Saudi Arabia travel guide: AlUla, Jeddah and a first itinerary
Saudi Arabia rewards a focused itinerary. Sandstone landscapes around AlUla, the streets of Jeddah's old town and the scale of Riyadh make very different trips; trying to combine everything in one short holiday turns a visit into a string of transfers. Tourist visas were introduced in 2019, so this is no longer a newly opened destination. The useful question is which part fits the time and kind of travel you want.
Start with AlUla if the landscape is the reason you are going
AlUla brings together sandstone scenery, heritage sites and places to stay that make the landscape part of the experience. Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the major archaeological stop, but leave room for the Old Town, the oasis and an evening around Elephant Rock rather than reducing the visit to a single photograph.
Hegra is visited on a booked tour rather than independently. The simplest, the Hegra Day Tour, runs daily year-round from the Winter Park bus stop, lasts two to three hours with a shared English- or Arabic-speaking guide, and was priced from SAR 95 at the time of writing; book it before you fix the rest of the days.
Our suggested starting point is three nights, with one day centred on heritage and another kept flexible for an outdoor activity or a slower look around. This is an editorial itinerary, not a package: check the available tours, entry arrangements and opening times through Experience AlUla's official trip planner before setting the order.
A manageable first week
- Arrival day: reach your first base, settle in and avoid attaching a non-refundable excursion to a flight connection.
- Three nights in AlUla: make the heritage visit the anchor, then add activities that fit the season and your interests. Keep some time free around transfers and the hottest part of the day.
- Three nights in one city: choose Jeddah if you want an urban stay with old-town exploring and a possible Red Sea outing, or Riyadh if your interest is the capital and its surroundings.
- Departure: book the route around flights that actually operate on your dates. An open-jaw journey may reduce backtracking, but compare the complete fare and connections.
If a week includes long international journeys, drop the second base and spend longer in one region. The Empty Quarter is a separate expedition to plan with a suitable operator, not a convenient extra afternoon.
Where to stay
In AlUla, decide whether you value a town-oriented base or a landscape stay where more of the day revolves around the property. Compare the final price with meals, airport transfers and transport to your activities included. A room that looks cheaper can work out differently once several separate transfers are added.
For areas, practical information and places to stay, open our AlUla destination guide. Check the map and transfer arrangements of any property before booking; the destination name alone does not tell you how convenient it will be.
In Jeddah or Riyadh, choose a hotel close to the part of the city where you will spend most of your time. Confirm the route to planned visits and the airport rather than choosing only by star rating. If a pool or a particular facility matters to your trip, check its access rules and operating hours with the hotel.
Getting between places
Start with flight and transfer options, then decide whether a hire car helps. AlUla has its own airport, with domestic flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam and seasonal international links from Dubai and Doha; several routes run only a few days a week, so do not assume a daily service or that a late arrival connects neatly with your next activity. Tabuk and Madinah are alternative gateways, but both are hours away by road. Domestic connections can make a multi-base trip possible; count airport time and baggage costs as part of the travel day.
Around AlUla itself, a hire car gives the most freedom, and visitors need an international driving permit alongside their licence. Airport taxis are limited, but the Darb AlUla ride app, a town bus and hop-on hop-off shuttles from Winter Park cover the main sites. Experience AlUla's transport page lists the current airlines and services.
For trips beyond towns and established visitor sites, arrange an appropriate local operator. Ask what transport, permits, equipment and cancellation arrangements are included. A desert photograph on a map is not enough information to plan an independent drive.
When to go
For an itinerary with substantial outdoor time, start by comparing the cooler part of the year, broadly November to March. Conditions vary between the coast, cities and desert; check the forecast for each base, including evenings. Summer heat can sharply restrict when an outdoor plan is sensible.
Look at your intended dates alongside local holidays, religious observances and major events, which can affect availability and opening hours. Confirm arrangements before buying flights rather than expecting the same daily schedule throughout the year.
Before you book
Check the current FCDO travel advice and the entry requirements for British travellers. As of mid-September 2026 the FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Yemen and against all but essential travel between 10km and 80km from it. It also warns of Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and Red Sea shipping since July 2026 and of wider regional tensions, which can mean airspace closures and flight disruption, so keep an eye on the advice right up to departure and check that your insurance remains valid.
British passport holders now have more than one way in: an Electronic Travel Authorisation, a tourist e-visa or an electronic visa waiver, which differ in validity, total length of stay and whether health insurance is included (the e-visa includes it; the ETA and waiver do not). Your passport needs at least six months' validity on arrival, and evidence of travel to Israel can lead to refused entry. Travellers with other passports should use the official guidance for their nationality, and confirm the route before paying for non-refundable arrangements.
Read the official guidance on local laws and customs, check that your insurance covers the places and activities planned, and confirm the provider's cancellation terms. A good first visit is built around a few experiences you have properly arranged, with enough time between them to enjoy the place.
