Ancient Wonders of AlUla

Arrive in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and it’s hard to believe that this was once a walled, mud-brick way desert town along desert trading routes. Nowadays it’s a fast spreading, quickly changing metropolis with some of the best hotels and restaurants in the country.  Depending on your arrival in Riyadh, you have the remainder of the day and evening on your own.  

• Hotel Description

Your day starts with a guided tour of Riyadh, and your first stop is Al Masmak Fortress in the heart of the old town. A large, clay and mud-brick 150-year-old citadel that witnessed the birth of a kingdom, which, like Justice Square, is another reminder of the past. Visit Souk al Zel and Souk Bisht, two of the most characteristic traditional market places in the city. Learn more about Saudi history at the beautiful Murabba Palace and the modern National Museum of Saudi Arabia. After lunch at a traditional restaurant, explore Ad Diriyah, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and discover more about its architecture and heritage, as well as how the mud-brick houses were built. Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Depart the city by air and head to AlUla, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled deep in the desert in the northwestern region of the country. This area is rich in historical and geographical significance and is often regarded as the highlight of many travellers. To get a good feel of your surroundings, you are taken to Harrat Viewpoint, an expansive black plateau with stunning views of the old city and the desert landscape. As the day approaches sunset, it is time to visit Elephant Rock. Set against the backdrop of golden desert sands and ascending into the blue Arabian skies, this rock formation, also known as Jabal Alfil, stands as one of AlUla's most remarkable geological wonders. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Start the day with a visit to the Nabataean site of Hegra, the southern capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, dating back to the first century BCE. Follow your ‘rawee’ or storyteller, and explore several of the more than 100 well-preserved monumental tombs, most with elaborate facades carved from rock formations scattered around the desert. Then follow the winding, shaded Oasis Heritage trail through the fields that provide fresh herbs and vegetables to AlUla’s restaurants. End your day in Aljadidah, AlUla’s arts and cultural district, and home to a variety of shops, restaurants, and galleries. The pedestrianised area is excellent for an evening stroll, or enjoy a drink on a terrace and watch the world go by while the sun changes the colours of the surrounding cliffs. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

An exhilarating 4x4 excursion into the desert is a great way to explore the towering cliffs, rocky plains, and dunes around AlUla. Take a break in the middle of nowhere and set up camp where you can enjoy a sumptuous Bedouin-style, picnic lunch, before returning to your camp. The remainder of the day is free to relax by the pool, or you can explore AlUla’s with an optional activity: have a bird’s eye view of the area in a helicopter or hot air balloon, or venture off the beaten path into the hidden valley or climb the valley’s edge to soak in AlUla’s expansive vistas. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Depending on your return flight to Riyadh, you are free until it’s time for your transfer to the airport. Depending on your time of arrival you will be taken to visit the iconic Kingdom Sky Tower with its distinctive design and observation deck providing breathtaking views of Riyadh’s sprawling skyline and surrounding landscapes. The rest of the day is free until your driver picks you again for your farewell dinner. (B,D)

• Hotel Description

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to London. (B)