Saudi Arabia Explorer - Total Eclipse

Begin your adventure in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia and a city that has grown from an oasis settlement into the country’s political and administrative centre. Around 6pm, we say marhaban (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers as we gather for our welcome briefing and an outline of the journey ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Saudi welcome by arranging a group dinner – our first chance to share food, conversation and get to know each other. Want more time in Riyadh? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Join our Saudi tour leader to explore this diverse city, starting at Masmak Fortress in the historic heart of Riyadh. This clay and mud-brick citadel witnessed the events that led to the formation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While much of Riyadh reflects rapid, recent development, pockets of older commercial life remain, and we visit a traditional souq, such as Souq al Zel or Souq Bisht. We then continue to Murabba Palace and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, which provides a clear and well-curated introduction to the country’s history. Passing through the King Abdullah Financial District, we see the sharply contemporary centre of business in the Kingdom, along with the Grand Mosque. From present-day Riyadh, we step back to Ad Diriyah, the birthplace of the first Saudi state, which existed from 1744 to 1818. This World Heritage site has been carefully restored, allowing us to understand its distinctive mud-brick architecture and its role in Saudi history. Several well-regarded restaurants sit just outside Ad Diriyah, where we have options for dinner.

Rise early and travel by road to Buraydah, in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.En route, we stop at Ushaiger, one of the region’s oldest settlements. Largely abandoned today, this former trading village offers a clear example of traditional Najdi mud-brick architecture, with tightly packed houses designed for shade and ventilation. About 25 minutes from Buraydah, we visit Al Bassam Heritage House in Unaizah, built in 1955 using traditional Najdi ventilation and lighting techniques. The house has 30 rooms arranged over two floors, including former bedrooms, guest rooms and storage spaces. Inside, we’re introduced to local crafts, traditional foods, folk tales and poetry, offering insight into everyday life in the region. We then continue to Buraydah, the capital of Al-Qassim province. Despite its desert setting, agriculture remains central to the local economy, supported by low humidity and underground water, with date palms and citrus fruits among the main crops.

Explore Buraydah Camel Market early this morning, often described as the largest of its kind. Large numbers of camels, alongside goats and sheep, are traded here, with stalls also selling saddles and other equipment. We also visit another local market and the region’s major date market, where we can sample Al-Qassim’s well-known dates. The volume of produce changes with the season, but the market remains active throughout the year. We then leave Al-Qassim province and travel (two hours) by high-speed train to Hail, a far quicker journey than by road. In this historic regional centre, we visit the hilltop A’arif Fort, which illustrates the city’s former strategic role. We continue to the Al Qishlah compound, built from the same red mud as A’arif, where high defensive walls reflect the authority once held by local rulers.

Travel to Jubbah, on the edge of the Al Nafud desert, where large sandstone outcrops are carved with Neolithic petroglyphs and inscriptions, among the most significant rock art sites in the Arab world. These UNESCO-listed carvings depict animals including aurochs, cheetahs and lions, offering evidence of a time when the climate here was wetter and supported savannah landscapes. We then continue by road to AlUla, covering a long distance as we cross Nefud Al Kabir, a name that translates as the ‘great extent of dunes’. A picnic lunch is taken en route. We aim to arrive in AlUla in time for sunset at Jabal Al Fil (Elephant Rock), a natural sandstone formation that draws local people and visitors in the early evening. After, we travel to our base for the next two nights, a farm stay.

AlUla is an ancient oasis with evidence of human settlement stretching back around 7,000 years. The area is known for its sculpted sandstone landscapes, extensive pre-Arabic rock art and the exceptionally well-preserved tombs built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans. We begin at the World Heritage site of Hegra (Madain Saleh), the southernmost major city of the Nabataean Kingdom. It’s second only to Petra in Jordan in terms of the scale and richness of its Nabataean funerary architecture and we explore the site’s tombs, inscriptions and stone structures, gaining insight into Nabataean society and beliefs. We then stop at Maraya, the largest mirrored building in the world, to see how the façade reflects the surrounding cliffs and desert, before continuing to AlUla Oasis for coffee among the date farms. Walking along the shaded Oasis Heritage Trail, we pass palm groves and citrus trees and see how this fertile corridor provided water, food and shelter for travellers and nomadic groups over centuries. We exit the oasis at Al Jadidah, also known as Art City, where contemporary art installations line the streets. We continue to AlUla historic city, often referred to as the Old Town, which once lay on key trading routes linking Arabia with the wider region. Recent restoration has stabilised many of its lanes and structures, and the remains of stone and mud-brick houses and former town squares are still visible today. Back at the farm stay, the day ends with a stargazing session led by a specialist. With minimal light pollution, the desert skies here are exceptionally clear. Using traditional Bedouin navigation knowledge, our guide explains how the stars were read for travel and storytelling, bringing AlUla’s night sky into context. Please note – the order of visits today and tomorrow can vary depending on ticket availability at the main sights. Also, we may be divided into two groups for the tour of AlUla Old Town.

Visit the Khaybar oasis, a volcanic area with black lava stone, mountain vistas and a rich history. Before the rise of Islam in the seventh century, the Khaybar region was inhabited by Arabian Jewish tribes. In 628 CE, Muslims under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad took over the city during the Battle of Khaybar. We visit the remains of the mud city situated in a steep wadi (valley) with several fortresses towering over thousands of green palm trees. Then continue by road to the second holiest city in Islam: Medina. While tourists are strictly forbidden from visiting Mecca, we can see many parts of Medina. Medina is centered around Al Masjid an Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), a 10-minaret giant that can accommodate one million people. We join the throngs of pilgrims in the heart of the city. Non-Muslims are welcome to enjoy exterior views of the mosque from the edge of the square but cannot pass through the gate or enter. Sunset is a great time to visit Mount Uhud, a major pilgrimage site and viewpoint across the Holy City. Our hotel today is close to Medina airport due to restrictions on where non-Muslim visitors can stay in the city itself.

There is more to Medina than its principal holy site. We visit the former terminus of the Hijaz, or Ottoman, Railway, which once carried pilgrims to Medina from as far as Damascus. We then have time to browse the central market, where local stalls reflect a strong tradition of sweets. Typical treats include ma’amoul (butter cookies filled with nuts or dates), luqaimat (small fried dumplings drizzled with honey) and kunafa (a layered dessert of fine pastry, soft cheese and rose water syrup). After lunch with views towards the Prophet’s Mosque, we board a high-speed train to Jeddah, covering the 250mi (400km) journey in under two hours. On arrival, we head to the corniche for drinks, seated on traditional takwa carpets. As evening falls, the call to prayer carries across the city and King Fahd’s Fountain, the tallest of its kind, is illuminated against the night sky.

Begin with a visit to the Tayebat Museum (Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum), which presents the heritage of Jeddah and the wider Arabian Peninsula. The complex features life-size reconstructions of traditional Saudi, particularly Jeddahwi, architecture, alongside everyday tools, household items, artworks and exhibits relating to the two Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina. We then visit Jeddah fish market to see the day’s catch being landed and traded. There is the option to buy fresh fish and have it cooked at a simple restaurant within the market, or to dine at a nearby seafood restaurant. In the afternoon, we walk through Al-Balad, Jeddah’s historic district and a World Heritage site. Its multi-level merchant houses are built from coral stone and decorated with intricately carved roshan (wooden lattice windows), a traditional design used to provide shade and airflow in the city’s hot, humid climate.

Today is one to remember as we witness a celestial phenomenon, which has been dubbed the Eclipse of the Century, while travelling to Al Bahah. This will be the second-longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, with an unusually long period of totality – up to six minutes. The coastal corridor between Jeddah and Abha lies within the path of totality, making it one of the strongest land-based viewing areas. On arrival at a carefully selected viewing location, chosen for optimal visibility, we meet an astronomy specialist who introduces the science behind the eclipse and guides us through the experience. The partial eclipse is expected to begin at approximately 12.23pm, with totality starting shortly after 1.22pm and lasting up to six minutes in this area. The exact viewing point and transfer timings will be confirmed closer to departure to maximise weather conditions and visibility, most likely at a site south of Jeddah. After the eclipse, we enjoy a boxed lunch before continuing south through wide, open landscapes of rocky plateaus and sandy stretches. Small towns and settlements line parts of the route before we turn east into the foothills, where the terrain begins to rise steadily. Our first stop is Thee Ain, one of the region’s best-preserved villages. A small visitor centre provides context on local history and daily life, after which we explore steep lanes, narrow staircases and traditional houses, with rooftop viewpoints overlooking the valley below. A torch can be useful in some of the darker interiors. At the base of the hill, a small stream offers a shaded spot for a refreshment. We then continue along the Sarawat range, following mountain roads that climb through dramatic terrain before reaching Al Bahah. Set at around 7,220ft (2,200m) above sea level, Al Bahah is the capital of the surrounding region and is known for its cooler climate and forested setting, with numerous protected woodland areas including Raghdan, Al-Zareeb and Baidan.

Drive south through the mountains towards Abha and the Yemeni border, stopping en route at Al Malad Castle. This twin fortress sits on a hill overlooking an old commercial route into Asir. Built around four centuries ago by two brothers, it once served both defensive purposes and as a store for provisions. After continuing the drive and breaking for lunch, we set out on an afternoon hike of around 2mi (3km). The walk follows a valley lined with agricultural terraces, an uncommon landscape in much of Saudi Arabia. We arrive at a historic stone-built village, where one of the most striking features is a crescent-shaped settlement in the Al Shaaf area, dramatically positioned on the edge of a cliff. Local residents actively maintain the village despite its challenging location, and we hear their stories over cups of sweet mint tea. In contrast to desert regions where tents or mud-brick buildings are traditional, the abundance of stone here has shaped local architecture. Houses, mosques and defensive structures are built from rock, often decorated with white marble. Interiors and doorways are painted in bold combinations of white, red, yellow and green. We are welcomed into one of these homes for a homestay, with meals taken sitting on the floor. If time allows, we stroll around the village to take in the views, watch goat herds and, on occasion, spot monkeys. As evening falls, clouds sometimes rise from the valley before clearing, revealing a night sky scattered with stars. Please see the accommodation section for more detail on the homestay experience.

The call to prayer may sound before sunrise, though you’re welcome to rest a little longer. After a local breakfast, we drive to Abha. As we head further south, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged, with rising peaks culminating at Jabal Sawda, the highest summit in Saudi Arabia. Before reaching Abha, we pass through areas known for traditional Asir houses and stop at the village of Olayan, where an impressive mosque and wide-reaching views provide a sense of the region’s setting. In the town of Namas, we visit a former ruler’s residence, built like a fortress and now converted into a museum. A picnic lunch is taken in a park overlooking the deep valley outside town. We end the day in Abha, stretching our legs along Art Street, an area known for its public artworks and jacaranda trees, where artists from across the country gather. As the afternoon light fades, we browse the local farmers’ market, filled with regional produce and everyday activity, before settling in for the night.

Abha and the wider Asir region reward deeper exploration, with local culture, architecture and heritage firmly in focus as we uncover the landscapes around the city. This final road journey through the Saudi mountains is among the most striking of the trip. We pass Jabal Sawda, among the highest peaks in the Kingdom, before descending a dramatic hairpin road to Rijal Almaa, a World Heritage site of around 60 multi-level stone houses clinging to the mountainside. Built vertically to regulate temperature, these fortress-like homes reflect centuries of adaptation to the environment. Climbing back into the highlands, we visit a carefully restored fortress in Tabab village, its thick mud-and-stone walls overlooking cultivated fields and the valley below. After lunch in the village, we return to Abha and deepen our understanding of regional traditions at the Fatima Museum of Aseeri Women. The exhibits explain Asir design, interior decoration and natural painting techniques passed down through generations, revealing the meaning behind the colours and patterns seen throughout the region.

You’ve followed witnessed the Eclipse of the Century, explored rock art and Nabataean tombs, crossed desert and mountain landscapes, and shared time with local communities, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home. If you’d like to extend your stay and spend more time exploring Abha and the Asir Mountains, speak to your sales representative about extension options.