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topfygad · 5 years

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Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 15-day itinerary

If you had been reading my previous articles, you will know that finally, Saudi Arabia started issuing tourist visas in December 2018.

If you want to know more about it, read how to travel to Saudi Arabia in 2019.

Allowing Westerners to get in is going to be a game changer for the country because it means that Saudi will be open, more and more tourists will have the chance to discover its beauties and, therefore, the country will evolve positively and more progressive rules will be implemented.

All right, the first thing you need to know is that there are many awesome things to do in Saudi Arabia and it actually has a massive touristic potential that goes way beyond desert, camels, and Bedouins.

I mean, just look at its dimensions – it’s massively huge, really – with an area 4 times bigger than Spain, so the country is home to large geographical contrasts, ranging from high, green mountains to sand dunes and coral reefs.

After spending 2 weeks traveling around, I have compiled all the places to visit in Saudi Arabia in a 2-week itinerary.

Read: Is it ethical to visit Saudi as a tourist?

Here you will find:

How to organize your trip to Saudi Arabia Accommodation in Saudi Arabia Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia 10-12-day itinerary

Additional Places (2-3 days)

More information

Total transparency! – If you like my website and found this post useful, remember that, if you buy any service through of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me maintain and keep Against the Compass going! Thanks

How to organize your Saudi Arabia itinerary

Saudi Arabia is huge.

Most likely, your Saudi itinerary will start in Riyadh or Jeddah, from where you will start planning your journey.

The problem with Saudi Arabia is that the distances are too big, plus the 2 main cities are located in the middle, which means that, if you want to visit both the south and the north, you will have to do some really crazy detours.

Just for you to have an idea, imagine you want to visit Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ula and Jizan, which are the 4 greatest places to visit in Saudi Arabia in my opinion:

Riyadh to Jeddah: 954km Jeddah to Jizan: 714km Jizan to Al-Ula: 1,382km Al-Ula to Jeddah: 676km

That’s 3,726km in less than 10 days, only for moving from one city to another.

Then, how to plan what to do in Saudi Arabia?

By car – If you are willing to drive long distances, you can rent a car, no problem, but just be aware that, in Saudi, most rental car companies (not to say all), offer limited daily mileage, around 250-300km, so if you drive all around the country, the final quote can be a bit expensive.

By plane – Probably the most feasible option. I personally took 2 flights, from Riyadh to Al-Jawf and from Jizan to Jeddah and it saved me a lot of time. There is a very budget airline called flyadeal and, if you book in advance, you should get good rates.

In any case, there is not a single place to visit in Saudi Arabia made for walking or moving around by public transportation, so even if you fly in, you will have to rent a car at the destination itself.

Where to rent a car? – I definitely recommend Rental Cars, a search engine that finds the best car deals in any city around the world.

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE BEST CAR RENTAL DEALS IN SAUDI

A beautiful castle in Al Jawf, north of Saudi Arabia, very, very far from anywhere else – Places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Need to know regarding accommodation in Saudi Arabia

There are many hotels but just be aware that most options tend to be expensive.

Airbnb – The most budget option is renting a room or an apartment through Airbnb. In Jeddah and Riyadh, you can find loads of different choices and, if you create a new account through my link, you will get up to 35€ of free credit in your next booking.

Hotels – There are hotels all over the country, especially aparthotels, which tend to be the most budget options but they are great. In the itinerary section, I will give you the best options for each city.

Read: Practical information for traveling to Saudi Arabia

This is my friend Nada from @nadaalnahdi, somewhere in Al Jawf – Things to do in saudi arabia

Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia

In places like Saudi Arabia, the Health Care System is crazy expensive for foreigners.

I strongly recommend World Nomads for the following reasons:

It is the only company that offers an unlimited budget policy, very useful for Saudi Arabia

It provides coverage for pretty much any nationality

It covers a wide range of adventure activities

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM WORLD NOMADS

If you want to know more options, read how to find the best travel insurance

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 10-12 Days itinerary

This Saudi itinerary covers the following things to do in Saudi Arabia:

Riyadh – The capital, which is surprisingly interesting. Jeddah – The second largest city has the most beautiful Old Town in the Gulf. Abha – Spectacular mountains and colorful heritage villages. Jizan – Mountain villages and Yemeni-like culture. Al-Ula – A replica of Petra and Wadi Rum but without tourists.

Read: Traveling in Saudi Arabia as a woman

Visiting Mecca and Medina – Why aren’t included in the Saudi Arabia itinerary? Good question. The Saudi tourist visa specifies that you can go anywhere in the country except Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places on Earth for Muslims. ”I understand, but I know that some Westerners have sneaked in successfully” Yes, but let me tell you something: those holy places receive thousands and thousands of visitors every day, so they can’t check everybody who gets in, especially if you dress like them. However, entering without their permission is not only illegal but also extremely disrespectful, let me tell you why: According to their interpretation of the Quran, whoever goes to Mecca or Medina needs to have their soul and body cleansed, and that involves following some rituals and protocols before getting in, similar to going to a regular mosque but even more extreme. Christians entering Mecca won’t follow any of those rituals and, according to Saudis, that could lead to something bad. Yes, it is a superstitious thing but you are in their country and in their holy place, so if you want to be a responsible tourist, you shouldn’t go there. You can, however, visit both cities but there is a line several meters before the holy place which you are not allowed to cross.

Map of the things to do in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh – The country’s capital (3-4 days)

As the capital, Riyadh has the largest number of flight connections from Europe, Asia and many places around the world, so it makes sense for it to be your first place to visit in Saudi Arabia.

The first thing you need to know about Riyadh is that it has nothing to do with the fancy, oil-rich, Dubai-style and Maserati-filled capital you may think of, but it is actually a crowded city, full of dust, and not very clean precisely.

Nevertheless, Riyadh is rich in culture and history, more than any other capital in the Arab Peninsula, so I actually liked it a lot, plus it has some wonderful natural beauties, as well as ruined cities, just outside of the city.

The Old City of Riyadh – Best places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Things to do in Riyadh

In the Old City – Don’t forget to check Masmak Fort, the place that held the famous Riyadh Battle; the National Museum; Deera Square, where public executions take place; and Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Saudi.

Outside of Riyadh – Visit the Red Sand Dunes, the Edge of the World, the Camel Trail and Ad Diriyah.

In the modern part – At sunset, you must climb the Skybridge tower.

For more information, I have written a full mega-guide:

How to visit Riyadh in 3 days – A complete guide

Where to stay in Riyadh

(If you prefer Airbnb because it may be cheaper, remember that you can get up to 34€ of free credit by signing up through my link.)

Budget Hotel – OYO 150 Al Hamra Palace Al Aswaq – Simple but clean and comfortable. In Saudi, aparthotels are very common and the cheapest accommodation.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-Range – Mada Suites – For travelers with a higher budget, this aparthotel is a really good value for money choice.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable Luxury – Crowne Plaza – This 5-star hotel is cheaper than many other luxury options in the city.

Click here to check prices and availability

Just outside of Riyadh, looking at the Camel Trail – Thank you @joaoleitao for the shot

Jeddah – The most progressive city (3 days)

Established in the 7th century AD as the gateway for Muslims going to Mecca who arrived by sea from mostly Africa, Jeddah is the second largest city in the country and, in relative terms, the most progressive place to visit in Saudi Arabia.

Here is where you find the most liberal young hipsters in Saudi, who mainly hang out in the modern cafés, which are growing day-by-day, and organize the many underground, clandestine parties Saudi is famous for.

The beautiful Old City of Jeddah – This photo was chosen the 2nd best photo in Instagram by Lonely Planet in January 2019

Things to do in Jeddah

Al Balad – Besides being the preferred place for expats to live, Jeddah is also home to Al Balad, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most beautiful Old City from all the Gulf Monarchies, composed of buildings with colorful windows and narrow streets with a great local life that turns into a bustling and vibrant area right before sunset.

Beautiful Al Balad – What to do in Saudi Arabia

The Red Sea – Moreover, since Jeddah is settled on the shores of the pretty untouched Red Sea, Jeddah has a great coastline with great beaches, Silversands for example, is a mixed gender beach where women can wear bikinis.

Al Wahba Crater – If you have time, I also recommend going on a day trip to Al Wahba Crater, a crater around Taif area, which is believed to be caused by a meteorite.

The Floating Mosque – Last, don’t forget to check out the Floating Mosque (north corniche), a beautiful mosque on the sea which gets pretty busy after the main Friday prayer.

Where to stay in Jeddah

(If you prefer Airbnb because it may be cheaper, remember that you can get up to 34€ of free credit by signing up through my link.)

Budget – OYO 125 Al Hamra Palace – It is the same one I recommend in Riyadh, basically, because they are the best decent budget option in town.

Click here to check availability

Mid-range – Shada Executive Hotel – This beautiful hotel has a great design concept, it is in a relatively good location and is one of the best-rated hotels in town.

Click here to check availability

Affordable luxury – The Hotel Galleria By Elaf – One of the best, cheapest and best-rated 5-star hotels in Jeddah.

Click here to check availability

Al Balad – Where to visit in Saudi Arabia

Abha – Epic ancient buildings and monkeys (2 days)

My Couchsurfing host had canceled my request upon my arrival in Abha, so I headed to the center of town in order to figure out where I could stay.

I was walking around with my backpack, without many expectations to be honest, until I found a great traditional market, the first one I had visited in which the different stalls were not Indian or Pakistani-run, but 100% local Saudi, both men and women, who were selling from dates to all sorts of fruits and homemade meals.

There were also many honey-stalls, some of them selling literally tens of types and there I learned that Abha is worldwide famous for its honey and, in fact, it is considered the best one in Asia.

If you want to read more content about this region, don’t forget to check all my travel guides to the Middle East

A man selling all sorts of honey – Saudi Arabia travel itinerary

You will have a great time in that market but the main reason you should visit Abha is that it is located in a secondary dimension from the rest of Saudi Arabia and that is in a mountainous area filled with lush green hills, wild monkeys (yes, there are loads of monkeys) and some striking local architecture.

Moreover, Abha is a real off the beaten track region, so making random Saudi friends is fairly easy and I actually met a great group who showed me around their mountains and villages.

Abha region from above – What to do in Saudi Arabia

But perhaps, Rijal Almaa Heritage Village is the place Abha is most famous for and one of the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia.

Many centuries ago, Rijal Almaa was the main stopover for people coming from Yemen to Mecca and Medina, so the village turned into an important trading center.

The main peculiarity about Rijal Almaa is that it was never totally under total Ottoman rule, so they managed to keep their traditional architecture which, as you may see from the photos, is similar, if not the same, to the architecture you find in Yemen.

The colorful Heritage Village is still under restoration and it will take a while to be finished because it is mainly been restored from the villagers’ pockets.

Today, Rijal Almaa is in the tentative list for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It contains a museum, as well as many viewpoints from where you can take great pictures.

Rajal Almaa Abha – Interesting places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Where to stay in Abha and Rijal Almaa

Be aware that accommodation here is more expensive than in the big cities.

Budget – Shatha Abha Furnished Units – The cheapest option in Abha.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – The View – Relatively fancy, super spacious rooms with great views of Abha’s lake.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable Luxury – Blue Inn Boutique – There are not many 5-star hotels in Abha, but I recommend this one because it is quite affordable for what you get.

Click here to check prices and availability

Hanging out with local friends in Abha – What to visit in Saudi Arabia

Jizan – Welcome to Yemen (2 days)

Jizan, WOW.

If Abha is a secondary dimension, then Jizan is in a different universe because the mountains here are not only more dramatic but the Yemeni-like culture is totally different from any other place to visit in Saudi Arabia.

They eat Yemeni food and, in the villages, you will find many people dressing in the traditional Yemeni way, which often involves wearing a janbiya, the Yemeni dagger, and a hat made of flowers.

A Yemeni dude with his dagger in Fayfa

These Yemeni-like people are really friendly and you can ask them for a picture, no problem at all. In fact, they will like it because it’s not every day that a random foreigner asks for a photo.

While Abha is very much off the beaten track, it attracts a lot of domestic tourism, but barely Saudis visits Jizan, which means that you will be a particularly exotic element here.

Jizan is a province, with Jizan City as its capital. The city is not very exciting, other than having a really average-looking corniche, quite boring in my opinion, but it is a great base to explore the region.

The places you should not miss are Fayfa and Absiyah, two mountain villages which are around 100km east of Jizan, where you will find the famous hills with those terrace fields (Southeast Asia style) Jizan is famous for.

Read: Syria travel guide

The terrace fields Jizan is famous for

There are many different villages to explore and I recommend to drive around randomly. By the way, the local market where you will meet those Yemeni-like people bargaining for a dagger takes place every day in a different village, so do find out where will it be held on the day of your visit.

A man looking at the field terraces of Abha

Where to stay in Jizan

Budget – El Eairy – The most budget option. Seriously, despite the bad rate on booking (Saudis are very demanding), it is not that bad for one or two nights. I stayed here and it was fine.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – Nozol Ghayda – For people on a mid-range budget, this is a good value for money option.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable luxury – Novotel Jizan – There are only two 5-star hotels in Jizan and this is the best-rated. I came here to have some nice coffee in the morning and it was great.

Click here to check prices and availability

Telling the guy to pull out his jabiya

Al-Ula – Like Petra and Wadi Rum but without tourists (2-3 days)

I will be honest here.

This is the only place from this Saudi Arabia itinerary which I didn’t go to.

And the reason is that Madinah Saleh, the most jaw-dropping thing to do in Saudi Arabia, is currently closed to visitors, as the place had suffered from vandalism – very common in developing countries – and they have restricted the entrance until they figure out what to do with the place.

You can still visit Madinah Saleh but you need to get a permit through a local contact with very strong connections.

Update November 2019! – Madinah remains closed but, from December 19th, 2019 to March 7th, 2020, they will celebrate a festival which will allow you to visit (only on weekends) but you need to make a previous booking and it is not cheap. For more information, check the official website

Madinah Aleh – Photo by @mal2at

In any case, there are other places to visit in Al-Ula besides Madinah Saleh but first, let me tell you what Madinah Saleh is:

Madinah Saleh, or Hegra, was an ancient city founded by local tribes 5000 years ago, but it was not until the 2nd century BC that the Nabateans, the same guys that built Petra, made it a great city, in a fear of the Romans conquering Petra, so it could serve as the new capital.

Still, the Romans conquered both cities, Hegra and Petra, but the more than 100 tombs carved from the giant desert rocks still remain and it is particularly more stunning than Petra because it is located in the middle of literally nowhere.

For more information, I recommend you read this guide to Madinah Saleh from Blue Abaya.

As I said, Madinah Saleh is closed but there are still many things you can do around.

The desert around Al-Ula – Is a replica of Wadi Rum but with no Bedouins trying to sell you expensive desert tours.

Al Deerah Heritage Village (Old Town) – Another great highlight, Al Deerah is a 2,000-year-old mud-based ghost town.

Where to stay in Al-Ula

There aren’t many options.

Mid-range – Sahary Al Ola Camp – A beautiful desert-themed hotel located in the middle of the beautiful desert.

Click here to check prices and availability

What to do in Saudi Arabia – Extending your itinerary: Al Jawf & Hofuf (2-3 extra days)

Since I had some spare days left, I decided to also visit Al Jawf and Hofuf, located in the far north and far east respectively.

To be honest, they are not the greatest touristic places but I enjoyed my time because I went there with a great group of people and also, I had to go because I was working in a project for a local company, so they wanted to show me around and take some photos.

Is it worth it to go? Well, I will show you the photos, give you some explanation and then you decide.

Map of the 2 additional things to do in Saudi Arabia

Hofuf – Great temples and mosques – (1 day)

Hofuf is 327km from Riyadh, so if you leave early in the morning, you could visit it on a day trip, that’s what I did.

It is located in the eastern part of Saudi, in Al Ahsa region, relatively close to Dammam, an unattractive industrial city with no particular touristic interest.

In Hofuf, however, there are a few sites worth to check out.

Ibrahim Palace – One of my favorite shots ever

Things to do in Hofuf

Ibrahim Palace – Beautifully restored, this 500-year old Ottoman building used to serve as both an Islamic building and a military fortress, and elements fulfilling these functions can be seen all around.

Jabal Qarah – In the middle of Hofuf, there is a small rocky hill named Qarah made of utterly strange rock formations.

Most of the site has been restored, very badly, and it seriously looks like shit because they have added loads of artificial elements, losing the total sense of a natural place and, unfortunately, as I expected, the locals freaking love it.

Only because of that refurbishment, I would tell you to skip it but if you get off the main trail, climb the walls, you will see that half of it hasn’t been restored yet, so it is a great place to watch the sunset and take some cool shots.

Jabal Qarah

Jawatha Mosque – Apparently, this was the second mosque that Prophet Muhammed ever prayed at on a Friday and what I like about it is that it is very humble.

The souq – The souq of Hofuf is composed of narrow lanes with traditional wooden facades and many of the shops are run by local Saudis, so it was pretty cool to visit.

Where to stay in Hofuf

Budget – Al Masem Hotel – The classical budget aparthotel in Saudi.

Click here to check availability and prices

Mid-range (traditional hotel) – Al Koot Heritage Hotel – We visited this hotel because it is one of the very few hotels in Saudi Arabia which is decorated in the most traditional way and tries to sell a cultural experience. The food here was also great.

Click here to check availability and prices

Top-end – Al Ahsa InterContinental – The best-rated 5-star hotel in Hofuf.

Click here to check availability and prices

Jawatha Mosque, the second mosque the prophet Mohammed ever prayed at, in Hofuf, east of Saudi Arabia

Al Jawf – The most northern region (1 or 2 days)

Well, if you check the map, you will see that Al-Jawf is crazy far, more than anywhere else, and it is in fact 1,147km away from Riyadh.

I personally came here by plane from Riyadh but, like I said, I went there to work on a project, so they paid all my expenses. Still, if you happen to be in Tabuk, a northern city that has the greatest desert landscapes in the country, Al-Jawf is pretty close.

So, is it worth it to go or not?

I had loads of fun because there I was received by two young Saudi ladies who wore the niqab and spent the whole day with them. I went for coffee with one of them in a café (just the two of us), they invited me to their house, fed me and, of course, showed me around their province.

It was a great cultural experience, one that very hardly any male can tell.

Chilling with a Saudi woman in Al-Jawf

Anyways, other than my interactions with the local women, Al Jawf is rich in archaeological sites, as well as a local culture which sometimes seems to have closer relation with Jordan than Saudi itself, especially when it comes to food, as I just ate Arab Levantine dishes such as makluba and dolma and you will be surprised to know that the region is very rich in olive oil.

Actually those ladies gifted me with 1 litre of local olive oil.

Many Saudis also claim that Al Jawf is home to the most hospitable people in the country but I would not know what to say about that, as I was treated like a royal guest everywhere I went.

Things to do in Al-Jawf

Rajajil columns – Some very weird 6,000-year old stone columns built by pagans. They believe that each rock represents a man.

The 6,000-year old columns

Za’abal Castle – More a fort than a castle, located on the top of a hill from where you get stunning views of the valley.

Marid Castle – An Assyrian 1,800-year old castle with traces of Romans and Nabateans. This is the top place to visit in Al-Jawf region.

Where to stay in Al-Jawf region

Budget – Ghoson Al Zaitoun Furnished Units – The most budget classic aparthotel.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – Dana North – Spacious rooms and the best location for travelers with a higher budget.

Click here to check prices and availability

Marid castle from outside – Amazing places to visit in Saudi Arabia

More information

For all the practical information to the country, read: How to travel in Saudi in 2019

If you are skeptical about visiting the country, read: Is it ethical to visit Saudi Arabia?

Are you a woman? Saudi is safe for females. Read: 9 Misconceptions about traveling in Saudi as a woman

Going to Dubai? Read my ultimate Dubai itinerary

For more Middle Eastern content, check all my guides and articles to the Middle East

This was my recommended list of what to do in Saudi Arabia. Any further suggestions are more than welcome

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2QkFD2n via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

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hotelsmarket · 6 years

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The Hotel Construction Pipeline in the Middle East Continues Rapid Expansion

In the recent Middle East hotel construction pipeline report by analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE), the region continues to show rapid pipeline expansion in the second quarter of 2018 with the highest counts since 2007 when LE first began recording. The total pipeline stands at 603 projects/175,288 rooms, an all-time high. These numbers show a lofty 119% increase in projects and 125% increase in rooms since the region's low in the fourth quarter of 2013 when the total pipeline bottomed at 275 projects/77,772 rooms. Projects presently under construction are at 355 projects/113,635 rooms and are at an all-time high. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months are at 127 projects/33,158 rooms, and projects in early planning are at 121 projects/28,495 rooms, both at their highest levels since 2007.In the first half of 2018, the Middle East had 43 new hotels open while another 51 hotels are forecasted to open in the second half, bringing the total number of expected new hotel openings to 94 by year end. Analysts at LE forecast explosive growth for new hotel openings in the coming years with 119 expected to open in 2019 and a whopping 156 in 2020. Countries with the largest number of projects in the construction pipeline are the United Arab Emirates with 217 projects/61,375 rooms and Saudi Arabia, with 208 projects/74,962 rooms. Following distantly are Qatar with 58 projects/13,733 rooms and Egypt with 42 projects/9,923 rooms. The most swiftly growing emirate construction pipeline is in Dubai with 163 projects/47,783 rooms. The other notable emirate is Abu Dhabi with 21 projects/5,647 rooms. Regions and cities having the largest hotel construction pipelines are located within Saudi Arabia, where the Provincial Region has 59 projects/11,467 rooms, and Riyadh has 57 projects/10,735 rooms. Jeddah is recording their highest counts since 2007 with 56 projects/11,027 rooms while Makkah has 36 projects/41,733 rooms, also a record high.Companies with the largest construction pipelines in the Middle East are Marriott International with 96 projects/22,066 rooms, Hilton Worldwide with 91 projects/25,341 rooms, and AccorHotels with 81 projects/23,512 rooms. Marriott International is showing an all-time high project count while Hilton Worldwide is on their third quarter in a row of overall record highs for both projects and guest room counts. The leading pipeline brands for these companies are Marriott's Courtyard with 21 projects/4,476 rooms, and Residence Inn with 16 projects/1,877 rooms; Hilton's full-service Hilton Hotel & Resort with 26 projects/9,736 rooms, and DoubleTree by Hilton with 26 projects/6,113 rooms; and AccorHotels' Novotel with 14 projects/5,165 rooms, and Adagio City Aparthotel with 14 projects/2,711 rooms. All of these leading pipeline brands, with the exception of Hilton's full-service Hotel and Resort, are at their record highs.

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worldhotelvideo · 6 years

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edenresidence · 3 years

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Jeddah is one of the popular places to visit in Saudi Arabia. Every year, many tourists throng here to get mesmerized by the beauty of the Jeddah. To know more read our latest published blog: https://eden-residence.blogspot.com/2021/12/booking-hotel-in-jeddah-make-sure-to.html

#hotelsinjeddah #aparthotels #aparthotels in Jeddah #saudiarabia

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edenresidence · 3 years

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In this blog, we will walk through such tips that will help you save money on aparthotels in Jeddah. Visit: How to Save Money While Booking Apart Hotels in Jeddah?

#aparthotels #aparthotels in jeddah #jeddah

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edenresidence · 4 years

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Here we have rounded up some easy tips to get great deals on hotels in Jeddah so that you can end up with huge savings. Let’s get started. Visit: How to Get Great Deals on Hotels in Jeddah

#hotels in jeddah #hotels #hotel #SevicedApartmentsInJeddah #hotel apartments in jeddah #aparthotels in Jeddah #aparthotels for rent in jeddah #luxury aparthotels for rent in jeddah

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edenresidence · 4 years

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Are you going to Jeddah for the very first time on your business trip? If yes, then choosing the right hotel is as important as your business meetings and presentation. You need relaxation and comfort after going through exhaustive conferences and meetings. Remember, choosing a hotel for your business trip is one thing while choosing it for a leisure another. So, here are useful tips to choose hotels in Jeddah for your first business trip to make your stay convenient, relaxing and easy. Read More At: https://eden-residence.blogspot.com/2021/02/how-to-find-hotels-in-jeddah-for-your.html

#aparthotels in Jeddah #best hotel in jeddah #hotel in jeddah #hotels #hotels and suites #hotels in jeddah #jeddah hotels #luxury hotel in jeddah #serviced apartments in Jeddah

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edenresidence · 3 years

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Jeddah is located in western Saudi Arabia and on the coast of the Red Sea, and this city is considered one of the most important coastal cities. In this article we have rounded up some best aparthotels in Jeddah for your family trip: https://eden-residence.blogspot.com/2022/02/best-aparthotels-for-families-in-jeddah.html

#jeddah #saudiarabia #aparthotels

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edenresidence · 3 years

Photo

Let us make this job easier for you. Here we have rounded up some best hotels in Jeddah which are synonyms for luxury and comfort. Visit: The Best Hotels in Jeddah You Should Book Now

#hotels #hotelsinjeddah #Seviced Apartments In Jeddah #hotels in jeddah #hotel apartments in jeddah #aparthotels

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edenresidence · 2 years

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Hotel In Jeddah

Are you looking for luxurious hotel in Jeddah for your next travel adventure in Saudi Arabia? Look no further Eden Residence Aparthotel provides you premium hotel amenities and services at very affordable rates.The fully-serviced residence offers one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom apartments with or without terrace, each complete with a spacious living area, separate bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen and modern amenities.

#hotel in Jeddah #hotels #saudi arabia #jeddah

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edenresidence · 3 years

Photo

Welcome to Eden Residence Aparthotels! We offer you upscale and convenient aparthotels or service apartments in Jeddah, no matter if you are on a short leisure trip or a business tour. For more information visit: https://eden-residence.blogspot.com/2021/04/how-to-book-eden-residence-aparthotel.html

#Eden Residence Aparthotels #aparthotels #hotels #hotelsinjeddah #servicedapartmentsinjeddah #hotelinJeddah

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edenresidence · 4 years

Photo

Aparthotels or serviced apartments in Jeddah are popular among tourists. They are equipped with all facilities such as a kitchen and living room, ensuring you a “home away from home” experience. Besides, they help you save money on dining as you can cook for yourself. Read: https://eden-residence.blogspot.com/2021/01/solo-travel-to-jeddah-what-you-need-to.html

#serviced apartments #Aparthotels #hotels #travel #travelling #sauditourism

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topfygad · 5 years

Text

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 15-day itinerary

If you had been reading my previous articles, you will know that finally, Saudi Arabia started issuing tourist visas in December 2018.

If you want to know more about it, read how to travel to Saudi Arabia in 2019.

After spending 2 weeks traveling around, I have compiled all the places to visit in Saudi Arabia in a 2-week itinerary.

Read: Is it ethical to visit Saudi as a tourist?

Here you will find:

How to organize your trip to Saudi Arabia Accommodation in Saudi Arabia Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia 10-12-day itinerary

Additional Places (2-3 days)

More information

How to organize your Saudi Arabia itinerary

Saudi Arabia is huge.

Most likely, your Saudi itinerary will start in Riyadh or Jeddah, from where you will start planning your journey.

Just for you to have an idea, imagine you want to visit Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ula and Jizan, which are the 4 greatest places to visit in Saudi Arabia in my opinion:

Riyadh to Jeddah: 954km Jeddah to Jizan: 714km Jizan to Al-Ula: 1,382km Al-Ula to Jeddah: 676km

That’s 3,726km in less than 10 days, only for moving from one city to another.

Then, how to plan what to do in Saudi Arabia?

Where to rent a car? – I definitely recommend Rental Cars, a search engine that finds the best car deals in any city around the world.

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE BEST CAR RENTAL DEALS IN SAUDI

A beautiful castle in Al Jawf, north of Saudi Arabia, very, very far from anywhere else – Places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Need to know regarding accommodation in Saudi Arabia

There are many hotels but just be aware that most options tend to be expensive.

Read: Practical information for traveling to Saudi Arabia

This is my friend Nada from @nadaalnahdi, somewhere in Al Jawf – Things to do in saudi arabia

Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia

In places like Saudi Arabia, the Health Care System is crazy expensive for foreigners.

I strongly recommend World Nomads for the following reasons:

It is the only company that offers an unlimited budget policy, very useful for Saudi Arabia

It provides coverage for pretty much any nationality

It covers a wide range of adventure activities

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM WORLD NOMADS

If you want to know more options, read how to find the best travel insurance

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 10-12 Days itinerary

This Saudi itinerary covers the following things to do in Saudi Arabia:

Read: Traveling in Saudi Arabia as a woman

Map of the things to do in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh – The country’s capital (3-4 days)

As the capital, Riyadh has the largest number of flight connections from Europe, Asia and many places around the world, so it makes sense for it to be your first place to visit in Saudi Arabia.

The Old City of Riyadh – Best places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Things to do in Riyadh

Outside of Riyadh – Visit the Red Sand Dunes, the Edge of the World, the Camel Trail and Ad Diriyah.

In the modern part – At sunset, you must climb the Skybridge tower.

For more information, I have written a full mega-guide:

How to visit Riyadh in 3 days – A complete guide

Where to stay in Riyadh

(If you prefer Airbnb because it may be cheaper, remember that you can get up to 34€ of free credit by signing up through my link.)

Budget Hotel – OYO 150 Al Hamra Palace Al Aswaq – Simple but clean and comfortable. In Saudi, aparthotels are very common and the cheapest accommodation.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-Range – Mada Suites – For travelers with a higher budget, this aparthotel is a really good value for money choice.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable Luxury – Crowne Plaza – This 5-star hotel is cheaper than many other luxury options in the city.

Click here to check prices and availability

Just outside of Riyadh, looking at the Camel Trail – Thank you @joaoleitao for the shot

Jeddah – The most progressive city (3 days)

The beautiful Old City of Jeddah – This photo was chosen the 2nd best photo in Instagram by Lonely Planet in January 2019

Things to do in Jeddah

Beautiful Al Balad – What to do in Saudi Arabia

Al Wahba Crater – If you have time, I also recommend going on a day trip to Al Wahba Crater, a crater around Taif area, which is believed to be caused by a meteorite.

The Floating Mosque – Last, don’t forget to check out the Floating Mosque (north corniche), a beautiful mosque on the sea which gets pretty busy after the main Friday prayer.

Where to stay in Jeddah

(If you prefer Airbnb because it may be cheaper, remember that you can get up to 34€ of free credit by signing up through my link.)

Budget – OYO 125 Al Hamra Palace – It is the same one I recommend in Riyadh, basically, because they are the best decent budget option in town.

Click here to check availability

Mid-range – Shada Executive Hotel – This beautiful hotel has a great design concept, it is in a relatively good location and is one of the best-rated hotels in town.

Click here to check availability

Affordable luxury – The Hotel Galleria By Elaf – One of the best, cheapest and best-rated 5-star hotels in Jeddah.

Click here to check availability

Al Balad – Where to visit in Saudi Arabia

Abha – Epic ancient buildings and monkeys (2 days)

My Couchsurfing host had canceled my request upon my arrival in Abha, so I headed to the center of town in order to figure out where I could stay.

There were also many honey-stalls, some of them selling literally tens of types and there I learned that Abha is worldwide famous for its honey and, in fact, it is considered the best one in Asia.

If you want to read more content about this region, don’t forget to check all my travel guides to the Middle East

A man selling all sorts of honey – Saudi Arabia travel itinerary

Moreover, Abha is a real off the beaten track region, so making random Saudi friends is fairly easy and I actually met a great group who showed me around their mountains and villages.

Abha region from above – What to do in Saudi Arabia

But perhaps, Rijal Almaa Heritage Village is the place Abha is most famous for and one of the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia.

Many centuries ago, Rijal Almaa was the main stopover for people coming from Yemen to Mecca and Medina, so the village turned into an important trading center.

The colorful Heritage Village is still under restoration and it will take a while to be finished because it is mainly been restored from the villagers’ pockets.

Today, Rijal Almaa is in the tentative list for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It contains a museum, as well as many viewpoints from where you can take great pictures.

Rajal Almaa Abha – Interesting places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Where to stay in Abha and Rijal Almaa

Be aware that accommodation here is more expensive than in the big cities.

Budget – Shatha Abha Furnished Units – The cheapest option in Abha.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – The View – Relatively fancy, super spacious rooms with great views of Abha’s lake.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable Luxury – Blue Inn Boutique – There are not many 5-star hotels in Abha, but I recommend this one because it is quite affordable for what you get.

Click here to check prices and availability

Hanging out with local friends in Abha – What to visit in Saudi Arabia

Jizan – Welcome to Yemen (2 days)

Jizan, WOW.

They eat Yemeni food and, in the villages, you will find many people dressing in the traditional Yemeni way, which often involves wearing a janbiya, the Yemeni dagger, and a hat made of flowers.

A Yemeni dude with his dagger in Fayfa

These Yemeni-like people are really friendly and you can ask them for a picture, no problem at all. In fact, they will like it because it’s not every day that a random foreigner asks for a photo.

While Abha is very much off the beaten track, it attracts a lot of domestic tourism, but barely Saudis visits Jizan, which means that you will be a particularly exotic element here.

Read: Syria travel guide

The terrace fields Jizan is famous for

A man looking at the field terraces of Abha

Where to stay in Jizan

Budget – El Eairy – The most budget option. Seriously, despite the bad rate on booking (Saudis are very demanding), it is not that bad for one or two nights. I stayed here and it was fine.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – Nozol Ghayda – For people on a mid-range budget, this is a good value for money option.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable luxury – Novotel Jizan – There are only two 5-star hotels in Jizan and this is the best-rated. I came here to have some nice coffee in the morning and it was great.

Click here to check prices and availability

Telling the guy to pull out his jabiya

Al-Ula – Like Petra and Wadi Rum but without tourists (2-3 days)

I will be honest here.

This is the only place from this Saudi Arabia itinerary which I didn’t go to.

You can still visit Madinah Saleh but you need to get a permit through a local contact with very strong connections.

Madinah Aleh – Photo by @mal2at

In any case, there are other places to visit in Al-Ula besides Madinah Saleh but first, let me tell you what Madinah Saleh is:

For more information, I recommend you read this guide to Madinah Saleh from Blue Abaya.

As I said, Madinah Saleh is closed but there are still many things you can do around.

The desert around Al-Ula – Is a replica of Wadi Rum but with no Bedouins trying to sell you expensive desert tours.

Al Deerah Heritage Village (Old Town) – Another great highlight, Al Deerah is a 2,000-year-old mud-based ghost town.

Where to stay in Al-Ula

There aren’t many options.

Mid-range – Sahary Al Ola Camp – A beautiful desert-themed hotel located in the middle of the beautiful desert.

Click here to check prices and availability

What to do in Saudi Arabia – Extending your itinerary: Al Jawf & Hofuf (2-3 extra days)

Since I had some spare days left, I decided to also visit Al Jawf and Hofuf, located in the far north and far east respectively.

Is it worth it to go? Well, I will show you the photos, give you some explanation and then you decide.

Map of the 2 additional things to do in Saudi Arabia

Hofuf – Great temples and mosques – (1 day)

Hofuf is 327km from Riyadh, so if you leave early in the morning, you could visit it on a day trip, that’s what I did.

It is located in the eastern part of Saudi, in Al Ahsa region, relatively close to Dammam, an unattractive industrial city with no particular touristic interest.

In Hofuf, however, there are a few sites worth to check out.

Ibrahim Palace – One of my favorite shots ever

Things to do in Hofuf

Jabal Qarah – In the middle of Hofuf, there is a small rocky hill named Qarah made of utterly strange rock formations.

Jabal Qarah

Jawatha Mosque – Apparently, this was the second mosque that Prophet Muhammed ever prayed at on a Friday and what I like about it is that it is very humble.

The souq – The souq of Hofuf is composed of narrow lanes with traditional wooden facades and many of the shops are run by local Saudis, so it was pretty cool to visit.

Where to stay in Hofuf

Budget – Al Masem Hotel – The classical budget aparthotel in Saudi.

Click here to check availability and prices

Top-end – Al Ahsa InterContinental – The best-rated 5-star hotel in Hofuf.

Click here to check availability and prices

Jawatha Mosque, the second mosque the prophet Mohammed ever prayed at, in Hofuf, east of Saudi Arabia

Al Jawf – The most northern region (1 or 2 days)

Well, if you check the map, you will see that Al-Jawf is crazy far, more than anywhere else, and it is in fact 1,147km away from Riyadh.

So, is it worth it to go or not?

It was a great cultural experience, one that very hardly any male can tell.

Chilling with a Saudi woman in Al-Jawf

Actually those ladies gifted me with 1 litre of local olive oil.

Many Saudis also claim that Al Jawf is home to the most hospitable people in the country but I would not know what to say about that, as I was treated like a royal guest everywhere I went.

Things to do in Al-Jawf

Rajajil columns – Some very weird 6,000-year old stone columns built by pagans. They believe that each rock represents a man.

The 6,000-year old columns

Za’abal Castle – More a fort than a castle, located on the top of a hill from where you get stunning views of the valley.

Marid Castle – An Assyrian 1,800-year old castle with traces of Romans and Nabateans. This is the top place to visit in Al-Jawf region.

Where to stay in Al-Jawf region

Budget – Ghoson Al Zaitoun Furnished Units – The most budget classic aparthotel.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – Dana North – Spacious rooms and the best location for travelers with a higher budget.

Click here to check prices and availability

Marid castle from outside – Amazing places to visit in Saudi Arabia

More information

For all the practical information to the country, read: How to travel in Saudi in 2019

If you are skeptical about visiting the country, read: Is it ethical to visit Saudi Arabia?

Are you a woman? Saudi is safe for females. Read: 9 Misconceptions about traveling in Saudi as a woman

Going to Dubai? Read my ultimate Dubai itinerary

For more Middle Eastern content, check all my guides and articles to the Middle East

This was my recommended list of what to do in Saudi Arabia. Any further suggestions are more than welcome

source http://cheaprtravels.com/places-to-visit-in-saudi-arabia-15-day-itinerary/

0 notes

topfygad · 5 years

Text

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 15-day itinerary

If you had been reading my previous articles, you will know that finally, Saudi Arabia started issuing tourist visas in December 2018.

If you want to know more about it, read how to travel to Saudi Arabia in 2019.

After spending 2 weeks traveling around, I have compiled all the places to visit in Saudi Arabia in a 2-week itinerary.

Read: Is it ethical to visit Saudi as a tourist?

Here you will find:

How to organize your trip to Saudi Arabia Accommodation in Saudi Arabia Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia 10-12-day itinerary

Additional Places (2-3 days)

More information

How to organize your Saudi Arabia itinerary

Saudi Arabia is huge.

Most likely, your Saudi itinerary will start in Riyadh or Jeddah, from where you will start planning your journey.

Just for you to have an idea, imagine you want to visit Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ula and Jizan, which are the 4 greatest places to visit in Saudi Arabia in my opinion:

Riyadh to Jeddah: 954km Jeddah to Jizan: 714km Jizan to Al-Ula: 1,382km Al-Ula to Jeddah: 676km

That’s 3,726km in less than 10 days, only for moving from one city to another.

Then, how to plan what to do in Saudi Arabia?

Where to rent a car? – I definitely recommend Rental Cars, a search engine that finds the best car deals in any city around the world.

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE BEST CAR RENTAL DEALS IN SAUDI

A beautiful castle in Al Jawf, north of Saudi Arabia, very, very far from anywhere else – Places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Need to know regarding accommodation in Saudi Arabia

There are many hotels but just be aware that most options tend to be expensive.

Read: Practical information for traveling to Saudi Arabia

This is my friend Nada from @nadaalnahdi, somewhere in Al Jawf – Things to do in saudi arabia

Travel Insurance for Saudi Arabia

In places like Saudi Arabia, the Health Care System is crazy expensive for foreigners.

I strongly recommend World Nomads for the following reasons:

It is the only company that offers an unlimited budget policy, very useful for Saudi Arabia

It provides coverage for pretty much any nationality

It covers a wide range of adventure activities

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM WORLD NOMADS

If you want to know more options, read how to find the best travel insurance

Places to visit in Saudi Arabia – 10-12 Days itinerary

This Saudi itinerary covers the following things to do in Saudi Arabia:

Read: Traveling in Saudi Arabia as a woman

Map of the things to do in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh – The country’s capital (3-4 days)

As the capital, Riyadh has the largest number of flight connections from Europe, Asia and many places around the world, so it makes sense for it to be your first place to visit in Saudi Arabia.

The Old City of Riyadh – Best places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Things to do in Riyadh

Outside of Riyadh – Visit the Red Sand Dunes, the Edge of the World, the Camel Trail and Ad Diriyah.

In the modern part – At sunset, you must climb the Skybridge tower.

For more information, I have written a full mega-guide:

How to visit Riyadh in 3 days – A complete guide

Where to stay in Riyadh

(If you prefer Airbnb because it may be cheaper, remember that you can get up to 34€ of free credit by signing up through my link.)

Budget Hotel – OYO 150 Al Hamra Palace Al Aswaq – Simple but clean and comfortable. In Saudi, aparthotels are very common and the cheapest accommodation.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-Range – Mada Suites – For travelers with a higher budget, this aparthotel is a really good value for money choice.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable Luxury – Crowne Plaza – This 5-star hotel is cheaper than many other luxury options in the city.

Click here to check prices and availability

Just outside of Riyadh, looking at the Camel Trail – Thank you @joaoleitao for the shot

Jeddah – The most progressive city (3 days)

The beautiful Old City of Jeddah – This photo was chosen the 2nd best photo in Instagram by Lonely Planet in January 2019

Things to do in Jeddah

Beautiful Al Balad – What to do in Saudi Arabia

Al Wahba Crater – If you have time, I also recommend going on a day trip to Al Wahba Crater, a crater around Taif area, which is believed to be caused by a meteorite.

The Floating Mosque – Last, don’t forget to check out the Floating Mosque (north corniche), a beautiful mosque on the sea which gets pretty busy after the main Friday prayer.

Where to stay in Jeddah

(If you prefer Airbnb because it may be cheaper, remember that you can get up to 34€ of free credit by signing up through my link.)

Budget – OYO 125 Al Hamra Palace – It is the same one I recommend in Riyadh, basically, because they are the best decent budget option in town.

Click here to check availability

Mid-range – Shada Executive Hotel – This beautiful hotel has a great design concept, it is in a relatively good location and is one of the best-rated hotels in town.

Click here to check availability

Affordable luxury – The Hotel Galleria By Elaf – One of the best, cheapest and best-rated 5-star hotels in Jeddah.

Click here to check availability

Al Balad – Where to visit in Saudi Arabia

Abha – Epic ancient buildings and monkeys (2 days)

My Couchsurfing host had canceled my request upon my arrival in Abha, so I headed to the center of town in order to figure out where I could stay.

There were also many honey-stalls, some of them selling literally tens of types and there I learned that Abha is worldwide famous for its honey and, in fact, it is considered the best one in Asia.

If you want to read more content about this region, don’t forget to check all my travel guides to the Middle East

A man selling all sorts of honey – Saudi Arabia travel itinerary

Moreover, Abha is a real off the beaten track region, so making random Saudi friends is fairly easy and I actually met a great group who showed me around their mountains and villages.

Abha region from above – What to do in Saudi Arabia

But perhaps, Rijal Almaa Heritage Village is the place Abha is most famous for and one of the best places to visit in Saudi Arabia.

Many centuries ago, Rijal Almaa was the main stopover for people coming from Yemen to Mecca and Medina, so the village turned into an important trading center.

The colorful Heritage Village is still under restoration and it will take a while to be finished because it is mainly been restored from the villagers’ pockets.

Today, Rijal Almaa is in the tentative list for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It contains a museum, as well as many viewpoints from where you can take great pictures.

Rajal Almaa Abha – Interesting places to visit in Saudi Arabia

Where to stay in Abha and Rijal Almaa

Be aware that accommodation here is more expensive than in the big cities.

Budget – Shatha Abha Furnished Units – The cheapest option in Abha.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – The View – Relatively fancy, super spacious rooms with great views of Abha’s lake.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable Luxury – Blue Inn Boutique – There are not many 5-star hotels in Abha, but I recommend this one because it is quite affordable for what you get.

Click here to check prices and availability

Hanging out with local friends in Abha – What to visit in Saudi Arabia

Jizan – Welcome to Yemen (2 days)

Jizan, WOW.

They eat Yemeni food and, in the villages, you will find many people dressing in the traditional Yemeni way, which often involves wearing a janbiya, the Yemeni dagger, and a hat made of flowers.

A Yemeni dude with his dagger in Fayfa

These Yemeni-like people are really friendly and you can ask them for a picture, no problem at all. In fact, they will like it because it’s not every day that a random foreigner asks for a photo.

While Abha is very much off the beaten track, it attracts a lot of domestic tourism, but barely Saudis visits Jizan, which means that you will be a particularly exotic element here.

Read: Syria travel guide

The terrace fields Jizan is famous for

A man looking at the field terraces of Abha

Where to stay in Jizan

Budget – El Eairy – The most budget option. Seriously, despite the bad rate on booking (Saudis are very demanding), it is not that bad for one or two nights. I stayed here and it was fine.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – Nozol Ghayda – For people on a mid-range budget, this is a good value for money option.

Click here to check prices and availability

Affordable luxury – Novotel Jizan – There are only two 5-star hotels in Jizan and this is the best-rated. I came here to have some nice coffee in the morning and it was great.

Click here to check prices and availability

Telling the guy to pull out his jabiya

Al-Ula – Like Petra and Wadi Rum but without tourists (2-3 days)

I will be honest here.

This is the only place from this Saudi Arabia itinerary which I didn’t go to.

You can still visit Madinah Saleh but you need to get a permit through a local contact with very strong connections.

Madinah Aleh – Photo by @mal2at

In any case, there are other places to visit in Al-Ula besides Madinah Saleh but first, let me tell you what Madinah Saleh is:

For more information, I recommend you read this guide to Madinah Saleh from Blue Abaya.

As I said, Madinah Saleh is closed but there are still many things you can do around.

The desert around Al-Ula – Is a replica of Wadi Rum but with no Bedouins trying to sell you expensive desert tours.

Al Deerah Heritage Village (Old Town) – Another great highlight, Al Deerah is a 2,000-year-old mud-based ghost town.

Where to stay in Al-Ula

There aren’t many options.

Mid-range – Sahary Al Ola Camp – A beautiful desert-themed hotel located in the middle of the beautiful desert.

Click here to check prices and availability

What to do in Saudi Arabia – Extending your itinerary: Al Jawf & Hofuf (2-3 extra days)

Since I had some spare days left, I decided to also visit Al Jawf and Hofuf, located in the far north and far east respectively.

Is it worth it to go? Well, I will show you the photos, give you some explanation and then you decide.

Map of the 2 additional things to do in Saudi Arabia

Hofuf – Great temples and mosques – (1 day)

Hofuf is 327km from Riyadh, so if you leave early in the morning, you could visit it on a day trip, that’s what I did.

It is located in the eastern part of Saudi, in Al Ahsa region, relatively close to Dammam, an unattractive industrial city with no particular touristic interest.

In Hofuf, however, there are a few sites worth to check out.

Ibrahim Palace – One of my favorite shots ever

Things to do in Hofuf

Jabal Qarah – In the middle of Hofuf, there is a small rocky hill named Qarah made of utterly strange rock formations.

Jabal Qarah

Jawatha Mosque – Apparently, this was the second mosque that Prophet Muhammed ever prayed at on a Friday and what I like about it is that it is very humble.

The souq – The souq of Hofuf is composed of narrow lanes with traditional wooden facades and many of the shops are run by local Saudis, so it was pretty cool to visit.

Where to stay in Hofuf

Budget – Al Masem Hotel – The classical budget aparthotel in Saudi.

Click here to check availability and prices

Top-end – Al Ahsa InterContinental – The best-rated 5-star hotel in Hofuf.

Click here to check availability and prices

Jawatha Mosque, the second mosque the prophet Mohammed ever prayed at, in Hofuf, east of Saudi Arabia

Al Jawf – The most northern region (1 or 2 days)

Well, if you check the map, you will see that Al-Jawf is crazy far, more than anywhere else, and it is in fact 1,147km away from Riyadh.

So, is it worth it to go or not?

It was a great cultural experience, one that very hardly any male can tell.

Chilling with a Saudi woman in Al-Jawf

Actually those ladies gifted me with 1 litre of local olive oil.

Many Saudis also claim that Al Jawf is home to the most hospitable people in the country but I would not know what to say about that, as I was treated like a royal guest everywhere I went.

Things to do in Al-Jawf

Rajajil columns – Some very weird 6,000-year old stone columns built by pagans. They believe that each rock represents a man.

The 6,000-year old columns

Za’abal Castle – More a fort than a castle, located on the top of a hill from where you get stunning views of the valley.

Marid Castle – An Assyrian 1,800-year old castle with traces of Romans and Nabateans. This is the top place to visit in Al-Jawf region.

Where to stay in Al-Jawf region

Budget – Ghoson Al Zaitoun Furnished Units – The most budget classic aparthotel.

Click here to check prices and availability

Mid-range – Dana North – Spacious rooms and the best location for travelers with a higher budget.

Click here to check prices and availability

Marid castle from outside – Amazing places to visit in Saudi Arabia

More information

For all the practical information to the country, read: How to travel in Saudi in 2019

If you are skeptical about visiting the country, read: Is it ethical to visit Saudi Arabia?

Are you a woman? Saudi is safe for females. Read: 9 Misconceptions about traveling in Saudi as a woman

Going to Dubai? Read my ultimate Dubai itinerary

For more Middle Eastern content, check all my guides and articles to the Middle East

This was my recommended list of what to do in Saudi Arabia. Any further suggestions are more than welcome

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2QkFD2n via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Cheapr Travels

0 notes