Saudi Southbound Spectacles and Sites Adventure - The Red Sea to the Misty Mountains

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SAUDI ARABIAN SOUTHBOUND SPECTACLES TOUR FROM JEDDAH

Briefing with the Best Guides: "If you can only come for one tour or are not sure where to go, the circuit from Jeddah to Jazan is really the best since it shows the excellent places from history, Islam, architecture and food areas, and mountains and some beautiful island and beach areas. You also get to see some of the places like Disney's Aladdin on that tour and so kids love it but also adults who like architecture and areas very very different looking than their home."

(This tour starts from Jeddah but can be reversed or customized to start in Riyadh and fly to Jeddah Southbound or Jazan northbound as well without much price difference.)

Day 1: Arrive in JDH and Settle into Saudi

Today arrive in Jeddah International Airport and after friendly formalities with visas and shuttling into town, briefing and welcoming and drop off at a central city midrange hotel. (You may choose between Saudi character and excellent tourist location or more modern and quiet American brand name hotel.)

Day 2: Jeddah Old City and the Red Sea Gateway of the Pilgrims Tour

Today we tour the ancient winding alleys and soaring wood-decked ornate edifices and markets of Jeddah Al Balad, the old city, and learn about the history of the red sea port that hosts and hails millions of Muslim pilgrims through time on their road to Mecca, along corridors of immortal commerce and cultural interchange.

Day 3: Drive into the great desert interior and caravan trail through (if you are Muslim) or around (if you are not) Mecca, to Taif and into the misty mountains to reach Al Bahah.

Today we drive on the immortal road of pilgrims to Islam's holiest place, where millions have trodden, walked, driven, and rode for millennia. We can stop here and see the city if you are Muslim and tour for a fair bit the periphery history and architecture, otherwise if you are non-Muslim we will spend that time seeing Taif, the next interesting stop on the route. We'll see the Shubra Palace and if time or interest, the Taif Regional Museum, replete with artifacts from Islamic and pre-Islamic periods. In the west, we'll picnic or take lunch if desired at King Fahad Garden and its grassy lawns, restaurants and a lagoon, astride Taif National Park. As we head further south into the middle of the mountain range, we will also stop for vistas and photos of the excellent landscapes on the way to Al Bahah.

Day 4: Al Bahah Rock Citadels and "Castle Towns" Artesian Wells and Gardens and Rock Worlds

Today we'll tour the old rock houses in the desert that populate most of the postcards you've likely seen about Saudi Arabia, like Dhee Ayn Marble Village, since the country opened to tourism. Al Bahah and the rest of the rock houses will be toured today, and we can even take tea and dates under the sweeping geoglyphs! We spend the day in the archeology, mountain views and oasis landscapes.

Day 5: Abha

Today we see a southern city of flowers and colossal fortresses, with a surprisingly pleasant climate and cultural practices that have trained generations of locals to navigate caves and cliffs with ropes, and currently still hosts a palaces and a few ancient architectural structures like Al Basta and Shamazan. The city is also very green and produces most of the flowers for Saudi Arabia, a beautiful seasonal spectacle in its own right.

Day 6: Najran

Today we drive along the corridor almost to the border with Yemen, to see more archeological sites, ancient rock writing for lost civilizations of Arabia, and some of the emblematic and ginger-bread house-esque mud brick buildings and "skyscrapers" typical of southern Arabia and Yemen, and enjoy more historical sites, and Al Fau cave art.

Day 7: Overland to Jazan and The Farasan Island Marine Sanctuary

We head back to the hot rea sea coast and tour some simple history of trade and war and finally head out by boat to enjoy the submarine sea like (snorkeling and cruising around by boat) in The Farasan Islands.

Day 8: Jazan Morning Tour if time, and flight back to Jeddah or Riyadh if preferred.

Transfer back to the airport and flight to Jeddah and Riyadh and end of the tour.

-END OF SERVICES-

Not Included:

• Food
• Travel Insurance (Mandatory)
• Flights
• Visas
• Other, and any of your changes in the itinerary and costs created by these changes
  

• Midrange Hotel Accommodation (Double or Twin Basis)
• Transport
• Fuel
• Guide/Driver
• Entrances and Ticket Fees
• Some Snack Samples on occasion and small surprises