Grand Tour of Saudi

• Arrive in Riyadh and transfer to Four Points by Sheraton Hotel (4*).
• Overnight at the hotel.

• Morning visit historical city of Diriyyah, Musmak Fort and Dira Souq.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Afternoon visit National Museum followed by visit to Kingdom Tower Bridge for a panoramic view of Riyadh.
• Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.

The old city of Dirriyyah is located about 20km from the main city center of Riyadh. It is one of the most important archaeological sites from where the history of Saudi Dynasty begins. It is situated in the eastern part of the so-called Najd area in the valley known as Wadi Hanifa. The meaning of Najid is the high plateau, which forms the central part of Saudi Arabia.It is recorded by the chronicles that one of the person known as Ibn Dir, who was also the chief of al-Dir clan of Duru, which was belonging to Bani Hanifa tribe, was ruling this area. He had a vast fertile land in the valley, which he was not able to utilize completely due to lack of thin population of his clan. Therefore, he invited another clan of the same Banu Hanifa tribe to settle down on the fertile area of the Hanifa valley. Therefore, the clan named Murdah comes under the leadership of Mani Al-Muraydi in 1446 A.D in Wadi Hanifa. Ibn Dir gave land for the cultivation to the clan in the Wadi Hanifa and the clan settled down. They were the ancestors of the Al-Saud family who established their first rule at Dirriyya.

The Musmak Fort is one of the most important monuments in Saudi Arabia from where the modern Saudi History begins. It is an important historic landmark in the city of Riyadh. This palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. The reason for building this historic palace was to serve as military garrison for the Abdullah bin Rashid army who was operating under a Governor in Riyadh from the Hail. His Majesty King Abdulaziz on 15th January 1902 captured the fort.

Dira Souq is famous for its variety of old copper and brass objects including silver daggers, silver Beduins Jewelry and dresses. While entering from main access, one always smells sandal wood fragrance. DiraSouq is worth buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques.

The National Museum which opened in Riyadh in 1999 to celebrate the centenary of Saudi unification, was the result of an international design competition. The primary custodian of the Saudi national heritage and culture, the Museum is a place of learning and discovery, designed to sing out with quiet excitement and inspiration, to kindle pride in the Arab heritage and reverence for Islam. This national Landmark is composed of eight galleries telling the complete story of Arabian History from the creation of the universe to our modern era.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Morning visit King Faisal Foundation or Saker Al Jazirah Aviation Museum.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Transfer to the airport for your flight SV 1389 (1320-1510) to Al Jouf.
• Arrive Al Jouf and proceed for visit to Domat Al Jandal and Omar Mosque.
• Transfer to Raoum Inn.
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Domat al-Jandal which is also known as Al-Jawf or Al-Jouf, is an ancient city of ruins and the historical capital of the Al Jouf Province, North Western Saudi Arabia. It is located 38kms away from Sakaka.

The ‘Omar bin al-Khattab Mosque” is certainly the most emblematic monument in the Al Jouf province, visited by thousands of tourists each year and rightly presented in brochures as a hallmark of Saudi faith and pride.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Morning visit Za’abal Fort, Sesera Well etc.
• Lunch at the hotel.
• Drive to Hail.
• En route visit Arrajajil Standing stones and Jubbah Rock Carvings.
• Arrive Hail and transfer to Millenium Hotel.
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Za’abal Fort is an ancient castle built 300 years ago on the ruins of a Nabatean Castle that dates back to the presence of the Nabateans in the region. This has only one entrance and four towers used for observation and wars. The castle is approx fifty meters above the city level and it is a popular destination for tourists visiting the region.

Arrajajil is a site with an area of three square kilometers. It was used as burial sand established about 4500 BC. There are four standing stone “columns” at each burial, with a circular stone next to it and a room for performing the rituals. Also found on the site many tools such as scrapers, plates, cups, decorations etc as well as found several rocky drawings.

Jubbah is one of the most interesting places of Saudi Arabia. It is believed that camel figures carved at Jubbah are the oldest in the Arabian Peninsula. These rock carvings date back to approx. 4000years.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Morning visit Qishla and Oraif Fortresses.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Drive to Al Ula.
• Arrive and transfer to tent village.
• Dinner and overnight at Tent Village.

Hail is located in the Shammar Mountain region which is in west ofthe Al Odairie Valley. Hail is an urban centre where people resettle due to its development. The population of this city is over 100,000.

Qishla Fortress was constructed during 1940s when Prince Abdul-Azizbin Musa'ad Al Saudi had office in Hail Province. This is a double story mud Palace. This has two main gates with 8 watch towers.

• Breakfast a the tent village.
• Today proceed for a full day excursion to magnificent Nabatean sites of Madain Saleh which includes QasrBint, Diwan, QasrFarid etc.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Afternoon visit underground city, Lihyan etc.
• Dinner and overnight at tent village.

Wadi Al Ula, gateway to Madain Saleh is known for its Lion of the Lihyanites-predecessors of the Natateans (100 to 500 BC). Madain Saleh is the prime tourist attraction of the Kingdom. It was known as “Al Hijr” in the ancient times and served as a stopover on a very prosperous trade route. The cities lie on 9 square Km in an area of isolation about 845 Km from Jeddah in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia between Tabouk and Madinah.

Qasr Bint means “Palace of Daughters”. This I the largest tomb at Madain Saleh sites. It is raised above ground level. An inscription plaque is indicated on the doorway.

• Breakfast at tent village.
• Transfer to the airport for your flight SV 1631 (1215-1330) to Jeddah.
• Arrive Jeddah and transfer to Prime Al Hamra Hotel (4*)
• Lunch at the hotel.
• Afternoon proceed for visit to open Museum etc.
• Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Visit Hijaz Construction's old houses, Nasif House,Bughdadi House. Jamjom House, Noor Wali House, Matboli House, Almaemar Mosque, Old Gold Market in Bagel Street, Ain Farel Yuser, Shafei & Ukash Mosque.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Afternoon Visit Al Rahmah Mosque and Jeddah Aquarium. Visit Open Jeddah Museum and King Fahd Fountain.
• Dinner in local restaurant.
• Transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Historical Houses were constructed from coral and reinforced with wood so that beams criss-cross the interior walls. Wooden balconies and casement windows are a special feature of Jeddah's style, with elaborate casements decorating the facades of the old houses - normally there is a small balcony fronting every window. Doors and windows shutters are intricately carved. Some are painted and some remain simply wood with varnish.

The Nasif House was built during the 1850s by the well-known Nasif Family, one of the most influential trading families in the long history of Jeddah. In the 19th and early 20th centuries the house was one of the most important building in Jeddah. It was here that King Abdul Aziz spent his first night in Jeddah, as the guest of Mohammed Nasif, after he lead his victorious army into the capital of the Western Province. The Municipality of Jeddah recognized the architectural and historic value of the house and in1964 it was converted into a museum and put under Government care.

The cornische of Jeddah is one of the most important achievements of the city and is a major attraction for visitors to Jeddah. As Jeddah's Red Sea coast extends for more than 80 km, the Munici-pality has made use of this long expanse of water front and turn edit into place of fresh air for the city