SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

11:00 AM

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Arrive JEDDAH

We will be met by AL SHITAIWI TOURS and transferred to
HOTEL RED SEA PALACE

Balance of day free

JEDDAH

Jeddah, the second largest city serves as the Financial and commercial center of the Saudi Kingdom with its seaport. It symbolizes the gateway to Holy Makkah and Western Arabia and is well known as the “Bride of the Red Sea.” The city used to be confined within massive walls of bleached coral but in the 1940s these walls were torn down and the town began to spread across the sand and grow into a modern city. Jeddah’s population has grown approximately sixty-fold in the last two generations.

Al Handasa Square in Jeddah The ancient city of Jeddah is fondly called the Bride of the Red Sea, as it is situated at the eastern coast of Red Sea and serves as a significant port city. Jeddah is the second largest city and the commercial and tourism hub of Saudi Arabia. It is the gateway to the holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina. So, every year countless number of pilgrims swarms to the city in the holy occasion of Hajj. Moreover the city has preserved its antediluvian vistas alongside modern development. This fascinating characteristic actually accounts for its popularity among the tourists. Jeddah Travel Guide serves information on the various sites of sightseeing in Jeddah. Among the major tourist attractions in the city of Jeddah, Al-Handasa Square in Jeddah holds a prime position.

The city of Jeddah is intersected by several roads and squares so as to reduce congestion in the roads. Among the numerous squares that abound the city, Al-Handasa Square in Jeddah is one of the busiest and probably the most famous road junction in the city. The Al-Handasa Square in Jeddah was built in 1986 AD. The Al-Handasa Square sprawls on 4000 sq meters of expanse. There are some huge geometrical tools structured in the middle of the square, namely, a compass, a triangle, a protractor and a ruler. These giant-size tools which are the cynosure of the Al-Handasa Square in Jeddah are considered among the largest of their kind in the world. The hugeness of these tools inspires awe and wonder in the mind of the viewers. The height of the compass, being the largest in the world, is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The cumulative weight of the Al-Handasa Square at Jeddah amounts to 66 tons.

There is a Quranic proverb written on the model ruler, "He has taught man that which he knew not". Truly enough, the exquisitely crafted structure of the Al-Handasa Square of Jeddah inadvertently invokes a lesson in the mind of the viewers that human capability is beyond measurement and imagination.

Shopping In Jeddah: The city of Jeddah is the second largest city and the commercial and tourism hub of Saudi Arabia. The ancient city treasures a history of 2500 years. Jeddah is situated at the eastern coast of Red Sea and serves as a significant port city. The city can be distinguished from the other Middle-East cities in many respects. Jeddah has gained the reputation of the wealthiest city in Middle East, because of the flowing petro-dollars. However, the city has still preserved the culture and heritage of its quintessential past. The city also rejoices in a multi-ethnic environment. The hospitality and amiability of the people of the city actually make the place conducive to enjoy stay there. Jeddah is a shopper's paradise. Most of the posh shopping precincts are clustered around the old city of Jeddah. Jeddah Travel Guide serves the tourists with the information about various options for shopping in Jeddah.

Shopping in Jeddah could be a lifetime experience. You would have loads of options and opportunities to choose from among the countless shops of Jeddah. The options for Shopping in Jeddah range from the outlets international stores and brands to the local markets of Jeddah, popularly known as Souks. In the historical area of Jeddah, known as Al-Balad, there are a host of shopping centers and high-fashion boutiques.

JEDDAH

Breakfast at hotel

Proceed for visit to old houses, Nasif House, Fish Market, etc.

Houses are 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. We will also visit the Gold Souk.

The Nasif House was built during the 1850’s 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 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 an in 1964 it was converted into a museum and put under Government care.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon enjoy a one hour boat trip in Red Sea followed by dinner in a floating boat.

JEDDAH

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning visit Abdul Rauf Khalil Art Museum.

Abdul Rauf Khalil Art Museum is one of the most unusual museums. Its four buildings comprise an electirc hodge-p0dge of more than10,000 weird and wonderful artefacts. One of its main buildings burnt out during 2002.

The corniche of Jeddah is one of the most important archievements 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 Municipality has made use of this long expanse of waterfront and turned it into place of fresh air for the city.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Transfer to the airport

Our journey from Al-Madinah to Al Ula (320 kms) will be full  with sightseeing along the historical Hijaz Railway: the first stop will be Hafira Railway Fort, then Bowair Railway Fort with its old locomotive. We will visit the pilgrims Fort dating back the early Islamic period.

On arrival to Al Ula, the Capital of History and Antiquities we will check in to
HOTEL ARAC

AL ULA

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning visit old houses, museum etc in Al Ula. Then proceed for a full day excursion to archaeological site of Madain Saleh.

Al-Hijr, known as Madain Sallih, was the southern capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, while Petra was the northern capital. The Nabataeans controlled the area from Al Ula in the south to Madain Salih in the north; it was called the Lihyanite Kingdom during the period between the first century B.C. and first century A.D. Al-Hijr was centre for trade caravans on the trade route from Southern Arabia to Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, Egypt and other countries of the Mediterranean basin. The strategic position, and trade with numerous countries, in addition to the taxes levied on caravan trade, provided the Nabataeans with wealth and prosperity. They were able to build palaces and carve houses, temples and tombs in the rocks.

Historians have confirmed the Arab origin of the Nabataeans as their popular personal names well show. Such names are: al-Harith, Malik, Juthaima, Kulaib, Wa’il, Mugheira, Qusai, Amra, Ali, Saeed, Jamila, Hajir and Shaqyla. The Nabataeans spoke a northern Arabic dialect and worshipped Thu-Shara as their main deity. Thu-Shara is represented in the form of a stone block or column. Other deities mentioned in the Quran are: Allat, Al-Uzza and Manat.

Madain Salih is so rich in antiquities that the city represent an open museum of 12.39 km, including archaeological buildings and other remains from the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods.

Tombs: These are burial graves for Tymanites, Nabataeans and other inhabitants. The Nabataeans seem to have been the most prominent as shown by their numerous inscriptions on tomb facades, which normally include the name of the deceased, date and name of the craftsman who built the tomb.

There are 131 tombs, 31 of which are dated to the period from the first year B.C. to the year 75 A.D. Evidently, the Nabataeans were keen to care for the outer form of the tomb rather than the interior. The burial grave is 200 - 180 cm long and 30-65 cm wide. Side graves are not uniform in shape or design. It is noticeable that the tomb facades exhibit foreign artistic influences resulting from trade relations. Important tombs are Qasr Al-Bint, Al Qasr Al-Freed, Al-Sanie and Al-Khuraimat. They are characterized by various fine carvings and decorative elements which were prevalent in neighboring Egyptian, Assyrian and Greek civilizations. Such foreign elements are mixed together to produce one rich decorative pattern. Tomb facades are also distinguished from those of Petra by the presence of crenelations (plates) framed on top of the entrances inscribed in Nabataean.

The inscriptions on the tomb facades provide information about the social background of the grave owners, the religious systems and the masons who carved them. Details of the tomb interiors are not as fine as the outer facades. The inside chambers are not well carved, and graves of rectangular shafts, usually more than 12 in number, are distributed along the sides of the chamber. Niches were carved inside the walls to place burial furniture and offerings.

Ad-Diwan: This is the religious centre in Al-Hijr known to local people as Diwan Abu Zaid. It is an open rectangular hall with stone benches at three sides. To the left side of its entrance there is a passage between two jebels with a number of carved niches along its sides. The passage leads to a number of worshipping rooms and alters cut into the rock. They contain sanctuaries and statues of Thu-Shara, Manat and Allat deities.

Qasr Al-Ajooz: This is a detached rock block amidst sand to the south of Jebel Ithlib with its northern front similar to the Diwan. Nabataean religious symbols were placed in it.

The Cave (water tank): This cave is situated in the area where the previously mentioned passage ends. It is a deep cave 5.45 X 5.10 X 4.50m, dug inside the rock to collect rain waters. The Nabataeans are known to keen concerned with water its sources. A number of stonelined wells were also discovered.

Inscriptions: In addition to inscriptions on the faces of tombs, a number of Lihyantie and Minaean, Thamudic, Nabataean and Kufic writings were found.

Khuraibat al-Hijr: This is mainly the site which in composed of a number of mounds in the flat area between mountains. The Saudi Antiquities Dept. has conducted archaeological excavations of these features and recovered structures built of mud with stone foundations. Archaeological finds included coins, pottery and glass vessels and incense burners.

The Islamic Castle: This it a two-story square stone building. The entrance placed on the northern side leads to an open courtyard with a well in its centre. The courtyard is surrounded by rooms and a mosque. On the west and east sides of the castle, there are two staircases leading to the upper floor. The architectural features of the building suggest an Abbasid date.

The Hijaz Railway Station: This is one of the main stations on the Hijaz railway line from Damascus to Madinah. The buildings include two workshops, one for train maintenance, and the other for engine repair. Other buildings are store rooms, employees’ residence, rest houses for travelers and toilets.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Leave AL ULA early in the morning for a pleasant drive through the desert to HAIL.

Hail is located in northwestern part of Saudi Arabia, on a gently slopping plain on the west side of Wadi al-Idairi between Aja and Salma mountains. In the past, the running water of the Wadi hindered the inhabitants at both mountains from coming together and hence the city got its name. Hail was inhabited by famous ancient Arab tribes like Taiy to which the most benevolent poet Hatim al-Tayi belonged.

Human occupation in Hail goes back to prehistoric times as indicated by the numerous stone artifacts and structures together with Stone Age and chalcolithic rock drawings. Large number of Thamudic inscriptions could be seen on its mountains. In the past the city maintained cultural relations with the Assyrian, Babylonian and Levantine cultures. Assyrian and Babylonian incursions into Northern Arabia passed through Hail while it acted as a trade centre connecting four main roads leading to Jawf, Buraydah, al-Najaf and Jarha.

We will drive to nearby Jubbah to see the Rock Drawings and inscriptions. Important prehistoric and historic sites with inscriptions and drawings are known in Hail area such as Jubba, Milyhia mountains, Yatib and Jannain. Pictures include scenes of wild cattle, camels, ostriches, Lions, horses, gazelles, antelopes and dogs. They also include life-size human figures of both sexes. Religious scenes exhibit various types of rituals rites and offerings to deities. Tribal signs (Wasim), shakes, the sun and other atheistic signs were also depicted.

We will enjoy a hot lunch in a Bedouin tent.

Transfer to the airport for your flight.

Leave HAIL by SV #580
Arrive RIYADH
Transfer to HOTEL FOUR SEASONS

RIYADH

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning visit old city of Diriyyah, Musmak Fort and Dira Souq. The old city of Diriyyah is located about 20km from the main city center of Riyadh. It is one of the most important 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 Duru, known as Ibn Dir, who was also the chief of al-Dir clan of 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 Diriyyah.

The Musmak palace is one of the most important monuments in 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.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon visit Thumama Desert, Camel Market and National Museum.

The National Museum, which opened in Riyadh in 1999 to Saudi celebrate the centenary of Saudi unification, was the result of an international design competition. The primary custodian of the 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

Murraba Palace is among the most important palace built by King Abdulaziz in the year 1355A.H corresponding to 1937 A.D. The purpose for building this Palace was to accommodate his family. The palace was composed of a number of a residential palaces, services buildings and King Abdulaziz Divan. In the year 1937 A.D. King Abdulaziz and his family moved in this palace. This palace was built on the local traditional Najid style by using local building material only.

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