Saudi Arabia: The Forbidden Kingdom

Transcription

1 930 Irwin Street, Suite 222, San Rafael, CA Phone: Fax: CST Permit # Saudi Arabia: The Forbidden Kingdom February 10-23, 2019 Noember 3-16, 2019 As the birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia has been shielding itself from the eyes of the west for a long time but time has come now that the Kingdom is moing in huge steps towards modernization and openness. But this is also a land with a ibrant cultural pedigree, aside from its glitzy oil-rich modern cities. Amongst the rock-hewn splendors of Madain Saleh and Madain Shoeb, you will explore Nabatean heritage equal to what Petra offers. Most of the great empires of the ancient world traded with the Arabian Kingdoms that commanded the important spice trade routes in the peninsula. Colorful markets, desert landscapes, coral reefs, rock engraings, ancient monuments, traditional mud-brick cities, and imposing fortresses are abundant in a country that has so much to offer to those who choose to enture in it & explore its enigmatic and intriguing side. Mada in Saleh

2 Day 1: Feb 10/No 3 Arrie Jeddah Arrie in Jeddah, meet, assist and transfer to your hotel for check in and oernight. Dinner will be proided only if you arrie to Jeddah prior to 8 PM (D) Day 2: Feb 11/No 4 Jeddah A morning isit to some of the old Ottoman houses, mostly constructed from coral and reinforced with wood so that beams criss-cross the interior walls. The most beautiful & well known is Nasif House, which was built during the 1850s by the well-known Nasif Family, one of the most influential trading families in the history of Jeddah. In the 19th and early 20th centuries the house was one of the most important buildings in Jeddah. It was here that King Abdul Aziz spent his first night in Jeddah, as the guest of Mohammed Nasif, after he led his ictorious army into the capital of the Western Proince. Then isit Altaybat Int l City for Sciences and Knowledge (also known as Abdul Rauf Khalil Art Museum) which is a ery beautiful museum that houses endless collections of arts, ethnography and archaeology artifacts. After a lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the corniche of Jeddah (sea-side promenade), a major attraction that acts as an open air museum displaying an array of modern sculptures and a gathering social place for locals. Return to the hotel for dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 3: Feb 12/No 5 Jeddah to Abha Check out from the hotel and isit the colorful Fish Market, lunch along the seaside followed by transfer to the airport for your flight to Abha. Upon arrial, transfer to your hotel for check in. This afternoon we isit the traditional baskets market and Muftaha Village Art Gallery. This eening, isit a typical Saudi home for personal interaction with local people. Return to our hotel for dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 4: Feb 13/No 6 Abha: Excursion Khamis Mushayt Asir, with its capital at Abha, is mainly a highland proince and includes the entire area of southwest Saudi Arabia till the Yemen border. Perched at the highest point accessible by road, the cable car takes isitors on its 7km ride at an altitude of 2,500 meters. Full day excursion with a isit to Mount Souda, Khamis Mushayt, and Hamsan Village. We first stop at the top of Mount Souda, located in the Hejaz Mountains. We continue to Khamis Mushayt, an industrial city about 25 km east of Abha. The city's antique siler market is its chief tourist draw. Afterwards stop at Al Hamsan traditional illage on the outskirts of town, an imaginatie deelopment consisting of a stone tower and buildings; including a museum that is replica of an Asir home two decades ago, an auditorium, a traditional restaurant and a gift shop. Lunch at a local restaurant in Bin Himsan Al Habala, the location of the first cable car in Asir, is named after an old illage located on a steep 400 meter cliff made famous by the people of Al Habala. The inhabitants lied in stone dwelling clinging to the cliff-face for the security and

3 safety found in the rock walls. So sheer was the cliff side that the illagers --men and women-- lowered themseles down into raine on ropes. Return to our hotel for dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 5: Feb 14/No 7 Abha to Al Ula Breakfast at hotel then transfer to airport for your flight to Jeddah, arrie and connect to a flight to Al Ula. Transfer to our luxury camp for check-in and lunch. This afternoon isit the old houses, Hijaz Railway Station and the magnificent iconic Elephant Rock. Dinner and oernight at our luxury camp with attached priate bathrooms, hot water showers, electricity and real bed mattresses (not cots). (B,L,D) Day 6: Feb 15/No 8 Al Ula Al Ula Camp Start the day excursion to archaeological site of Madain Saleh isiting, Nabatean Well, Qasr Al Bint, Diwan and Al Farid Palace. Wadi Al Ula, gateway to Madain Saleh is known for its Lion of the Lihyanites - predecessors of the Natateans (100 to 500 BC). Madain Saleh was known as Al Hijr in the ancient times & sered as a stopoer on a ery prosperous trade route. The cities lie on 9 sq kms in an area of isolation about 845 Km from Jeddah in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia between Tabouk and Madinah. Return to our camp for dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 7: Feb 16/No 9 Al Ula to Al Jouf

4 This morning drie to Al Jouf ia Tima. In Tima see Haddaj water well, Al Hamra Palace and Raham Fort. Continue on the drie to isit Dowmat Al Jandal. The ancient stone fortress, also known as Marid Castle. Built with stones on a hill (2,000Ft high), it majestically oerlooks the old city from the south. In the city isit Omar s mosque, named after the second Moslem Caliph: Omar Ibn Al Khatab. Transfer to your hotel for check in, dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Trip remark: The Madain Saleh is going through detailed restoration at the moment and it is ery hard to predict when it is going to be open so if it will be closed at the time of our isit we will offer another Nabataean site known as Madain Shuaib and keep the right to change the order of the sightseeing actiities as below. Day 6: Feb 15/No 8 Al Ula to Al Tabuk In the morning, drie to Khuraiba Lion Tombs for a isit from the outside then continue to Al Wajh to isit the old city. After lunch, isit Madain Shuaib, the 2nd most important Nabatean site in the Kingdom with its rock-cared tombs dating from the era of 4th century BC to 1st Century AD. Afterward head to Tabuk for dinner and oernight at your hotel. (B,L,D) Day 7: Feb 16/No 9 Tabuk to Al Jouf After breakfast depart Tabuk isiting the Hijaz railway station (from outside); then continue to isit one of the forts followed by the mosque of Domat Al Jandal. Afterwards, continue to the ancient stone fortress, also known as Marid Castle Built with stones on a hill (2,000Ft high), it majestically oerlooks the old city from the south. In the city isit Omar s mosque, named after the second Moslem Caliph: Omar Ibn Al Khatab. Continue 40 km to Al Jouf hotel for check in, dinner and oernight. (B, L, D) Day 8: Feb 17/No 10 Al Jouf to Hail We begin our day with a isit to Sakaka Fort, situated on high ground oerlooking Sakaka from the northwest. It is the center of many legends, but it's widely belieed that this fortress was built in the 7th century B.C. Mud construction was added to it in the 3rd century. It is known as Zaa'bal Fortress and Zaa'bal Palace. Then continue to Al-Rajajil - the site of a group of standing stone pillars that date back to the Chalcolithic period. Continue to Hail ia the Nafud Desert, isiting en-route Jubbah to see the magnificent rock carings. Upon arrial, transfer to your hotel for check in, dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 9: Feb 18/No 11 Hail to Al Qassim This morning isit the Oraif and Qishla Forts then drie about 2 hours to Al Qassim. Arrie and isit Al Musaugef Museum, then Shenana Tower from the 11th century, Jedieah Museum and King Fahad Mosque. Dinner and oernight at our hotel (B,L,D) Day 10: Feb 19/No 12 Ushaiger- Shagra-Riyadh Drie to Riyadh in route isit Ushaiger, a small illage 200 km NW of Riyadh. Ushaiger is one of the oldest towns in the Saudi region of Najd and it was a major stopping point for pilgrims

5 coming from Kuwait, Iraq and Iran to perform Hajj. Ushaiger historical illage is restored to presere its heritage and has a museum which displays arious relics and pieces from the illage. Continue to Shagra to isit the old walls that used to protect the city during attacks. It was built in early 18th century and was in use till the mid-20th century. Arrie Riyadh dinner and oernight at your hotel. (B,L,D) Day 11: Feb 20/No 13 Riyadh Morning at leisure. After lunch, we shall isit Diriyyah, one of the most important sites, from where the history of Al Saud Dynasty began. Continue to Musmak Fort. This palace was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the year 1895 A.D to sere as military garrison for his army, which operated under a Goernor in Riyadh from Hail. Ibn Saud captured the fort on the 15th January Afterwards, isit Dira Souq and then a stop for lunch. Then isit National Museum, a place of learning and discoery, meant to kindle pride in the Arab heritage and reerence for Islam. This national landmark is composed of eight galleries telling the complete story of Arabian History from the creation of the unierse to our modern era. Next is a isit to Murabba Palace, among the most important palaces built by King Abdulaziz in the year 1937 A.D. Built to accommodate his family, the palace was composed of a number of a presidential palaces and serice buildings. The palace was built in the traditional Najid style by using local building materials only. Return to your hotel for dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 12: Feb 21/No 14 Riyadh - Dammam This morning we depart in 4x4 ehicles driing 96 km northwest of Riyadh the magnificent sight the Edge of the world. Here the cliffs of Tuwaiq Escarpment drop away giing splendid iews oer the plain below. On a foggy day, the whole plain below is an endless sea of haze. Return to Riyadh for dinner and oernight. (B,L,D) Day 13: Feb 22/No 15 Riyadh - Al Hafuf- Dammam Early departure by road to Al Ahsa/Al Hafuf, (3 hr drie), considered the largest oasis in the world. Visit the Al Qara Caes, consisting of calcareous sandstone, and sedimentary rock of clay and lime. Jabal Al-Qarah rises about 738 feet aboe sea leel and has a complex set of passageways. The site has iron railings and smooth walkways to allow noice explorers to safely naigate small portions of the intricate caes. Continue to the Ottoman Turkish Fort from the 17th Century AD and the mosque it houses within its walls built in 1571 A.D. Onward to Dammam, the oil hub of Saudi Arabia for oernight. (B,L) If your departure is from Riyadh, two flight options aailable to get you back in time to make your connecting flight home: SV 1163 dep 725 pm, arrie Riyadh 8:40 pm. AND SV 1165 dep 1010pm, arrie 11:25 pm. Remain at the airport for your departure home. Day 14: Feb 23/No 16 Depart to USA

6 Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. (B). We resere the right to change hotels, restaurants or the order of actiities if/as needed Feb Tour cost: $6085 No Price TBA. per person sharing in double occupancy Single Supplement: $935 Price based on group size 6-12 participants Extra night Jeddah: $120 per person twin; single: $207 Includes arrial transfer. Tour includes Tour does not include All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage. Transportation within country by A/C motor coach. Saudi Arabia Visa - $ at time of printing plus handling fees. Passport should not include any Israeli stamps. Accommodations in 5* hotels (or best aailable in smaller towns 3-4* in some places). Flights within the tour: Jeddah-Abha & AbhaAl Ula All meals as listed Flight Dammam to Riyadh last day, if your international flight departs Riyadh (approx. $100) Beerages with meals and meals not noted. Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants. All entrance fees to isited sites (mentioned in the itinerary). Serice of professional English speaking tour guide along some local guides at arious cities and sites. International flight from the US. Items of a personal nature, i.e. souenirs, laundry, phone calls, s, etc. Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes. Bottled water on bus during touring days. Transfers if arriing or departing on flights that are at different times than the group. Assistance in obtaining isa approal letter. Trip Cancellation/Trael protection insurance. All gratuities to guide, porters, driers, hotel and restaurant staff. Accommodations as listed or similar based on aailability Jeddah: Prime Hotel Al Hamra Abha: Mercure Khamis Al Ula: Sahary al Ola Camp: clean spacious rooms with ac, beds with mattresses, priate attached bathrooms with hot water showers. Electricity and fridge with complimentary bottled water. Al Jouf: Al Nusl Hail: Golden Tulip

7 Riyadh: Holiday Inn Mydan: Al Qassim: Ramada Qassim: Dammam: Mercure Khobar: Trip Grade: II Actie Some hikes, slightly more demanding walks at or to sites, few eleations, comfortable but busy schedule and some long rides and extensie dries. Lodging Leel: - Superior: In large cities 5 stars hotels and in some smaller towns, lodges and hotels with limited amenities, aerage serice and comfort leel acceptable to western standards. (3 or 4 stars) Luxury: Regular style- usually large hotels, typical western standard with ample enues, and full amenities. (4 or 5 stars) Fine Print: Saudi Arabia is a dry country. Alcohol is absolutely forbidden (as are narcotics and pornographic materials). Dress is modest and women do not need to coer their heads. They should wear abayas at all times (which will be proided by the agency in Saudi Arabia the next day after arrial). Be adised that you will be fingerprinted and undergo a retinal scan upon arrial in the country. Also be aware that most places in the Kingdom shut down between noon and 3 pm eery day as well as seeral other times during prayers and often the group will be returned to the hotel for some free time during these periods. Women do NOT hae to coer their hair. In addition, sometimes sites can be closed for no foreseen reasons or authorities can also deny isit of certain places without prior notice and we (STS/OW) are not responsible for any such eents/acts.