Saudi Arabia's treasures

(Friday) Individual arrival at Riyadh airport. Welcome and transfer to the hotel. 2 nights in Riyadh. Standard: Grand Plaza Hotel - Dhabab Riyadh (middle class, national category: 3 stars). Superior: Crowne Plaza Palace (upper middle class, national category: 4 stars).

(Saturday) After breakfast, you will set off on a city tour of Riyadh. You will start with a visit to the National Museum, where you will learn about Saudi heritage and culture as well as the history of Arab civilization from prehistory to modern times. Continue to the nearby Murabba Palace (exterior visit), one of the most historic buildings in the city. Lunch in a typical Saudi restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Masmak Fort and Museum, which tells the story of the conquest of Arabia by the Al-Saud family. The palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in 1895. King Abdulaziz conquered the fortress in 1902 and made it the birthplace of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom. Afterwards, you will pass the Kingdom Tower and Faisaliah on the way back to your hotel. Approx. 50 km (breakfast, lunch).

(Sunday) In the morning, train journey from Riyadh to Hail (approx. 5 hours) and transfer to the hotel. The city of Hail lies at the foot of the imposing Shammar Mountains. It is known for its hospitable population and is home to a number of Saudi Arabian poets and writers. You will visit the A'Arif Fort and the nearby Heritage Museum. Afterwards, take a stroll through the market with its local delicacies. Depending on opening times, visit the Hail Regional Museum. One night in Hail. Approx. 645 km (breakfast, dinner). Standard: Golden Tulip Hotel (middle class, national category: 3 stars). Superior: Holiday Villa Hail (upper middle class, national category: 4 stars).

(Monday) Today you will first travel to Jubbah. This world-famous site is home to some of the oldest and most outstanding carvings in the Arabian Peninsula, which is why it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Drawings of aurochs, cheetahs and lions, among others, are still clearly recognizable on the sandstone rocks such as Jebel Umm Sanman. On the onward journey to AlUla, you will cross the famous Nefud Al Kabir desert, which literally means "the great expanse of sand dunes". It stretches over a length of 290 km and a width of 225 km, with a total area of 103,600 square kilometers. In AlUla you will visit the Jebel Al-Fil, also known as the "Elephant Rock". Arrive at your beautifully situated hotel in the early evening. 2 nights in AlUla. Approx. 580 km (breakfast, dinner). Standard: Sahary AlUla Resort (middle class, national category: 3 stars). Superior: Shaden Hotel (upper middle class, national category: 4 stars).

(Tuesday) After breakfast, set off to visit Hegra (Madain Saleh), the first site in Saudi Arabia to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the 1st century BC, the Nabataeans, who came from Petra, settled 30 km north of Dedan in Madain Saleh, originally Al-Hijr, where they built 94 monumental tombs. You will learn interesting facts about the stone buildings and ancient inscriptions. Afterwards, you will take a tour through the old town of AlUla, which was inhabited until the early 1980s. Over the centuries, pilgrims, travelers and permanent settlers met here. Return to the hotel. (Breakfast, dinner).

(Wednesday) Today you will first visit Jebel Ikmah with its amazing rock inscriptions, also known as the "open library". Then you will pass the ancient city of Dedan, which was an important oasis on the incense trade route between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean. The journey continues along the old railroad line to Medina (approx. 3-4 hours). One night in Medina. Approx. 330 km (breakfast, dinner). Standard: Delights Inn (middle class, national category: 3 stars). Superior: Le Méridien Medina (upper middle class, national category: 4 stars).

(Thursday) In the morning, you will visit the holy city of Medina. The sprawling Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque), an important Islamic place of pilgrimage, is located in the city center. Its impressive green dome rises above the tombs of the Prophet Mohammed and the early Islamic leaders Abu Bakr and Umar. The Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque) is known as the place where the Prophet Muhammad was ordered to change the direction of prayer to Mecca. Afterwards, you will take a walk near Uhud Mountain and visit the Dar Al Madina Museum, which introduces you to the history of Islam. The journey then continues to Jeddah (approx. 5 hours). Before heading to the hotel, visit the Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum, which presents the local and Arab heritage. 2 nights in Jeddah. Approx. 415 km (breakfast, dinner). Standard: Ramada Continental (middle class, national category: 3 stars). Superior: Mövenpick Tahliahm (upper middle class, national category: 4 stars).

(Friday) Today you will explore Jeddah. You start with a walk through Al-Balad, the old part of the city. You will see the old market and the famous Beit Nassif, a five-storey renovated building from the mid-19th century, which impressively combines traditional architecture and modernity. The tour continues to the Al Rahmah Mosque, also known as the floating mosque. It is a unique architectural marvel that is literally enthroned on the sea. From the inner courtyard of the mosque, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the Red Sea. Afterwards, head to Jeddah Corniche, the city's long waterfront promenade, where you will see large-scale sculptures and the King Fahd Fountain with the highest fountain in the world. Dinner in a traditional Saudi restaurant. (breakfast, dinner).

(Saturday) Transfer to the airport and individual journey home. (Breakfast).