Saudi Arabia: Women's Expedition

12 Days | Discover a unique perspective of Saudi Arabia on a women’s-only expedition

Women's Expeditions
From
AUD $9,675

On this women-only adventure around Saudia Arabia’s dramatic landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage sites, you’ll spend 12 days learning about the country’s deep history, sampling the local cuisine and getting to know the local women. With a desire to tell their own story, they will introduce you to the world of the diverse and severely underrepresented women of Saudi Arabia. Tour a citrus farm with sisters who transformed their father’s vision into a multigenerational business, take a cooking class and pottery workshop, get to know the Holy City of Madinah with a local female guide, cruise and snorkel the Red Sea and meet Saudi Arabia’s first-ever female guide in Jeddah.

Trip overview

Map of Saudi Arabia: Women's Expedition including Saudi Arabia
Start
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Finish
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Theme
Women's Expeditions
Destinations
Saudi Arabia
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Comfort
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
EYKS
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Tour a local, family-owned citrus farm with the sisters who run it, explore Wadi Disah (Valley of Palm Trees) and see Alula’s remarkable rock formations with giant tombs from the Nabatean era.
  • Visit Madinah – the second holiest site in Islam, after Mecca – with a local female guide. Enjoy a Saudi-style picnic of local bread and peppermint tea with views over the Holy City.
  • Take a bullet train to Jeddah’s Al Balad – a UNESCO World Heritage site – and meet with Saudi’s first female guide Abir. Wander the narrow streets, meet friendly vendors and sample local delicacies.
  • Cruise the Red Sea on a boat on your final day – snorkel, swim and end it all on a private women-only beach for sunset.
  • This trip is designed to support local women and entrepreneurs, so you’ll join a cooking class with a local chef, meet with a pottery artist, get pampered at a women-owned salon, join a host family for a home-cooked meal and stay in a female-owned boutique hotel.

Is this trip right for you?
  • Saudi Arabia's tourism industry is still in its infancy, and there are some challenges to overcome, like a lack of infrastructure in some locations, reliable systems and trained guides. Sites are occasionally closed with little or no notice and restoration work is common. You’ll need to have a degree of flexibility when travelling here.
  • Hotel standards and service levels vary across the country and may differ from what you’ve experienced elsewhere. Locals are new to international tourism, so please have an open mind and heart.
  • The country has strict laws and customs that visitors should be aware of before travelling, such as dress codes. Alcohol is also banned. Please see the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
  • Saudi Arabia is large country and we cover we cover a lot on this itinerary. Be prepared for some longer travel days where lunch stops will be simple and limited. Our vehicle is comfortable and we've broken these up with free time in key locations to allow you rest and recharge.

Itinerary

Map of Saudi Arabia: Women's Expedition including Saudi Arabia

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle, High-Speed Train, Boat, 4x4 Jeep

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights), Heritage Hotel (1 night), Desert Camp (3 nights), Boutique Hotel (2nts)

Activities
  • Riyadh – Traditional Saudi Dinner
  • Riyadh – Complimentary Airport arrival transfer
  • Riyadh – Pottery workshop visit with female artist
  • Riyadh - Traditional Home cooked meal with female hosts
  • Diriyah – UNESCO Site
  • Riyadh - Souq Al-Zal Market visit
  • Ushaiger - Heritage Village
  • Buraydah - Cooking class with female chef
  • Buraydah - Date market
  • Unaizah – Al Musoawkaf Traditional market
  • Hail - Female only Salon visit
  • Alula - Historical Old town and Al Jadidah Area
  • Alula – Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil)
  • Alula – Abeya shop
  • Alula - Citrus Farm Tour & Lunch
  • Alula - Madain Saleh (Hegra) Tour with local guide
  • Dissah Valley - 4x4 Excursion and bedouin style picnic
  • Madinah - City Tour & Dar Al Madinah Museum with local female guide
  • Madinah - Sunset Saudi Picnic with female local guide
  • Madinah - Market visit & lunch
  • Madinah - Hijaz Railway Terminus Station
  • Al Balad - UNESCO Heritage walking tour with female guide
  • Jeddah - Ladies only beach
  • Jeddah - Red Sea Boat & Snorkelling trip
Optional activities
  • Riyadh – Kingdom Tower - USD19
  • Riyadh - National museum - Free
  • Riyadh - Al Masmak Fortress - Free
  • Hail - Visit A'arif Fort - Free
  • Hail - Jubbah Rock art and Saudi Desert Picnic (price per group up to 12) - USD400
  • Hail - Souk & Flea Market - Free
  • Hail - Al Mutlaq Heritage Mosque - Free
  • Alula - Harra View point (transport cost per group of 4) - USD66

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Checked in luggage on the high speed train from Madinah to Jeddah is restricted to 1 x 25kg bag.
4. Please provide a copy of your passport at time of booking in order to to secure train tickets

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

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Saudi Arabia: Women's Expedition
From
AUD $9,675