14 Days · In-Depth · 5 Regional Bases

14 Days in Saudi Arabia: The Grand Panorama (Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif) to Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis & Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains)

A two-week grand tour spanning Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif), Red Sea Coast, Umluj & Yanbu, AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh), Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains, Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad, and Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis.

Route Overview: Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif) (3N) → Red Sea Coast, Umluj & Yanbu (1N) → AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh) (3N) → Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains (2N) → Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad (2N) → Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis (2N)
Budget Estimate: ﷼8625–﷼14625 ($2,300–$3,900 USD per person)

Day 1 (Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif)) — Arrival in Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif):

Arrive at King Khalid International Airport (RUH — Direct Riyadh Metro Yellow Line 4 to KAFD & Downtown!) and explore Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif) Historic Center & Old Quarter.

Day 2 (Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif)) — Diriyah UNESCO World Heritage Site (At-Turaif District) & Bujairi Terrace — Book the Diriyah Pass (50 SAR — fully redeemable as dining credit at Bujairi Terrace!) on `diriyah.sa` to walk among restored Najdi mud-brick palaces overlooking floodlit Wadi Hanifah. & The National Museum of Saudi Arabia & Murabba Palace (King Abdulaziz Historical Centre) — Trace Arabian Peninsula history from prehistoric petroglyphs and Nabataean kingdoms to modern unification (15 SAR).:

Full day in historic Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif).

Day 3 (Riyadh & Diriyah (At-Turaif)) — Al Masmak Fortress & Souq Al-Zal (Ad-Dirah) — 1865 clay-and-mudbrick fortress (Free) beside traditional auction carpets, oud incense burners, and brass coffee dallahs. & Local Markets:

Market tasting tour featuring Kabsa (Fragrant Spiced Basmati Rice with Lamb or Chicken) and Saudi Cardamom Blonde Coffee (Qahwa).

Day 4 (Red Sea Coast, Umluj & Yanbu) — Overnight in Red Sea Coast, Umluj & Yanbu:

Short hop to Red Sea Coast, Umluj & Yanbu to experience Umluj & The 100 Islands Boat Excursion — Charter a local marina boat from Umluj port (~350–500 SAR) out to powder-white sandbars and shallow turquoise lagoons teeming with dolphins. after day-trippers leave.

Day 5 (AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh)) — Rail to AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh):

Ride Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR — Jeddah Airport, Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City, Madinah & Makkah at 300 km/h) & SAR North/East Railway to AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh) Central Station and settle into AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh) Historic Center & Old Quarter.

Day 6 (AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh)) — Hegra (Al-Hijr / Madain Saleh — UNESCO World Heritage Site) — Book your timed coach or vintage Land Rover tour on `experiencealula.com` (Day Tour 95 SAR / ~$25; Vintage Land Rover 700 SAR per car) to stand before the solitary 22-meter Tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza (Qasr al-Farid), Jabal Banat, and Jabal Ithlib. & Maraya ('Mirror' in Arabic — Wadi Ashar) — The Guinness World Record largest mirrored building on Earth (9,740 m² of reflective glass panels) vanishing into the surrounding sandstone cliffs.:

Explore AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh)'s signature monuments and museums.

Day 7 (AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh)) — AlUla Old Town, Incense Road Market & Oasis Heritage Trail (45–75 mins by regional transit):

Scenic day excursion from AlUla & Hegra (Madain Saleh).

Day 8 (Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains) — Transfer to Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains:

Head to Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains (2–3 days · 450–1,100 ﷼ ($120–$293) / day) and explore Rijal Almaa Heritage Village — 60 multi-story stone-and-quartz palaces cascading down a green mountain gorge 45 minutes below Abha (20 SAR museum entry)..

Day 9 (Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains) — Al-Qatt Al-Asiri (Fatima Museum — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) — Traditional vibrant geometric murals painted by Asiri women inside historic homes. & Jabal Sawda, Fog Walkway (Al Dhabab) & High City Abha — Walk along cliffside cafés literally above a sea of white mountain clouds at 2,800 meters elevation.:

Full day in Abha, Rijal Almaa & Asir Mountains with regional dining (Mandi (Underground Pit-Roasted Lamb)).

Day 10 (Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad) — Onward to Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad:

Arrive in Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad and check into Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad Historic Center & Old Quarter.

Day 11 (Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad) — Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad — UNESCO World Heritage Site) — Wander atmospheric lanes between 18th- and 19th-century houses built from Red Sea coral block and intricate teakwood Rawasheen lattice balconies (Beit Nassif, Beit Matbouli & Beit Sharbatly; best from 16:30 to 22:00 when historic bakeries and art galleries come alive). & Jeddah Waterfront Corniche, Al-Rahmah ('Floating') Mosque & King Fahd's Fountain — White-marble mosque built on stilts over the turquoise Red Sea, plus the world's tallest water fountain jetting 312 meters into the night sky.:

Signature day in Jeddah & Historic Al-Balad.

Day 12 (Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis) — Continue to Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis:

Travel to Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis (2 days · 480–1,200 ﷼ ($128–$320) / day) via King Khalid International Airport (RUH — Direct Riyadh Metro Yellow Line 4 to KAFD & Downtown!) or Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis Central Station.

Day 13 (Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis) — At-Turaif UNESCO Citadel & Salwa Palace (Diriyah) — Walk elevated glass walkways through the 1766 royal seat of the First Saudi State, featuring triangular Najdi ventilation windows and interactive night projections. & Ushaiqer Heritage Village (2 Hours Northwest of Riyadh) — One of Najd's best-preserved walled mud-brick villages with 400 tamarisk-door houses and shaded alleyways.:

Explore At-Turaif UNESCO Citadel & Salwa Palace (Diriyah) — Walk elevated glass walkways through the 1766 royal seat of the First Saudi State, featuring triangular Najdi ventilation windows and interactive night projections. and celebrate your final night with AlUla Medjool Dates.

Day 14 (Diriyah, Ushaiqer & Al-Ahsa Oasis) — Departure:

Fly home from King Khalid International Airport (RUH — Direct Riyadh Metro Yellow Line 4 to KAFD & Downtown!) or connect back to King Khalid International Airport (RUH — Direct Riyadh Metro Yellow Line 4 to KAFD & Downtown!).