Immerse Yourself in the 8-Night Arabian Nights Haven in Riyadh

This is a chance to explore the Saudi desert that surrounds the city of Riyadh. We meet you in Riyadh in our 4x4 vehicles and drive to “The Pyramid”, an impressive sand dune 60 kilometers away from the city. There we have the possibility of seeing different types of camels (Bactrian, Dromedary), followed by sand-board fun, and of course some dune bashing with our expert Bedouin drivers. Finally, we relax in the dunes with a light meal, water, juices, and of course the traditional coffee and tea. We then return to Riyadh, a trip that takes approximately one hour.

We proceed into old Riyadh, starting in the downtown area, visiting the traditional Dirah Souq, famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques. The walk is infused with the aromas of sandalwood fragrance and other scents of the orient. The Souq is known for men’s clothing, and it is entertaining to watch the auction which takes place every Friday. After this, we visit the Masmak Fort, which is just walking distance from the Old Souq and whose importance is linked to the creation of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in. The fortified palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D. to serve as a military garrison for the army of Abdullah bin Rashid. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of today’s nation, captured the fort in 1902, marking the beginning of the reconquest of Arabia by the House of Saudi.

We reach the traditional village of Ushaiqer after a two-hour drive. One of the most vibrant examples of Najdi architecture, Ushaiqer is typical of the central plateau of Saudi Arabia. Ushaiqer is one of the oldest towns, existing for “over a millennium” and it was a major stopping point for pilgrims coming from territories that are now Kuwait and Iraq to perform Hajj or Umrah in Makkah. We get the opportunity to roam its narrow alleyways that run between elegant traditional houses, palaces, and old mosques. We also visit a private collection of old antiques at a museum in one of the most beautiful old houses in the village. We conclude our visit from an impressive viewpoint overlooking the area. After that we will have an authentic Arabian lunch at a traditional restaurant before returning to Riyadh.

We drive for 30 minutes to Ad-Diriyah, located on the western bank of the Wadi Hanifah, a dry riverbed where water flows only after big rains. Ad-Diriyah used to be the capital of the Najd (the central plateau of the Arabian Peninsula) from the 15th century until the beginning of the 18th century. It is the birthplace of the first Saudi Kingdom and its importance in the history of the Arabian Peninsula was highlighted when it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as the most brilliant example of Najdi architecture. The history of Ad-Diriyah goes back thousands of years as it was on an ancient trade and pilgrimage route, acting as a meeting point for those travelling to or from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Our visit to the site allows us to admire its incredible architecture before returning to downtown Riyadh. As we drive towards the city, we have the opportunity to admire the rapid development of this cosmopolitan capital, planned by the Saudi government to become the biggest metropole in the Middle East in the next 10 years.

We will start our tour at Riyadh Winter Wonderland, which is held on an open space of 200,000 square meters and includes the largest skating rink in the Middle East. Participants can experience their abilities in sniping, shooting, laser shooting, virtual reality games, and electronic games in a city equipped for both individuals and families. We will also see The Ice Rink, which hosts live shows featuring skiers and talented skaters from different countries around the world, and The Horror Tent, which includes 7 games with terrifying characters. Afterwards, we will drive to visit Kingdom Tower and the Sky Bridge. We will continue to Riyadh Boulevard to walk and wander among the multitude of restaurants and enjoy the musical fountain show. (Optional) Your tour leader can recommend a lovely restaurant there for you to have your dinner. Then we will drive back to your hotel in Riyadh.

We proceed into old Riyadh, starting in the downtown area, visiting the traditional Dirah Souq, famous for buying antique carpets and other useful Saudi heritage antiques. The walk is infused with the aromas of sandalwood fragrance and other oriental scents. The Souq is known for men’s clothing, and it is entertaining to watch the auction which takes place every Friday. After this, we visit the Masmak Fort, just a short walk from the Old Souq, which is significant for the creation of the 3rd Saudi Kingdom, the modern one we live in. The fortified palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in 1895 A.D. to serve as a military garrison for his army. His Majesty King Abdulaziz, the father of today’s nation, captured the fort in 1902, marking the beginning of the reconquest of Arabia by the House of Saudi. From there, we will head to the famous Kingdom Tower and its Sky Bridge to see Riyadh from a panoramic viewpoint nearly 300 meters above the city.

Drop At King Khalid International Airport