Maidain saleh archaeological site

Jordan and Saudi Arabia – An Ancient Nabatean Route

  • TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY IDEA

Duration

11 Days

Prices Start from

£4,795pp(ex. flights)

Travel from Jordan to Saudi Arabia, following an ancient Nabatean route and combining two of the Middle East’s most spectacular historic sites: Petra and Madain Saleh.

This holiday to Jordan and Saudi Arabia is awash with UNESCO gems and ancient history. Journey from the Roman site of Jerash to the UNESCO roseate landscapes of Wadi Rum in Jordan’s south, taking in crusader castles, Byzantine mosaics and the lost city of Petra. Cross into Saudi Arabia, birthplace and spiritual home of Islam, to explore dramatic landscapes and immerse yourself in the juxtaposition of ancient cultures and modern city life.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Treasury Temple (Al Khazneh), Petra, Jordan 1

UNESCO Sites

Visit two of the most spectacular UNESCO sites in the Middle East – Petra & Madain Salah.

Dead Sea, Jordan 2

Overland Explorations

Journey the Kings Highway skirting the Dead Sea, travel by high speed train and cross desert borders.

Traditional houses with green shutters, Al Balad district, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 3

Historical Cities

Explore the contradictions of Jeddah where 2,000 years of history sit alongside modern architecture.

Wadi Rum Landscape, Jordan 4

Ancient Deserts

Soak up the silence, dramatic rock formations and sand-swept dunes of Wadi Rum and AlUla.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Day 1

    Amman (Fairmont Hotel)

  • Day 2

    Amman (Fairmont Hotel)

  • Day 3

    Amman to Petra (Movenpick Resort)

  • Day 4

    Petra (Movenpick Resort)

  • Day 5

    Petra to Wadi Rum (Memories Aicha Camp)

  • Day 6

    Wadi Rum to Tabuk (Swiss Inn)

  • Day 7

    Tabuk to AlUla (Shaden Resort)

  • Day 8

    AlUla (Shaden Resort)

  • Day 9

    Al Ula to Jeddah (Centro Shaheen)

  • Day 10

    Jeddah (Centro Shaheen)

  • Day 11

    Jeddah

Day 1

Amman (Fairmont Hotel)

Arrive in Amman and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

Amman (Fairmont Hotel)

Start the day with an orientation tour of the Jordanian capital Amman, then visit Jerash, one of the finest Roman sites in the Middle East.

Day 3

Amman to Petra (Movenpick Resort)

Take the ancient Kings Highway trade route to Petra visiting Kerak castle, Madaba’s mosaics, and Mt. Nebo enroute.

Day 4

Petra (Movenpick Resort)

A full day to discover the ‘lost’ city of ancient Petra.

Day 5

Petra to Wadi Rum (Memories Aicha Camp)

Visit Little Petra, then drive south to Wadi Rum and explore the spectacular desert scenery by jeep.

Day 6

Wadi Rum to Tabuk (Swiss Inn)

Cross into Saudi Arabia and visit the stunning gorge of Wadi Tayyib Al Ism “Subject permission granted”, then drive via Midian’s (Mughair Shuaib) tombs to Tabuk.

Day 7

Tabuk to AlUla (Shaden Resort)

Travel to scenic Wadi Al Disah, where the perpendicular cliffs are framed by palm trees and pools of water, then continue to Al Ula following the route of the former Hijaz Railway.

Day 8

AlUla (Shaden Resort)

Visit the tombs of ancient Madain Saleh (Hegra). After lunch on a date farm explore the magical scenery of Madakhil, sunset at Elephant Rock.

Day 9

Al Ula to Jeddah (Centro Shaheen)

Drive to Medina, an orientation of Medina the second holiest city for Muslims then take the High-Speed train to Jeddah to overnight.

Day 10

Jeddah (Centro Shaheen)

Drive along the beautiful Red Sea Corniche and immerse yourself in Jeddah’s historic UNESCO World Heritage Al Balad quarter.

Day 11

Jeddah

Transfer to Jeddah International airport for onward travel.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

More Details

Ad Deir Monastery, Petra, Jordan
Ad Deir Monastery in Petra

UNESCO's Petra

There is a reason the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra is a highlight of a holiday to Jordan. Legacy of the Nabataeans, more than 2,000 years ago, these industrious people dominated the trade routes of ancient Arabia from their capital in Petra, levying tolls and sheltering caravans laden with spices, silks and ivory. Completely lost by the 16th century, it remained so for 300 years until its rediscovery by a Swiss traveller in 1812. Today you can see hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls and temples as well as an ingenious complex of dams and water channels, testament to the innovation and ingenuity of the Nabataeans.

Nabatean Tombs, Madain Saleh, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia
Madain Saleh

UNESCO's Madain Saleh

Any visit to Saudi Arabia would be incomplete without a trip to Petra’s ‘little sibling’ – Madain Saleh (Hegra). Built some 2,000 years ago by the Nabataean Arabs, this wonderous site was also lost to the world until its rediscovery in 1876. Accessed from the oasis town of AlUla, Madain Saleh was Saudi’s first World Heritage site; with its well preserved, ancient, rock hewn tombs set against a dramatic desert background, it is easy to see why. During the 1st century AD, the Nabateans made the site their kingdom’s second capital, after Petra, and the rock art and sculptures that can be seen all over the site today provide a fascinating insight into their lives at this time.

Muslim Men Praying, Saudi Arabia
Prayer time

Saudi Arabia Expectations

Saudi Arabia is still new to tourism, only allowing tourists to visit the Kingdom since the end of 2019. As such, it is important to set expectations – things may not run as smoothly as in other destinations. Plans may change at the last minute, journeys may take longer than expected, sites may not always be open when they say, guides, whilst good, are not used to groups of foreign nationals and will need to observe prayer time. However, for those with a thirst to discover the unknown, the jewels The Kingdom has to offer are well worth it. There can be few countries as nuanced as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

How does this holiday make a positive impact?

With the primary aim of offsetting and reducing emissions, increasing the Kingdom’s use of clean energy and addressing climate change, the Saudi Green Initiative was inaugurated in 2021. They have committed to plant 10 billion trees across Saudi Arabia, aiming to rehabilitate 40 million hectares of land, thus restoring Saudi Arabia’s natural greenery. Tourism and visits to the Kingdom will aid the success of this pledge.

The Movenpick Resort in Petra is committed to improving sustainability at the hotel, no matter how small the act. Simple measures such as installing water saving aerators on all taps and upgrading all light bulbs used across the hotel have resulted in reduced consumption. Sustainability training is also given to all staff members.

Travel to AlUla directly supports the preservation of the Arabian oryx, a species now classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable instead of extinct in the wild. Plans are for annual releases in 15 different locations, creating safe corridors, linking protected areas. The Sharaan Nature Reserve within AlUla Desert is one such site and has also been identified as a potential location for reintroducing Arabian leopards and other endangered species.

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A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

This Itinerary
Price
From £4,795 Per person

When to travel

Saudi Arabia in January

November to February are the best times to visit Saudi Arabia, with cooler temperatures in daytime and surprisingly chilly nights. Some mountainous regions do even receive some snowfall. However, it is not the best time to visit the Asir mountains in the southwest of the country, as they are often shrouded in fog.

Saudi Arabia in February

November to February are the best times to visit Saudi Arabia, with cooler temperatures in daytime and surprisingly chilly nights. Some mountainous regions do even receive some snowfall. However, it is not the best time to visit the Asir mountains in the southwest of the country, as they are often shrouded in fog.

Saudi Arabia in March

March and April remain a good time to visit much of the country, with temperatures climbing fast particularly in Riyadh. Some rainfall occurs at this time, although it is still mainly dry, and it is possible to explore the Asir Mountains.

Saudi Arabia in April

March and April remain a good time to visit much of the country, with temperatures climbing fast particularly in Riyadh. Some rainfall occurs at this time, although it is still mainly dry, and it is possible to explore the Asir Mountains.

Saudi Arabia in May

May to September is summer in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures reaching dizzying heights of over 40°C. A good time to seek out the cooler mountainous regions or dive in the Red Sea. Summer morning dives are generally the best.

Saudi Arabia in June

May to September is summer in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures reaching dizzying heights of over 40°C. A good time to seek out the cooler mountainous regions or dive in the Red Sea. Summer morning dives are generally the best.

Saudi Arabia in July

May to September is summer in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures reaching dizzying heights of over 40°C. A good time to seek out the cooler mountainous regions or dive in the Red Sea. Summer morning dives are generally the best.

Saudi Arabia in August

May to September is summer in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures reaching dizzying heights of over 40°C. A good time to seek out the cooler mountainous regions or dive in the Red Sea. Summer morning dives are generally the best.

Saudi Arabia in September

May to September is summer in Saudi Arabia, with temperatures reaching dizzying heights of over 40°C. A good time to seek out the cooler mountainous regions or dive in the Red Sea. Summer morning dives are generally the best.

Saudi Arabia in October

October is still hot but temperatures are dropping fast particularly in Riyadh. It is possible to explore the Asir Mountains and go diving still.

Saudi Arabia in November

November to February are the best times to visit Saudi Arabia, with cooler temperatures in daytime and surprisingly chilly nights. Some mountainous regions do even receive some snowfall. However, it is not the best time to visit the Asir mountains in the southwest of the country, as they are often shrouded in fog.

Saudi Arabia in December

November to February are the best times to visit Saudi Arabia, with cooler temperatures in daytime and surprisingly chilly nights. Some mountainous regions do even receive some snowfall. However, it is not the best time to visit the Asir mountains in the southwest of the country, as they are often shrouded in fog.

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