Asia · Destination Guide
Saudi Arabia
Nabataean tombs, Red Sea reefs & the edge of the world
Saudi Arabia opened to tourism only in 2019, and it is one of travel's most extraordinary new frontiers — a vast desert kingdom hiding Nabataean tombs to rival Petra, dramatic canyon cliffs, pristine Red Sea reefs and a rapidly modernising culture eager to be seen.
AlUla, with its ancient rock-cut tombs of Hegra and the mirror-clad Maraya concert hall, is the jewel; but there is far more — the cliff-edge overlook near Riyadh, the coral coast and old coral-stone town of Jeddah, and a warmth of Saudi hospitality that surprises every first-time visitor. Raw, ambitious, and unlike anywhere else on Earth right now.
Nabataean tombs to rival Petra, in a desert kingdom opening to the world.
Don't Miss
The Unmissables
Hegra & AlUla
Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO site — Hegra (Mada'in Salih) is the Nabataeans' second city, over 100 monumental tombs carved into desert sandstone, the sister of Petra but almost empty of crowds. Nearby, AlUla's old mud-brick town, Elephant Rock and the mirrored Maraya hall complete an unforgettable desert-culture ensemble.
Edge of the World
A short drive from Riyadh, the Tuwaiq escarpment drops away in a sheer cliff over an endless desert plain — the aptly named Jebel Fihrayn, where you stand on the lip of a precipice with nothing but horizon beyond. Sunset here is one of Arabia's great views.
Riyadh
The fast-rising capital — the soaring Kingdom Centre sky-bridge, the mud-brick fortress of Masmak where the modern kingdom began, the restored Diriyah heritage district, and a booming scene of museums, cafés and mega-projects that reveal Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambition.
Jeddah & the Red Sea
The kingdom's liberal, seafaring gateway — Al-Balad's UNESCO coral-stone old town with its carved wooden balconies, a lively corniche, and, offshore, some of the world's most pristine and least-dived coral reefs. The historic pilgrim port turned cultural capital.
Timing Is Everything
When to Go
Cool season
Pleasant days for desert sites, AlUla and cliff overlooks — by far the best window.
AlUla season
Festivals, concerts at Maraya and ideal desert temperatures around Hegra.
Shoulder
Warming or cooling; still fine on the Red Sea coast and early/late in the day.
Summer
Brutal 45°C+ desert heat — outdoor sightseeing becomes genuinely unpleasant.
The Route
The Perfect Saudi Arabia Itinerary
Riyadh
Masmak fort, National Museum, Diriyah, and a sunset at the Edge of the World.
AlUla
Hegra's Nabataean tombs, the old town, Elephant Rock, a concert or dinner at Maraya.
Jeddah
Al-Balad's coral-stone lanes, the corniche, and a Red Sea reef dive or snorkel.
Plan Your Spend
What Saudi Arabia Costs
Backpacker
Budget hotels, shawarma and street food, intercity buses, ride-hailing, free desert viewpoints.
Mid-range
Comfortable hotels, AlUla tours and Hegra entry, rental car, Red Sea day trips.
Luxury
Banyan Tree and Habitas AlUla desert resorts, private guides, helicopter and diving experiences.
Estimates per person, excluding international flights. Book stays via our partners to support free guides like this one.
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