Our Team 
Our Tour Experts Peter Harrigan is founding director and commissioning editor of Medina Publishing and a senior contributor to Aramco World Magazine. He has travelled extensively in the region and writes on the culture and history of Saudi Arabia.
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Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of the Nabateans
| Departure date | Duration | Prices Start from | Tour Expert | Max Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/30/20 | 12 Days | $8,122 ex. flights | Peter Harrigan | 15 | AVAILABLE | Reserve your place |
Steppes have had Saudi Arabia in its sights for some time now. The prospect of travelling in the footsteps of Richard Burton, T. E. Lawrence and Wilfred Thesiger is a tantalising one.
The trip begins in Riyadh – a city that forty years ago had a population of 100,000 people but is now home to over 7 million people. From here visit one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole of Saudi is Diriyyah. A UNESCO World Heritage site located just outside Riyadh, Diriyyah has a history that goes as far back as 627 AD. Continue north to Buraidah, known for its famous camel market. Then head to Hail and onto Al Ula, the gateway to Madain Saleh, world-famous Petra’s little-known twin sister. Also visit the Hesma Valley and Tabuk before heading south. The trip ends in Jeddah – a city with a history that can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. There will be time spent in the old town and the Abdul Rauf Khalil Museum which not only represents the rich Islamic heritage of Jeddah but also the city’s pre-Islamic past.
In more modern times, Saudi has become an emblem of everything most inexplicable to the West and therefore carries an aura of mystique and intrigue that is a compelling drawcard for the curious traveller. Having found a reliable partner on the ground and an exceptional western leader with the knowledge and experience required to give insight into the Kingdom we are excited to offer this new group tour.
Introducing your experts
Peter Harrigan
1 855 2037885
Roger Harrison
1 855 2037885
Roger has worked in and for the Kingdom in various forms for some 20 years or more. He has travelled it widely and in his position as Senior Reporter for the Arab News (the national English language newspaper) was privileged to meet a wide selection of the country’s people, from monarchs to road menders.
Why we like it
There are few places left that can be said to represent the last frontier of tourism. Follow your curiosity and put experience before prejudgment.
Explore our suggested itinerary
- Day 1Riyadh
- Day 2Diriyah
- Day 3Riyadh
- Day 4Riyadh to Buraidah
- Day 5Buraidah camel market
- Day 6Hail to Al Ula
- Day 7Madain Saleh
- Day 8Lion Tomb and Elephant Rock
- Day 9Hesma Valley
- Day 10Tabuk to Jeddah
- Day 11Jeddah
- Day 12Jeddah
Saudi Arabia Expectations
There can be few countries that are so misunderstood as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and perhaps no other country is as worthy of a first visit. Although dominated by the rolling sands of the Empty Quarter, in addition, you will find beautiful oases and dramatic mountain-tops, ancient cities, beaches and rivers.
Riyadh and Jeddah
Saudi cities are full of fascinating sites with major historic significance, often juxtaposed with very modern, high-tech architecture and infrastructure. This is most noticeable in Riyadh, the starting point for our group trip – a city that forty years ago had a population of 100,000 people but is now home to over 7,000,000. Finish in Jeddah – a city with a history that can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. There will be time spent in the old town and the Abdul Rauf Khalil Museum, which not only represents the rich Islamic heritage of Jeddah but also the city’s pre-Islamic past, with artefacts on show that can be traced back to the fishermen tribes who first inhabited this region.
Diriyyah
One of the most important archaeological sites in the whole of Saudi is Diriyyah. A UNESCO World Heritage site located just outside Riyadh, Diriyyah has a history that goes as far back as 627 AD, during the era of the Prophet Muhammad and served as the first capital of the Saudi Dynasty from 1744 to 1818. Our Tour Lecturer, Peter Harrigan serves as an advisor to the Arriyadh and Diriyyah Development Authority providing counsel on a restoration project, which includes five major museums on the site of the capital of the First Saudi State.
Madain Saleh
No trip to Saudi would be complete without a visit to Madain Saleh. Accessed from the oasis town of Al-Ula, Madain Saleh, Petra’s twin, was Saudi’s first World Heritage site. With its well preserved, ancient, rock hewn tombs set amongst a dramatic desert back drop, it is easy to see why Madain Saleh was chosen as a World Heritage site. The settlement of the site took place during the 1st century AD, when the Nabateans made Madain Saleh the kingdom’s second capital, after Petra in the north. The sense of history at Madain Saleh is palpable in the rock art and sculpture that can be seen all over the site, giving fascinating insight into the lives of the Nabateans over 2,000 years ago.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Moderate ActivitySingle Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf and the above is an indication of the cost, based on return flights departing from London. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Accompanied by Tour expert throughout
- Accompanied by English speaking local guide throughout
- Accommodation in 3-4* hotels
- Transport throughout in air conditioned vehicles
- Internal flights
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters
- Meals as per the itinerary
What is excluded
- International flights
- Visa
- Travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature
- Meals not mentioned
- Drinks with meals
Why a Steppes expert-led group tour
1.Experience Matters
We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
2.Size Matters
Our average group size is typically eight to ten people, smaller than other group tours typically offered – a factor which many of our clients appreciate. Travelling as part of a smaller group provides a more intimate, personalised and relaxed atmosphere.
4.It’s about who you know
We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.
3.Like-Minded People
Steppes Travellers are like-minded people – interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.
5.Value for money
Our tours are well-priced to ensure you get real value for money. We include gratuities on the majority of our tours and do not pass on currency surcharges. We strive to look after single travellers as well as we can, keeping single supplements to a minimum.
6.Peace of Mind
When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.
Our future tour dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 1 855 2037885
| Departure date | Duration | Prices Start from | Tour Expert | Max Group Size | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/30/20 | 12 Days | $8,122 ex. flights | Peter Harrigan | 15 | AVAILABLE | Reserve your place | 10/08/20 | 12 Days | $8,122 ex. flights | Roger Harrison | 15 | AVAILABLE | Reserve your place | 12/03/20 | 12 Days | $8,122 ex. flights | Roger Harrison | 15 | AVAILABLE | Reserve your place |
Reserve your place on this group tour
Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this escorted tour get in touch. They would love to help.
01285 601 784We look forward to you joining us on this tour.
Expert-Led Group Tours
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With an average group size of just eight to ten people our group tour itineraries enable you to travel to some of the most intriguing regions of the world in the company of experts guides in the field and, of course, with likeminded people.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary?
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