in the Empty Quarter. This developing urban center has solid hotels and puts you near Oroug Bani M'aradh Wildlife Sanctuary. Check in, grab dinner, and rest for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Optional Activities
- Visit Oroug Bani M'aradh Wildlife Sanctuary
Landmarks Oroug Bani M'aradh Wildlife Sanctuary - Day 4
Wadi Dawassir to Najran
Following breakfast, drive roughly 4 hours toward the Red Sea coast to reach Abha. You'll have the afternoon to explore the city before heading to Najran for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
- Day 5
Najran to Jazan
After breakfast, walk through Najran's historical sites including Al Akhdood archaeological site with its stone castle and 235-meter walls, plus Al Aan Palace with its striking 5-story main tower and Emara Palace featuring 65 rooms. The Dam and Dagger Souq rounds out the morning. Then drive about 5.5 hours to Jazan and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Al Akhdood archaeological site
- Visit Al Aan Palace
- Visit Mud Houses
- Visit Dam
- Visit Emara Palace
- Browse Dagger Souq
Landmarks Al Akhdood Al Aan Palace Emara Palace Dagger Souq - Day 6
Jazan to Abha
After breakfast, check out the ancient sites at Bir Hima with its wells and hundreds of rock petroglyphs showing battle scenes, then move on to Al Fau's houses, palaces, and shops. Drive roughly 3 hours to Abha, passing through Khamis Mushayt and stopping at Al Hamsan Traditional Village with its stone tower, museum replica of an Asir home, and restaurant. Check in at your hotel by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Bir Hima archaeological site
- Visit Al Fau archaeological site
- Stop at Al Hamsan Traditional Village
Landmarks Bir Hima Al Fau Al Hamsan Traditional Village - Day 7
Abha
Starting with breakfast, head up to Jabal Sawda, Saudi Arabia's highest point at 3,000 meters with lush green vegetation. Then go to El Sahab Park for cloud views. Walk through old souqs like Souq Mahayel and Athu Latha, then tour Shada Castle, now a handicrafts museum showing traditional Asir architecture. The Al-Muftaha district with its rebuilt 260-year-old village comes next, followed by Fatema's Museum. End with the sight of Jabal Al Akhdar lit up in green.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Jabal Sawda
- Visit El Sahab Park
- Browse Souq Mahayel and Athu Latha
- Visit Shada Castle handicrafts museum
- Explore Al-Muftaha district
- Visit Fatema's Museum
- View Jabal Al Akhdar
Landmarks Jabal Sawda El Sahab Park Souq Mahayel Shada Castle Al-Muftaha district Jabal Al Akhdar - Day 8
Abha to Al-Bahah
After breakfast, visit Rijal Almaa village with its colorful traditional Arabian houses and explore the village museum established since 1985. Walk past about 60 stone and clay palaces with several floors each. The village was historically important as a trade center connecting Yemen, Makkah, Madinah, and the Levant. Drive roughly 5 hours to Al-Bahah in the mountains. See traditional stone houses and cliff viewpoints, then drive down to Zee Ayn, a marble village with 400-year-old traditional houses and a natural spring feeding an oasis.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Rijal Almaa village
- Visit village museum
- View traditional stone houses in Al-Bahah
- Visit mountain viewpoints
- Explore Zee Ayn (Marble village)
Landmarks Rijal Almaa Zee Ayn Sarawat Mountain Range - Day 9
Al-Bahah to Taif
After breakfast, finish exploring Al-Bahah, then drive to the Hada Mountains above Mecca on the eastern slopes of the Al-Sarawat mountains. You'll get panoramic views and pass by a Rose Farm. Visit the Sharif Museum, then go back for the Alhada Cable car experience in the afternoon. As evening approaches, drive down to Taif, known for its cool, green summer climate and relaxed atmosphere. Check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- View Al Hada mountain panoramic views
- Visit Rose Farm/factory
- Visit Sharif Museum
- Experience Alhada Cable car
Landmarks Al Hada Mountain Sharif Museum - Day 10
Taif to Medina
After breakfast, explore Taif's famous roses and perfume industry. Stop at a preserved traditional perfume factory to watch artisans demonstrate the brewing process. Visit the Sharif Museum and Al-Huda for escarpment views. Then begin your 2,000-meter descent from the Sarawat Mountains toward Jeddah, experiencing the shift from cool mountain to hot, humid climate. Pass around Makkah and reach the Red Sea shore. Check in at your hotel in Medina.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit traditional perfume factory
- Visit Sharif Museum
- View Al-Huda escarpment
Landmarks Sharif Museum - Day 11
Jeddah
After breakfast, visit the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum for local and Arabian heritage. Walk through Al-Balad, Jeddah's old city, discovering hidden markets, galleries, and local food spots. See Beit Nassif's striking 1800s five-story architecture, the Baghdadi house, and the old gold market on Gabel Street. Stop at the Ukash Mosque and Al Rahmah Mosque, then visit the Floating Mosque on the sea. End at the Jeddah Corniche, a 30-km coastal area featuring recreation facilities, civic sculptures, and King Fahd's Fountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum
- Walking tour of Al-Balad old city
- Visit Beit Nassif
- Visit Baghdadi house
- Explore old gold market on Gabel Street
- Visit Ukash Mosque
- Pass by Al Rahmah Mosque
- Visit Floating Mosque
- Visit Jeddah Corniche
Landmarks Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum Al-Balad Beit Nassif Ukash Mosque Al Rahmah Mosque Floating Mosque Jeddah Corniche King Fahd's Fountain - Day 12
Jeddah
Spend this day in Jeddah at your own pace. Whether you want to relax by the Red Sea, revisit favorite spots, or try local restaurants, the day is yours to organize.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
- Day 13
Jeddah to Medina
After breakfast, drive early through the open desert to Al Waba Crater, a dramatic volcano formation with a salt field at its center. In the afternoon, reach the outskirts of Medina. Explore Al-Masjid an-Nabawi with its striking Green Dome, visit Masjid al-Qiblatain where prayer direction changed to Mecca, then hike Mount Uhud at sunset. Check into your hotel, staying in city outskirts only.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Al Waba Crater
- Visit Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) outskirts
- Visit Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) outskirts
- Hike Mount Uhud for sunset
Landmarks Al Waba Crater Al-Masjid an-Nabawi Masjid al-Qiblatain Mount Uhud - Day 14
Medina to Al Ula
After breakfast, head to Al Ula following the historic Hijaz Railway route toward Oman and Egypt. Stop at the abandoned Buwayr and Muduraj train stations, eerie reminders of WWI when Lawrence of Arabia and Arab allies blew up the Ottoman-built railway. Visit ancient Khaybar, Saudi Arabia's best-preserved oasis built in a natural depression, conquered in 552 BCE by Babylon's king Nabonidus and significant as an important Islamic battle site. Arrive in Al Ula at day's end and check into your camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Stop at Buwayr train station
- Stop at Muduraj train station
- Visit ancient city of Khaybar
Landmarks Buwayr train station Muduraj train station Khaybar Hijaz Railway 
- Day 15
Al Ula
After breakfast, explore Al-Ula, an ancient oasis inhabited for 7,000 years. During the 1st millennium BCE, Dedan developed as a major Arabian kingdom on the frankincense trade route. Visit Jebel Ikmah's open-air museum with rock inscriptions, then walk through the old Islamic pilgrimage city. See ancient sites of Ekma and Abu 'Aoud with their ancient script texts. Finish at Harrat Al-Uwayrid for wide oasis views before returning to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Discover Al-Ula ancient oasis
- Visit Jebel Ikmah
- Explore old city of Al-Ula
- Visit Ekma ancient site
- Visit Abu 'Aoud ancient site
- View from Harrat Al-Uwayrid
Landmarks Dedan Jebel Ikmah Ekma Abu 'Aoud Harrat Al-Uwayrid - Day 16
Al Ula
After breakfast, visit Hegra (Madain Saleh), Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site and a Nabataean monolith known as 'Southern Petra' dating from 100-500 BCE. Head to Jibal Al-Rukkab and the Leopard Trail, then visit Jebel Al-Fil. These visits showcase ancient architecture and landscapes. Return to camp as the day ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Hegra (Madain Saleh)
- Explore Jibal Al-Rukkab
- Explore Leopard Trail
- Visit Jebel Al-Fil
Landmarks Hegra (Madain Saleh) Jibal Al-Rukkab Leopard Trail Jebel Al-Fil - Day 17
Al Ula to Hail
After breakfast at camp, journey to Jubbah, situated on an ancient lake with Middle Paleolithic period settlements around its margins. See sandstone outcrops filled with ancient petroglyphs showing aurochs, cheetahs, and lions. Learn how humid phases transformed the Arabian Peninsula into African-like savannah from the 10th to 6th millennium BCE. Pass through the Nefuda Al Kabir desert, a 290-km long oval depression. Arrive in Hail, traditionally home to poets and writers, and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at camp)
Included Activities
- Explore Jubbah archaeological sites
- View petroglyphs and rock inscriptions
- Pass through Nefuda Al Kabir desert
Landmarks Jubbah Jebel Umm Sanman Nefuda Al Kabir - Day 18
Hail to Buraydah
After breakfast, explore Hail's A'Arif Fort and nearby heritage museum. Walk the traditional market for local delicacies and visit the Hail Regional Museum if it's open. Drive toward Buraydah passing the Shammar mountain range and stopping at Fayd, an important pilgrimage city from Baghdad's golden age. See its small museum and restored archaeological site. Arrive in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia's most conservative city and capital of Al-Qassim Region. Check in at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit A'Arif Fort
- Visit heritage museum
- Browse traditional market
- Visit Hail Regional Museum
- Visit Fayd archaeological site and museum
Landmarks A'Arif Fort Hail Regional Museum Shammar Mountain Range Fayd - Day 19
Buraydah to Riyadh
Start early to experience Buraydah's camel market, the world's largest where thousands of animals trade daily. Return to the city and browse the date market for treats. Drive toward Riyadh passing through Mithnab and Al-Ghat. The highlight is Ushaiger heritage village, one of the region's oldest settlements with traditional Najdi architecture. Arrive in Riyadh at day's end and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Buraydah camel market
- Browse date market
- Visit Ushaiger heritage village
Landmarks Buraydah Camel Market Ushaiger - Day 20
Riyadh
After breakfast, check out by noon. Depending on your flight time, you'll head to Riyadh airport. Return your rental car to the Budget return parking and hand it over to the team before heading to the departure area.
- End point
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Riyadh International Airport )
- Meals
- Breakfast (Daily buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant)
