Saudi Family Adventure: Ancient Cities, Deserts & the Red Sea

Today the family explores Riyadh, where history comes alive. You visit Diriyah, the UNESCO World Heritage birthplace of the kingdom, exploring the beautifully restored mudbrick palaces, quarters and atmospheric earthen lanes of At-Turaif, where children can imagine the past, with your guide's tales bringing the founding story to life. You visit the historic Masmak Fort, the mud-brick fortress at the heart of the kingdom's dramatic founding story, thrilling for children, and perhaps the excellent National Museum with its engaging displays. You might ascend the Kingdom Centre skybridge for sweeping skyline views. The living history and forts captivate all ages. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, the children full of stories. This evening, savour Saudi cuisine. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to extraordinary AlUla and its lost city.

Today the family flies to extraordinary AlUla, one of the most amazing places on earth. You take a domestic flight to AlUla and transfer to your hotel amid the spectacular desert oasis valley, a vast landscape of dramatic cliffs, canyons and giant rock formations that amazes children. In the afternoon, you begin exploring this magical place, visiting the atmospheric mudbrick AlUla Old Town, fun to explore, and the iconic, towering Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil), a giant natural rock resembling an elephant, especially magical at sunset. The amazing landscapes and giant rock formations delight the whole family. As the sun sets over the dramatic desert, the family settles into the hotel. This evening, gaze up together at the brilliant desert stars. Rest well, ready to discover the magnificent lost city of Hegra tomorrow.

Today the family discovers the magnificent rock-carved Nabatean tombs of Hegra, an awe-inspiring lost city. With a local 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, an awe-inspiring real-life lost city that thrills children like explorers. You marvel at the giant tombs, including the solitary Qasr al-Farid, hear tales of the ancient Nabateans, and explore the dramatic desert canyons of Jabal Ithlib. The scale and wonder captivate all ages. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, the children amazed by the lost city. This evening, savour a desert dinner beneath the brilliant stars, with stargazing. Rest well, for tomorrow the family enjoys a desert adventure and more of AlUla's wonders.

Today the family enjoys an exhilarating desert adventure in spectacular AlUla. You race across the golden desert by 4x4, discovering extraordinary rock formations, canyons, arches and viewpoints sculpted by wind and time, and taking in the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, an exciting adventure for children. You might visit the striking mirrored Maraya building, reflecting the desert, explore the lush AlUla oasis with its date palms, or enjoy family activities amid the spectacular scenery. The desert adventure and amazing landscapes thrill the whole family. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, the children full of desert adventures. This evening, savour a final AlUla evening beneath the brilliant stars. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to Jeddah and the pristine Red Sea.

Today the family flies to Jeddah, the historic Red Sea gateway. You take a domestic flight to Jeddah and transfer to your hotel in this vibrant coastal city. In the afternoon, you explore Al-Balad, the UNESCO World Heritage old town, a labyrinth of centuries-old coral-stone houses with beautiful carved wooden balconies, bustling souks and historic mosques, fun for the family to wander, with treasures and sweets in the souks. You take in the beautiful Jeddah Corniche along the Red Sea, with its striking sculptures and the iconic King Fahd Fountain, the tallest in the world, which delights children. The atmospheric old town and coast captivate all ages. As the day ends, you settle in, having explored old Jeddah. This evening, savour Jeddah's excellent seafood. Rest well, for tomorrow the family snorkels the pristine Red Sea.

Today the family snorkels the pristine coral reefs of the Red Sea. You take a boat trip out to the beautiful reefs off Jeddah, among the finest and least-crowded in the world, where the family snorkels together over pristine coral gardens teeming with clouds of colourful tropical fish, turtles and vibrant coral, in warm, clear water, a beautiful and easy underwater adventure children love, often with the reef almost to yourselves. You relax on the boat and swim in the warm sea between snorkels. The beautiful reefs and marine life delight the whole family. As the day ends, you return to Jeddah, the children full of underwater wonders. This evening, enjoy a final family dinner in Jeddah, perhaps fresh seafood by the sea, reflecting on your fascinating adventure across Saudi Arabia. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning in Jeddah, perhaps a last stroll along the corniche or through Al-Balad, you are transferred to King Abdulaziz International Airport for your onward international departure. The family leaves having shared a fascinating, pioneering adventure across newly opened Saudi Arabia, discovering the rock-carved lost city of Hegra, racing the desert dunes and marvelling at giant rock formations in AlUla, gazing at brilliant starry skies, exploring the mudbrick palaces of Riyadh, and snorkelling the pristine Red Sea. The memories stay vivid long after you land, the awe-inspiring lost city of Hegra, the giant Elephant Rock, the desert races, the brilliant stars, and the colourful Red Sea reefs. Saudi Arabia offers a safe, fascinating and adventure-filled family journey through an extraordinary new land, and you depart together, treasuring the shared memories, and already dreaming of a return to this remarkable, welcoming country.