8 Days  •  7 Nights

Luxury Saudi Arabia: AlUla, Riyadh & the Red Sea in Style

Riyadh (2N) - AlUla (3N) - Red Sea (2N)

Tour Includes

Accommodation
Meals
Sightseeing
Transfers
Local Guide
Activities
Overview

About the Trip

Newly opened Saudi Arabia has created some of the world's most extraordinary luxury experiences, and this eight-day journey lets you discover its greatest wonders in the finest style. You stay at Riyadh's finest hotels, a spectacular luxury desert resort amid the sandstone cliffs of AlUla, and a beautiful new resort on the pristine Red Sea. You explore the magnificent Nabatean tombs of Hegra privately, marvel at AlUla's spectacular landscapes, discover the birthplace of the kingdom at Diriyah, and relax on the pristine Red Sea. You enjoy fine dining, indulgent spa treatments, private and special experiences, from helicopter flights over the desert to private stargazing dinners, and seamless, personal service throughout. Travelling in the finest style and warmed by genuine Saudi hospitality, this is a sophisticated, pioneering and deeply rewarding way to experience the extraordinary wonders of the kingdom, its ancient cities, spectacular deserts and pristine Red Sea, all at the highest level of comfort and style.
Highlights

Trip Highlights

  • Staying at a spectacular luxury desert resort amid the cliffs of AlUla is the great luxury of this journey. AlUla is home to some of the world's most extraordinary luxury resorts, hidden amid its dramatic sandstone cliffs and canyons, offering refined comfort, spectacular desert settings, beautiful spas, and impeccable service in one of the most magical landscapes on earth. You relax in a beautiful villa or tented suite amid the desert, dine beneath the stars, and savour the profound beauty and silence in the finest style. The setting and comfort are magnificent.
  • Exploring the magnificent Nabatean tombs of Hegra privately, in comfort, is the extraordinary heart of this journey. Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where over a hundred monumental Nabatean tombs are carved into golden desert outcrops, is one of the most extraordinary places on earth, and exploring it privately with an expert rawi guide, at your own pace and with special access, brings it vividly and comfortably to life amid the profound desert silence. The scale and beauty are overwhelming. Exploring the magnificent Nabatean tombs of Hegra privately, in comfort and depth with an expert guide.
  • A beautiful new resort on the pristine Red Sea is a blissful highlight of this journey. Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast is home to spectacular new luxury resorts on pristine islands and shores, with beautiful beaches, the finest coral reefs, overwater and beachfront villas, and world-class spas. You relax at a beautiful Red Sea resort, swim in the warm, clear turquoise sea, snorkel or dive pristine reefs, and unwind in blissful, refined comfort. The beauty and relaxation are blissful. Relaxing at a beautiful new luxury resort on the pristine Red Sea, with beautiful beaches, pristine reefs and world-class comfort.
  • Indulgent spa treatments, fine dining and special experiences make this a sophisticated journey. Throughout your journey, you indulge in spa treatments at spectacular desert and Red Sea resorts, savour fine dining in beautiful settings, from Saudi cuisine to international haute cuisine, and enjoy special experiences, perhaps a helicopter flight over the Nabatean tombs and canyons, a private stargazing dinner in the desert, or exclusive site access. These make the journey sophisticated and memorable. Indulgent spa treatments, fine dining, and special experiences such as helicopter flights over the desert and private stargazing dinners make this a sophisticated and deeply rewarding highlight of this luxurious journey through Saudi Arabia.
  • Private touring and seamless, personal service make this an effortless, pioneering journey. On this luxury journey you travel privately throughout, with expert guides and seamless, impeccable personal service, and domestic flights between regions, every detail handled effortlessly, so you simply savour the extraordinary, newly opened wonders of the kingdom in the finest style, with a rare sense of pioneering discovery. This private, seamless service makes the journey effortless and sophisticated. Private touring throughout, with expert guides, domestic flights and seamless, impeccable personal service, makes this a sophisticated, effortless and pioneering highlight of this luxurious journey through Saudi Arabia.
  • Above all, this journey offers the extraordinary wonders of newly opened Saudi Arabia at the highest level of comfort and style. Saudi Arabia has created some of the world's most extraordinary luxury experiences, and this journey lets you discover its greatest wonders in the finest style. Over eight days you stay at the finest hotels and a spectacular AlUla desert resort and Red Sea resort, explore the Nabatean tombs of Hegra and the birthplace of the kingdom privately, and relax on the pristine Red Sea, enjoying fine dining, spa treatments and special experiences throughout.
Itinerary

Day by Day

A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.

Day 1

Your luxury journey through newly opened Saudi Arabia begins as your flight arrives at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, where you are met and transferred privately to the finest hotel in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has created some of the world's most extraordinary luxury experiences, and the sense of arriving somewhere pioneering, in the finest style, is palpable, warmed by genuine hospitality. On arrival you settle into your beautiful hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in, perhaps enjoying your hotel's spectacular facilities and spa. This evening, a beautiful welcome dinner introduces you to Saudi cuisine, perhaps at the acclaimed Bujairi Terrace overlooking Diriyah, and to the luxury journey ahead through Riyadh, AlUla and the Red Sea. As you settle in, the comfort, warmth and pioneering spirit of Saudi Arabia work their magic. Rest well, ready to savour the greatest wonders of the kingdom in style.

Your Journey This Day
King Khalid Airport
Arrival · Private
Riyadh hotel
Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 2

Today you explore Riyadh and the birthplace of the kingdom privately, in comfort. With your expert private guide, you visit Diriyah, the UNESCO World Heritage birthplace of the Saudi state, exploring the beautifully restored mudbrick palaces, quarters and atmospheric lanes of At-Turaif, and perhaps the historic Masmak Fort and the excellent National Museum, at your own relaxed pace, with special touches. You might enjoy a fine lunch at the beautiful Bujairi Terrace, and take in the gleaming modern skyline. The heritage and modernity are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your finest hotel. This evening, savour fine dining in Riyadh. Rest well in comfort, for tomorrow you fly to extraordinary AlUla and your spectacular desert resort.

Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 3

Today you fly to extraordinary AlUla and your spectacular luxury desert resort. You take a domestic flight to AlUla and transfer to your spectacular luxury desert resort, hidden amid the dramatic sandstone cliffs and canyons, one of the most magical settings on earth. You settle into your beautiful villa or tented suite amid the desert, and the rest of the day is yours to relax in refined comfort, perhaps indulging in the beautiful spa, or taking a first gentle exploration, visiting the iconic Elephant Rock at sunset with a drink as the desert glows. As the sun sets over the dramatic landscape, you savour the spectacular setting. This evening, savour fine dining beneath the brilliant desert stars, with stargazing. As you settle in, the beauty and magic of AlUla work their magic. Rest well amid the spectacular beauty of AlUla, for tomorrow you explore the magnificent Hegra privately.

Your Journey This Day
Riyadh
Flight · Domestic
AlUla
Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 4

Today you explore the magnificent Nabatean tombs of Hegra privately, in comfort and depth. With an expert private rawi (storyteller) guide, you explore Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where over a hundred monumental tombs are carved into golden sandstone outcrops rising from the desert, standing in profound silence, at your own relaxed pace and with special access. You marvel at iconic tombs, including the solitary Qasr al-Farid, and explore the dramatic Jabal Ithlib canyon, your guide bringing the Nabateans vividly to life. You might enjoy a special lunch amid the desert. The scale and beauty are overwhelming. As the day ends, you return to your resort, awed by Hegra. This evening, savour fine dining and the magical desert. Rest well amid the beauty of AlUla, for tomorrow you savour more of its wonders in style.

Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 5

Today you savour more of AlUla's wonders in the finest style. You might explore the ancient kingdom of Dadan and the inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah, the atmospheric Old Town and oasis, and the striking Maraya, or enjoy special experiences, perhaps a helicopter flight over the Nabatean tombs and canyons, a hot-air balloon at dawn, a private desert 4x4 adventure, or a horse or vintage-car experience amid the spectacular landscape. You indulge in the beautiful spa and relax at your spectacular resort. The wonders and luxury are magical. As the sun sets over the dramatic desert, you savour the beauty of AlUla. This evening, savour a private stargazing dinner beneath the brilliant desert stars, deeply magical. As you settle in, the magic of AlUla lingers. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to the pristine Red Sea and your beautiful resort.

Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 6

Today you fly to the pristine Red Sea and your beautiful luxury resort. You take a domestic flight to the Red Sea coast and transfer to your beautiful new luxury resort, on a pristine island or shore, with beautiful beaches, the finest coral reefs, and overwater or beachfront villas. You settle into your beautiful villa, and the rest of the day is yours to relax in blissful, refined comfort, unwinding on the beach, swimming in the warm, clear turquoise sea, and indulging in the world-class spa. As the sun sets over the pristine Red Sea, you savour the beautiful, relaxing setting. This evening, savour fine dining by the sea beneath the stars. As you settle in, the beauty and serenity of the Red Sea work their magic. Rest well by the pristine sea, for tomorrow you enjoy a final day of luxury relaxation and reef exploration.

Your Journey This Day
AlUla
Flight · Domestic
Red Sea
Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 7

Today you enjoy a final, blissful day of luxury relaxation on the pristine Red Sea. The day is yours to relax at your beautiful resort, unwinding on the beach, swimming in the warm, clear turquoise sea, and indulging in the world-class spa, or to snorkel or dive over the pristine coral reefs, among the finest and least-crowded in the world, teeming with colourful fish and vibrant coral. It is the perfect blissful, refined finale to your luxury journey. As the sun sets over the pristine Red Sea, you savour the beautiful setting. This evening, savour a final fine dinner by the sea beneath the stars, reflecting on your luxurious journey through the extraordinary wonders of Saudi Arabia. As the stars fill the sky, you savour the beauty and pioneering spirit of the kingdom. Rest well ahead of your departure, deeply relaxed and content.

Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 8

After a final, relaxed morning on the pristine Red Sea, perhaps a last swim or a spa treatment, you are transferred to the airport (via the Red Sea International Airport or a domestic flight to Jeddah or Riyadh) for your onward international departure. You leave having experienced the extraordinary wonders of newly opened Saudi Arabia at the highest level of comfort and style, the finest hotels and a spectacular AlUla desert resort and Red Sea resort, the magnificent Nabatean tombs of Hegra, the birthplace of the kingdom at Diriyah, and the pristine Red Sea, all touring privately with seamless service. The memories stay vivid long after you land, the monumental tombs of Hegra, the spectacular desert resort under the stars, the private stargazing dinner, and the pristine Red Sea. Saudi Arabia offers extraordinary wonders, experienced here at the highest level, and you depart deeply refreshed, already reflecting on a sophisticated and pioneering journey through the kingdom.

Your Journey This Day
Red Sea resort
Transfer & departure · Private
Red Sea Airport
Meals Included
Breakfast
Route Map

Where You Will Travel

Package

What's inside the package?

Inclusions

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • Daily breakfast, daily breakfast, a welcome dinner, fine dining experiences and a private desert dinner
  • Airport and land transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
  • Touring and sightseeing as per itinerary with expert local guides
  • Entrance fees, permits and site tickets as per itinerary
  • the finest hotels and a spectacular AlUla desert resort and Red Sea resort, private touring with expert guides, domestic flights, a Riyadh and Diriyah tour, a private Hegra and AlUla experience, a spa treatment, Red Sea relaxation, and all site tickets

Exclusions

  • International airfare
  • Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Optional helicopter flights and premium experiences
  • Additional spa treatments, and tips for guides and drivers
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
  • Drinks unless specifically stated
  • Optional excursions and experiences
  • Personal expenses and gratuities
  • Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Best Time to Travel

Know when to go.

Place
Saudi Arabia
Conditions
Cool, sunny
Daily max temperature
20°C
Monthly rainfall
10mm
Weather data is based on monthly averages. Popularity rating
Good to Know
  • Visa & entry: Many nationalities can obtain a Saudi tourist eVisa quickly online (or a visa on arrival), valid for a year with multiple entries, with a passport valid for at least six months. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality and help arrange the eVisa
  • Currency: The currency is the Saudi Riyal (SAR); cards are very widely accepted in cities, hotels, malls and restaurants, but carry some cash for souks, small shops, tips and remote areas. ATMs are plentiful in cities and towns, and Saudi Arabia is increasingly cashless
  • Best time to visit: October to March is ideal, with warm, sunny, comfortable days perfect for Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah and the desert; summer (May to September) is extremely hot inland (though the Asir mountains in the south-west stay cooler and greener, and the Red Sea remains warm)
  • Dress & etiquette: Saudi Arabia is a conservative Muslim country; modest dress is expected in public for all (cover shoulders and knees). Women are no longer required to wear an abaya, but modest, loose clothing is respectful; a headscarf is not required for tourists but is appreciated at some religious sites. Public displays of affection are best avoided
  • Mecca & Medina: The holy cities of Mecca and Medina are open only to Muslims; this tourist journey does not include them. Non-Muslim visitors explore Saudi Arabia's extraordinary archaeological, natural and cultural sites, such as AlUla, Diriyah, Jeddah's old town and the deserts and mountains
  • Alcohol & Ramadan: Saudi Arabia is a dry country: alcohol is strictly prohibited and not available anywhere, and this should be respected. During the holy month of Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight are not permitted, and hours change; we advise on timing and etiquette, and travel outside Ramadan is often easier for touring
  • Prayer times & culture: Muslims pray five times a day, and some shops and sites briefly close during prayer times; we plan around these. Saudis are warm and hospitable, and the country is opening rapidly to tourism with excellent new infrastructure. Respect for local customs, prayer times and photography etiquette (ask before photographing people) is appreciated
  • Getting around & power: Saudi Arabia is vast; touring combines private air-conditioned vehicles, 4x4 for deserts, and domestic flights between regions (Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah), which we arrange. Power is 230V with UK-style type G plugs, so bring an adapter. Arabic is the language, and English is widely spoken in tourism and cities
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this a luxury journey?

Everything is elevated: you stay at Riyadh's finest hotels, a spectacular luxury desert resort amid AlUla's cliffs, and a beautiful new Red Sea resort, travel privately with expert guides and domestic flights, explore Hegra with special access, enjoy fine dining, spa treatments and special experiences like helicopter flights and private stargazing dinners, and enjoy seamless, personal service throughout. It combines Saudi Arabia's extraordinary, newly created luxury experiences with pioneering discovery, tailored entirely to you.

What are AlUla's and the Red Sea's luxury resorts like?

Extraordinary. AlUla is home to some of the world's most spectacular desert resorts, hidden amid dramatic sandstone cliffs and canyons, with beautiful villas and tented suites, world-class spas and dining, and magical desert settings. Saudi Arabia's new Red Sea resorts, on pristine islands and shores, offer beautiful beachfront and overwater villas, the finest uncrowded reefs, and world-class comfort. Both are among the most exciting luxury destinations anywhere, and we choose the finest to suit you.

What meals are included?

Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary (such as dinners at desert camps or remote stays). Saudi cuisine is rich and delicious, from kabsa (spiced rice with meat) and grilled meats to fresh dates, Arabic coffee and regional specialities, and the cities have a growing, cosmopolitan food scene. We usually leave meals free for you to explore, recommending the best restaurants at every stage.

Are the tours private or in a group?

Your journey is private by default, with your own expert local guide and air-conditioned vehicle (and 4x4 for deserts), giving you flexibility and a pace tailored to you; small-group options can be arranged. Saudi Arabia's knowledgeable guides bring the extraordinary sites of AlUla, Diriyah, Jeddah and the deserts vividly to life, and licensed rawis (storytellers) guide the AlUla heritage sites.

Do I need a visa for Saudi Arabia?

Many nationalities can obtain a Saudi tourist eVisa quickly online, valid for a year with multiple entries, or a visa on arrival, with a passport valid for at least six months. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality and help arrange the eVisa, so entry is smooth. Saudi Arabia has opened dramatically to tourism, and visiting is now easy and welcoming.

Is Saudi Arabia safe to visit?

Saudi Arabia is a very safe country for tourists, with low crime and a warm, hospitable culture, and it has invested heavily in excellent tourism infrastructure as it opens to the world. We use trusted local guides and drivers and follow official guidance at all times. Travellers are often struck by the genuine warmth of the Saudi welcome and the ease and safety of touring this extraordinary, long-hidden country.

When is the best time to visit?

October to March is ideal, with warm, sunny, comfortable days perfect for AlUla, Riyadh, Jeddah and the deserts, and the season for AlUla's festivals and events. Summer is extremely hot inland, though the Asir mountains stay cooler and the Red Sea remains warm. We advise on the best timing for your interests and the regions you wish to see, and can time your visit to events like Winter at Tantora in AlUla.

Can the itinerary be customised?

Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of AlUla's Nabatean wonders, Riyadh and Diriyah, Jeddah and the Red Sea, the Asir mountains and the deserts, add luxury stays, diving or desert camps, and tailor the pace, comfort and focus to you. Saudi Arabia is vast and varied, and every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal journey through this extraordinary, newly opened land.