Saudi Arabia: Al ula unexplored land
From 5.168 €

Saudi Arabia: Al ula unexplored land

holiday package
Created: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Ref ID: 21709997
prezzo del pacchetto per persona From
5.168 €
Based on 2 adults
Created: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Itinerary
Tours
More pictures (2)

Day 1: AlUla

Saudi Arabia is one of the last semi-unexplored frontiers; recently opened to international tourism, it offers a glimpse of life that, in many cultural aspects, seems frozen in the past, but is making giant strides toward Westernization and opening up to the outside world at an unparalleled speed. This is also the land of Mecca, the pilgrimage destination for the Muslim world. You will discover the Al Ula region on horseback, whose desert is the natural continuation of the Jordanian Wadi Rum desert. An unprecedented adventure in a magical place, amidst breathtaking landscapes. Immerse yourself in this land, until recently hidden from the rest of the world, an exceptional place rich in culture and landscapes of overwhelming beauty. The Al Ula site is an open-air museum, made up of well-preserved tombs, ancient dwellings, and natural or man-made monuments that bear 200,000 years of human history, still largely unexplored. You will begin your stay with a visit to Medâ’in Saleh, where you will find the remains of the Nabatean city of Hegra, spanning over 1,000 hectares of desert. Its name comes from a figure in the Quran named Salih. The site is located along the ancient caravan route connecting Petra to Hejaz. The Nabateans, inspired by Petra, built 138 monumental rock-cut tombs here.

ITALY / AL ULA (-/-/D)
Arrival at Al Ula Airport (ULH), pick-up by our representatives, and transfer to your comfort tented camp inside an oasis.


Day 2: AlUla

AL ULA (B/L/D)
Visit to Meda'in Saleh, a location situated in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, 20 km north of the Al-ʿUlā oasis. Here we find the remains of the Nabatean city of Hegra (or Al-Hijr), spanning more than 1000 hectares of desert. Its name derives from a figure in the Quran named Sâlih. The site has been inhabited since the Neolithic era, but it was during Antiquity that the oasis, located along the caravan route connecting Petra to Hejaz, reached its peak, with control of the site by the Nabateans who, inspired by Petra, built 138 monumental rock-cut tombs. The construction methods are identical, and the builders started from the top of the facades, destroying the sandstone platform used to reach these heights after each construction phase. After the integration of Nabataea into the Roman Empire in the 2nd century, the Romans took control of the caravan route, but later Arab populations took over. They borrowed the Nabatean script to create their own, which gave birth to Arabic script. The local population, needing protection, emigrated to Al-'Ula, which was better protected, and the Hegra site lost its importance. During the Muslim period, it became a simple stop on the pilgrimage to Mecca. The city was rediscovered by Europeans at the end of the 19th century. Nicknamed the second Petra due to the wealth of its rock-cut tombs, the ancient site was recognized by UNESCO in 2008 as the Al-Hijr Archaeological Site. It became the first site in Saudi Arabia to be included on the World Heritage List. Since then, tourism has developed, and the government has sought to improve the site's attractiveness, as well as the surrounding oases, to transform it into a leading tourist destination.


Day 3: AlUla

AL ULA (B/L/D)
Breakfast and first meeting with the horses, followed by a first ride in the historic center located in the palm grove. Lunch in the palm grove, then proceed towards the desert, passing near a rock formation that strangely resembles an elephant – the famous “Elephant rock”.


Day 4: AlUla

AL ULA (B/L/D)
For the next 4 days, we will ride in a sandstone desert with mountains of various shapes. Each valley is different, and the mountains are filled with petroglyphs depicting human and/or animal figures from various periods. Ostriches that once lived in the greener part of the peninsula, ibexes, and horses can be seen. Similar inscriptions are found in Jordan's Wadi Rum. The beautiful tracks of this ochre desert allow for fast paces, and the mountains and canyons offer pleasant shade for the midday break. At the end of the day, return to the small, comfortable camp located in the middle of an orange grove, and the horses will be returned to the stables for the night.


Day 5: AlUla

AL ULA (B/L/D)
Desert exploration.


Day 6: AlUla

AL ULA (B/L/D)
Desert exploration.


Day 7: AlUla

AL ULA (B/L/D)
Desert exploration.


Day 8:

AL ULA / ITALY (B/-/-)
Breakfast and transfer to Al Ula Airport in time for your flight back to Italy. Request a customized quote if you wish to extend your stay to visit Jeddah or Riyadh.

Note:
The itinerary above is indicative and may be subject to changes due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control. Extra activities available at an additional cost: helicopter flight, climbing, star watching, ATV, etc.

Notes:
(B/L/D): B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Difficulty level: From ° to °°°°°

DURATION: 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
DIFFICULTY: °°° (INTERMEDIATE)
ACCOMMODATION: Comfort tented camp
EQUIPMENT: ENGLISH SADDLE
HORSES: ARABIAN HORSES
RIDE TIME: About 5 hours per day. We will proceed at all three gaits. Good control of the horse in open spaces is required.
WHAT TO BRING: Equestrian clothing, preferably light to avoid attracting the sun’s heat. Breathable fabrics with long sleeves to avoid sunburn. Helmet, sunscreen, waist bag, water bottle, headlamp. Consider the nighttime temperature variation in the desert.

TYPE: Equestrian stay with overnight stays in comfort tented camps.
ACCOMMODATION: 7 nights in comfort tented camps set up in the cool shade of an oasis directly within the Al Ula region. The tents are equipped with mosquito nets, mattresses, and sheets. Bungalows are available with sanitary services, showers, and electricity.

On request, it is possible to stay in lodges (with a supplement). For those who prefer a "luxury" version of the program, we offer overnight stays at the beautiful Habitas or Banyan Tree resorts.

prezzo del pacchetto per persona From
5.168 €
Based on 2 adults
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This idea includes
Destinations 1
Accommodations 1
Tours 1
Tour summary
Guide languages
العربية
English
Français
Included
Transfer to/from Al Ula airport
All meals as per the program
7 overnight stays in a comfortable tented camp
4 and a half days on horseback
Visit to Mada'in Saleh
Horses and equipment provided
Experienced local guide speaking English and French
Medical basic insurance
Luggage insurance
Excluded
Flights to/from Al Ula
Meals not mentioned, airport taxes, drinks, tips, personal extras
Alcoholic beverages (prohibited in the country)
Anything not highlighted in the "Included" section
Cancellation insurance
Accommodation
- campo tendato comfort all’interno di un’oasi