Join the Saudi Arabia Adventure, January 2025
9 spots left
What will you experience?
- Your starting point to jump into the Saudi Arabian Peninsula will be the city of Jeddah - next to the Red Sea, with a beautiful old town, locally called Al-Balad. Start your day with some hole in the wall Saudi coffee, and take in the unique architecture of a thousand intricate windows - called Mashrabiya. But that's just the start.
- Where the adventure really starts is on your road trip to go deeper into the Kingdom: See Al Ula, an ancient city left behind by the Nabateans (the same as those who built Petra in Jordan!).
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DEEP DESERT
- My personal favorite on the northern circuit, and I think it might become yours too, is a canyon known to few visitors and Saudi's alike: A scenery of tall towering rocks against the wild environment that can only be visited by a 4x4 vehicle. All while being hosted by the local community that calls this their backyard view. Saudi Arabia's hospitality is world-class, but once you go into the rural areas, it is unmatched.
Are you up for this adventure? Join us!
And if you really want to go off the beaten path -
Join the Southern Circuit:
Now, most people know it as a country just covered in desert, no? What if I told you Saudi Arabia is green and mountainous, is home to monkeys, rock houses that look like ginger bread, and men who wear flower crowns, and pristine beaches? Yeah, right, most probably wouldn't believe it.
That's exactly what you'll experience in the South:
GREEN MOUNTAIN ROADS & ANCIENT CITIES
- Road trip south over the mountains of Taif, and maybe stop to look at the quirkiness of the baboons that line the mountain pass! Our first goal is to see the ancient, and secluded village of Thee Ain, named after the water that flows from the surrounding mountains, and enjoy a lunch next to the water that flows by, after you have explored the houses built of stone and the craftmanship of the carpentry.
- A prime example of the uniqueness of the southern architecture is Rijal Almaa, turned into a museum to see what life a thousand years ago. Some people compare the intricate architecture and framing of the houses with the look of "gingerbread". But giant. And the rocks are not-so-edible. ;)
THE ELUSIVE FLOWER MEN
- Our main focus today is to immerse ourselves in a culture that exists nowhere else in the world, but in this border region between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, where a cultural transition takes place, resulting in some of the most unique cultural identities I have witnessed. And yes, the region is safe to visit. However, we need special permission to enter this area, and the right connections to meet the flower men - part of why I am so proud that we get to organize this for you and the group.
- You will see how they live, explore the mountainous area with them, hear their singing and unique language, exchange questions through our translator, and perhaps get a flower crown yourself. Oh, and this area was the birthplace of (un-commercialised) coffee, so of course we will also visit a local coffee plantation tucked in a remote valley, to top it off.
FARASAN ISLANDS "The Maldives of Saudi Arabia"
Only a short ferry ride away lies a slice of paradise in the Red Sea, what locals nicknamed the Maldives of Saudi Arabia. The best way to explore them is by boat! You'll first explore a mangrove forest, stop by to do some snorkelling (since it's the Red Sea, one of the best diving areas in the world, it is spectacular), and of course see an isolated beach or two.
But the Farasan Islands aren't just about beaches - they used to be a major trading hub for pearls. That's what wealth meant here in the old days. You will get to see some ancient palaces of traders that came here all the way from India, and see depictions of their travels to Europe and beyond. Truly a fascinating place, that most people would not expect.
Finally, we return back to our start - and ending point: Jeddah; and say goodbye to your new travel family!
Why choose Destination Chaser?
Bringing the world closer, one adventure at a time! At Destination Chaser we combine unforgettable adventures for the traveler, while giving back to the communities that we are fortunate enough to be hosted by. We focus on:
- Ecotourism: through sustainable practices revolving around culture and nature, to help make it financially sustainable to preserve the two for communities.
- Supporting small local businesses: our trips are always comprised of locals putting their passion to work, and us supporting part of their dream through our visit.
- Dispersing tourism: over-tourism has become a problem in many places, and we believe if people simply traveled more to lesser visited places (what we focus on!), everyone would benefit: more opportunities where they normally lack tourism, travelers getting better experiences by going off-the-beaten path, and not adding to the crowds of overly popular places.
- Bringing the world closer: We believe that over time, if more people traveled to places and interacted with cultures that are oftentimes misunderstood or misrepresented, the world would become a more peaceful place. We want you to go on a trip others would not consider, and spread the word about the beauty of people and places - and open more minds to how similar we are as humans.
Thank you for being part of this movement!
What flights should I look for?
Flying in & out of Jeddah intl. Airport (airport code: JED)
Arrival: Jeddah Intl. Airport (JED) on January 18th, 2025.
For the southern circuit only (not joining the Saudi highlights trip): 24th January in the morning (before 7am), flying into Jeddah Intl. Airport (JED)
Departure:
Without the Southern Circuit extension: 24th of January, anytime. Hotel checkout will be between 10am-12pm. Flying out of Jeddah (JED)
With the Southern Circuit extension: afternoon of January 29th. Flying out of Jeddah (JED)
If flight schedules should not align, and you want help arranging an extra hotel night and airport transfer on different dates - just let us know, we're happy to help :)
What about the visa for Saudi Arabia?
Some nationalities such as the USA and multiple EU countries, can get a visa upon arrival at the airport - just show up and receive it.
Most nationalities can apply for an e-Visa for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a turnaround time as quick as 10 minutes (but we still strongly recommend you do it in advance).
To see what applies for your nationality specifically, please use this webpage: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations
Meet your team:
How does the payment work?
3 months before the start of the trip we will send you another payment link for 40%, and for the remainder, we will send another payment link two months in advance - this is so you have more flexibility with covering the cost and don't need to pay everything at once. Let us know if you need a payment plan, we are happy to help!
BONUS: if you have a points program you can collect points from our trips as we are under the “travel” category!
Other payment options such as PayPal, or bank transfer, are available too if you prefer.
What's included in the price?
| Included | not included |
| Personal airport pickup & drop off | Intl. flight to & from Jeddah intl. airport |
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All internal private transportation with AC |
Travel insurance (9-40$)
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Few meals to allow for flexibility |
Visa cost (depends on nationality) |
| An experienced, knowledgeable and fun tour guide |
Personal expenses & tips
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| All accommodation on a shared basis (we believe this is an essential part for people to connect throughout the trip) |
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Optional activities in Al Ula |
| National Park and conservation fees |
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| Domestic flights within Saudi Arabia |
What are Saudi Arabia's current covid requirements?
- Saudi Arabia has lifted all Covid-19 related travel requirements, so you will not need a test, nor vaccine to enter.
Questions?
Feel free to message me @destinationchaser or email me hello@destinationchaser.com any time :)
Looking forward to have you experience this adventure!
Andi