Saudi Arabia, From Riyadh to Jeddah

Saudi Arabia's Golden Triangle: In search of its hidden treasures 4^*

Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel.

Dinner at leisure, overnight stay at the hotel

Welcome to Riyadh, “the garden,” capital of Saudi Arabia.

In the morning, visit the National Museum, which traces the country’s history from its origins to the 20th century, followed by a tour of Al Murabba Palace, the last residence of the kingdom’s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Free time at the souq.

Lunch not included.

In the afternoon, explore the Al Masmak Fortress, built in the late 19th century. Its towers and clay walls, reminiscent of desert dunes, now house a museum dedicated to the kingdom’s history.

Continue to Diriyah and its historic district of Al-Turaif, birthplace of the Al Saud dynasty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through its narrow alleyways lined with sun-dried mudbrick buildings, fine examples of traditional Najdi architecture.

Dinner not included. Overnight in Riyadh.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to AlUla.

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Lunch not included.

In the afternoon, take a stroll through the deserted alleys of AlUla's old town, which has been abandoned since the early 20th century. Each house was built from clay bricks and had a ground floor used as a warehouse and an upper floor for living quarters.

Dinner not included. Overnight in AlUla.

Please note that the domestic flight from Riyadh to AlUla may be operated by either a regular or a low-cost airline, depending on availability. If there are no flights available on the scheduled day, the flight will be redirected to Tabuk, with onward travel to AlUla arranged. This change will not affect the cost of the trip.

This morning, visit Dadan (Al-Khuraybah), the ancient capital of the kingdom of Lihyan (2nd century BC), nestled at the foot of a cliff riddled with tombs. A major stop on the caravan route, the site is also mentioned in the Bible.

Continue on to Jabal Ikmah, a genuine open-air library, where inscriptions in Aramaic, Dadanic, Thamudic and Nabataean can be viewed.

Lunch not included.

In the afternoon, explore Madâin Sâlih (Hegra), Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Heir to the Nabataean civilisation, in the tradition of Petra, the site contains over a hundred tombs carved into the rock, all beautifully preserved.

At the end of the day, stop at Jabal al-Fil, the Elephant Rock, to watch the sunset.

Dinner not included. Overnight in AlUla.

In the morning, visit the oasis of Khaybar, halfway between al-Ula and Medina. In the 5th century AD, Muhammad fought a historic battle there against Jewish tribes, who were defeated. But its history goes back much further. Its fortress, an essential stop on the frankincense route, is mentioned in texts about its conquest by the Babylonian king Nabonidus. Archaeological excavations continue in the region to shed light on the history of this natural stopover in the heart of a volcanic field. Lunch at leisure. Depart for Medina for a short sightseeing tour before departing by train for Jeddah.

Lunch and dinner at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Jeddah is the country's economic capital and most dynamic city, with a large port on the Red Sea and the maritime gateway to Mecca. In the morning, visit the Tayebat Museum, which houses a large collection of artefacts that trace the history of the Kingdom through the ages. The day continues with a stroll along the waterfront, a favourite haunt of the Saudi population, with its restaurants and picnic areas: the floating al-Rahmah Mosque (visit from outside) was built on water so that it appears to float at high tide; meanwhile, King Fahd's Fountain boasts the highest water jet in the world, visible from all over the city. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, visit the historic old town of al-Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional buildings are made of coral stone with wooden windows and balconies. Visit the interior of one of the houses. Free time to wander the narrow streets, enjoy a cup of tea and do some last-minute shopping before returning home.

Lunch and dinner at leisure and overnight at hotel.

You will be transferred to Jeddah airport, according to your return flight schedule.

Entry requirements for Saudi Arabia:

Visa

Saudi Arabia has been granting tourist visas to nationals of 49 countries, including France, since 27 September 2019. According to the Saudi authorities, it is possible to apply for this type of visa directly on arrival, using dedicated terminals at the Riyadh and Jeddah airports. However, it is recommended that French citizens wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia obtain an electronic visa via Saudi Visa (https://visa.visitsaudi.com/) prior to their trip. In any case, visitors must be able to present the required supporting documents upon arrival, particularly those regarding medical cover.

The Saudi authorities do not issue visas to holders of passports bearing Israeli visas or stamps.

Customs regulations

On arrival in Saudi Arabia, baggage generally undergoes a thorough inspection. Prohibitions on the import of certain goods must be respected to avoid confiscation and a tedious search.

For further information, please contact the Saudi Arabian Embassy in France (https://embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/France/FR/Pages/default.aspx).

Practices and customs

Certain social and religious rules must be respected:

The import and consumption of alcohol and pork are strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Imported cultural products (books, DVDs, magazines, etc.) must be in line with local standards of decency.

Foreign women are no longer required to wear an "abaya" (a long dress covering the entire body). However, women are advised to wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid short sleeves and dresses above the knee.

Men should wear trousers and avoid shorts or Bermuda shorts.

Islam is the only authorised religion in Saudi Arabia. All manifestations of belonging to other religions (practices, proselytism, symbols, etc.) are prohibited.

Only people of the Muslim faith are permitted to visit Mecca, and access remains strictly controlled. In Medina, access to the Prophet's Mosque is forbidden to non-Muslims.

During the month of Ramadan, travellers should pay particular attention to respecting Saudi customs and traditions.

Saudis scrupulously observe the fasting period. It is strictly forbidden to eat, drink or smoke in public, under penalty of arrest and expulsion. Women must pay greater attention to what they wear.

Certain aspects of private life are considered to be indecent offences (adultery, homosexuality, etc.), which are severely punished. The consumption and smuggling of alcohol or drugs also carry severe penalties.