On this 6-day tour, you will travel to locations that are key to understanding Saudi history and its lasting impact on the country. The first two days focus on the oasis of AlUla, which has been inhabited for the last 7,000 years. Ancient carving sites are plentiful here and you will visit some of them, including Ekma and Abu &#8216;Aoud, and will decipher ancient scripts. You will also explore one of Saudi&#8217;s six UNESCO World Heritage sights, Mada&#8217;in Saleh, featuring monumental tombs of the Nabatean people. Upon reaching Tabuk, you will visit Hisma to see its ancient Kufic Arabic inscriptions, and will journey to the archaeological site of Madyan, home to striking monumental tombs known by locals as the &#8220;Caves of the Prophet Shuaib.&#8221;&#10;&#10;Your travel will be aboard deluxe, air-conditioned motor coaches. Many meals will be included at hotels and restaurants&#8212;there will even be a picnic lunch in Hisma. Get a taste of Saudi history on this vacation package, and perhaps whet your appetite for more.

Travel to Saudi. Upon arrival at AlUla or Tabuk airport and after visa and immigration formalities, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel by deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach. Overnight in AlUla.&#160;

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel and get ready for a day of exploring AlUla, an ancient oasis that has been inhabited for the last 7000 years as evidenced by ancient carvings in and around the site. During the 1st millennium BCE, the city of Dedan developed thanks to its strategic location on the frankincense trade road. Dedan grew to become one of the oldest Arabian kingdoms that ruled over most of what today is known as the provinces of Tabuk and Madinah. During the 1st century BCE, the Nabatean people coming from Petra settled 30 kilometers north of Dedan in Al-Hijr where they built 94 monumental tombs similar to the ones they dug in Petra. We will start our exciting day with the visit of two ancient carving sites in AlUla, then we will pass by the ancient city of Dedan. Your tour continues on to the Old city of AlUla that became was once an important staging post along the pilgrimage route to Mecca. On the way, enjoy lunch and then visit the ancient sites of Ekma and Abu &#8216;Aoud. Here, we will decipher some of the ancient scripts written by the people of the oasis. We will finish this special day on at the top of the elevated Harrat Al-Uwayrid lookout point for an amazing view of the oasis of AlUla. This afternoon you will be head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay in AlUla.  (B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before visiting famous Hegra (Madain Saleh), the first designated UNESCO World Heritage site of Saudi Arabia. Madain Saleh, whose original name was Al-Hijr or Hegra in Greek, is the southernmost important city of the Nabatean Kingdom that flourished thanks to the caravan trade between the 2nd century BCE until the Roman conquest in 106 CE. It is the second richest Nabatean city in terms of monumental tombs with 94 decorated funeral monuments, including some of the most vibrant and well conserved structures that showcase the architectural prowess of the Nabateans builders. We will lead you through this fascinating site and share secrets of its tombs, ancient inscriptions, stone structures, and more. Our tour will be followed by an included lunch before we head towards Jabal Al-Rukkab and Leopard trail. We will then visit Jabal Al-Fil for a relaxing time next to the &#8220;Elephant rock.&#8221; At the end of the day, At the end of the day, we go back to our hotel and enjoy dinner and overnight in AlUla. (B, L, D)&#160; &#160;&#160;

Have breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a morning drive through the rugged landscapes of the lava field called Harrat Al-&#8216;Uwayrid as we head towards the Wadi Qaraqir and the ancient city of Dissah. Wadi Qaraqir is undoubtedly the most beautiful valley of Saudi Arabia with its 500 meters high sandstone cliffs on both sides of the canyon and the small river that runs through it all year long. Every inch of this canyon is simply amazing. On the other side of the valley is the oasis of Dissah where we will see remains that bear witness to the long occupation of this wonderful place. Enjoy lunch along the way and then we will drive north to our hotel in the town of Tabuk, capital of the province that bears its name. Relish and included dinner and overnight in Tabuk. (B, L, D)

Wake to the morning with breakfast at your hotel before visiting a place Hisma. Hisma is home to hundreds of ancient inscriptions and ancient rock art. Some of these are in pre-Islamic scripts dating back to the caravan trade and some are in old Arabic, dating back to the first decades of Islam. We will have a picnic during the excursion in the middle of this magical setting of Hisma. In the afternoon, we will drive up one of the highest mountains in Saudi Arabia, the Jabal Al Lawz, the mountain of almonds. People believe that this is the true site of the biblical Mount Sinai where Moses received the Tablets of Law. At the end of the day, head back to your hotel in Tabuk for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Savor breakfast at your hotel before discovering the area where the futuristic city of Neom is being constructed. Its name stands for &#8220;New Future&#8221; in Arabic. The area of Neom that we will explore today corresponds to the west shore of Tabuk Province.  Your adventure starts at the archeological site of Madyan, an ancient city mentioned in both the Coran and the Bible. This place was by the Nabateans who built monumental tombs known by locals as the &#8220;Caves of the Prophet Shuwayb&#8221; (Mughayr Shuwayb). From there travel in the footsteps of the Prophet Moses who, according to both the Bible and the Coran, lived in Madyan for 10 years. Next, visit the Wells of Moses and the impressive Valley of Moses.  From here you will enjoy sweeping views of the Sinai Mountain on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba. Depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to Tabuk Airport for your return flight home (or extend your stay). (B, L, D)&#160;&#160;

Sahary Resort is 29 km from Madain Saleh Tombs. The nearest airport is Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Domestic, 52 km from the accommodation. The property offers a paid airport shuttle service.



The Hilton Garden Inn is located just 15 minutes from Tabuk Regional Airport, with great connectivity to the city’s primary transport hubs, offering easy access to major government buildings and offices, numerous restaurants, contemporary shopping malls and popular attractions such as Sharma Beach and Tabuk Castle.

SAUDI HISTORY OF A CIVILIZATION

Africa & West AsiaSaudi Arabia Customizable Programs

INCLUDES

EXCLUDES

SAHARY RESORT

3 Nights

HILTON GARDEN INN TABUK

2 Nights

NOTES

SAUDI HISTORY OF A CIVILIZATION

From: $2,900