Home Tours Saudi Arabia and Iraq Winter Combo Tour

Saudi Arabia and Iraq Winter Combo Tour

Start
Nov 25, 2023
Jeddah
End
Dec 11, 2023
Basra/Baghdad
Duration
17 days
Price
US$4995.00



TOUR OVERVIEW



This tour will showcase the best of two of the Middle Eastā€™s most prominent countries. SaudiĀ Arabia and Iraq are in the same region, however they have vastly different histories andĀ cultures. ā€‹
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Starting in the modern Red Sea city of Jeddah we will head north through the AncientĀ Nabatean wonders of Al Ula and Haā€™il, before exploring the huge modern and relatively newĀ city of Riyadh. From here we will then fly up to Baghdad which is certainly not a new city.

In Iraq we will explore the wonders of Mesopotamia and experience life after the recentĀ conflicts in the country. We will explore the religious centres of Najaf and Karbala beforeĀ making our way down to the UNESCO marshes in the south.
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This trip will show you two very different countries that are both changing at a lightning-fastĀ pace. Now is a unique time to explore both these countries as they both begin to blossom!


View the full itinerary




If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.




INCLUSIONS:

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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included

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Transport, beginning in Jeddah and ending in Riyadh, and beginning in Baghdad and ending in Basra

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Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary

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Welcome dinner and farewell dinner in Saudi Arabia, lunch in the marshes in Iraq

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SAIGA guide and local guides


SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $895

OPTIONAL EXTENSION, RETURN TO BAGHDAD: $100



EXCLUSIONS:

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Visa fee

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Meals other than those stipulated

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Transport to Jeddah at the start of the tour, from Basra at the end of the tour, and between Riyadh and Baghdad in the middle of the tour

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Accommodation and any other services before or after the tour

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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities

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Any COVID related expenses



TOUR HIGHLIGHTS


Explore the vibrant old city of Jeddah

Take in the spectacular natural wonder of Wadi Al Disah

Explore the sister city of Petra, the ancient Madaā€™in Salih

Get a first hand view of how Saudi Arabia is modernising


Itinerary
Day 1Sat Nov 25
Jeddah
  • We start today with a city tour of Jeddah, showing you both the old and new of this vibrant city.
  • We will visit the Jeddah Corniche which runs along the Red Sea, as well as introducing you to the old part of Jeddah, the Al Balad District, where we will see some of the most iconic historical architecture in Jeddah. This area is host to numerous cafes and small museums as well as the old Souq.
  • A quick photo stop by the world's second largest flag pole ! (It overtook the Baku flagpole in 2014 and then was overtaken by a flagpole in Egypt in 2021.)
  • We will also see the distant Jeddah Tower, which is eventually to be the worldā€™s tallest building. Later, we will finish up at the Floating Mosque, another one of Jeddahā€™s must see attractions.
  • Afterwards we will return to the hotel where you will have the afternoon and evening to explore Jeddah. We'll probably head back to the Al Balad District at night, as it comes alive (as does most of the country) once the sun goes down.
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Day 2Sun Nov 26
Jeddah, Tabuk
  • We will head to the airport in the morning to catch a domestic flight to Tabuk, which lies in the far north of the country near the border with Jordan.
  • We will then drive to the awesome Wadi Al Disa where we will check into our farmstay. Along the way we will have a chance to stop and see some awesome desert scenery.
  • We will explore some of the surrounding areas in time for an epic sunset over the mountains.
  • Dinner and overnight at farmstay.
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Day 3Mon Nov 27
Tabuk, Wadi Al Disah, Tabuk
  • We will be up early for a journey into the wilderness of Saudi Arabia to see Wadi Al Disah. This is one of the most spectacular sights in all of Saudi Arabia and is still relatively unknown by outsiders. This amazingly beautiful area is home to canyons and palm trees and provides for some unreal photo opportunities.
  • Here we will learn about the amazing history of the region, which shares close links with other sites such as Wadi Rum and Petra in Jordan.
  • After a full day of exploring the valleys, we will arrive back at the farmstay where you will have a free evening.
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Day 4Tue Nov 28
Tabuk, Al-'Ula
  • Leaving Wadi Al Disah we'll head to Al-'Ula, which will take approximately 3.5 hours, through stunning rocky landscapes. We'll arriveĀ and settle into our accommodation before heading out to visit Al-'Ula.
  • The walled city of Al-ā€˜Ula was founded in the 6th century BC, an oasis in the desert valley, with fertile soil and plenty of water. It was located along 'Incense Road', the network of routes that facilitated the trading of spices, silk and other luxury items through Arabia, Egypt and India.
  • Walking along the narrow passageways of Al-'Ula, you'll feel like you're stepping back in time. It's phenomenal to think the last residents moved out in the 1980s! This maze of densely built mudbrick houses, many of which are more than 2000 years old, will amaze you. Sadly it won't be here for long though as it is slowly disintegrating.
  • In the evening we'll do some stargazing in the remote desert where we will also enjoy a group BBQ dinner. (Note: be sure to bring warm clothes for stargazing as the desert can be very cold at night.)
  • Around 11pm we will arrive back at our accommodation where we will rest up for the night.
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Day 5Wed Nov 29
Al-'Ula, Madaā€™in Salih, Al-'Ula
  • Today we'll visit Madaā€™in Salih. Possibly the most famous archelogical site on the Saudi peninsula. The site is similar to that of Petra in Jordan, due to them both being built during the Nabatean Empire, however until recently was much harder to get to due to visa restrictions.
  • Visiting the Nabatean tombs of Hegra as well as the many wonderful rock formations in the area such as Elephant Rock, this ancient city carved into solid rock is definitely a highlight of Saudi Arabia.
  • There is also an optional extra to go on a 4km or 8km hike through the park which is the best way to see the many different landscapes of the region.
  • In the evening you will have free time to roam around Al-'Ula town where you can enjoy a sunset dinner and explore Al-'Ula old town.
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Day 6Thu Nov 30
Al-'Ula, Ha'il
  • We will once again hit the road (approx. 5 hours), this time heading deeper into the interior of Saudi Arabia, to Ha'il, which sits on the edge of the Nafud Desert and the rugged Shammar Mountains.
  • Once we have arrived in Ha'il and settled into our hotel, we have the option to explore the Qishlah Castle in the centre of the city, and afterwards head up the Jabel al Samra mountain that overlooks the city of Ha'il and makes for great views.
  • You will have a free evening in Ha'il where you'll have the opportunity to try local Najd cuisine which is very hearty, perfect for surviving in the desert.
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Day 7Fri Dec 1
Ha'il, Jubbah, Riyadh
  • We will have an early morning drive out to Jubbah, where will see some of the oldest rock carvings in Saudi Arabia, which are possibly over 10,000 years old, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • After visiting the rock art we will head back to Ha'il where we'll grab some lunch and board our 3:35pm train to Riyadh which will take 4 hours and 40 minutes.
  • Relax on the train and watch the desert landscape go by.
  • We will arrive in Riyadh around 8pm where will check into our hotel and then have a free evening.
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Day 8Sat Dec 2
Riyadh
  • On the last day of our Saudi adventure we will take in the sites of Riyadh, the amazingly modern capital of the Kingdom. Here we will visit Masmak Fort and the infamous 'Chop Chop' Square, as well as the local Souq which is a heaven for collectors of cool antiques and souvenirs.
  • After lunch we will head out to view the ā€˜Edge of the Worldā€™, out in the desert. The Edge of the World is a viewpoint that sits at the top of a mountain range outside of Riyadh. This is possibly one of the most incredible views of the entire journey.
  • We will have a BBQ dinner, weather permitting, and then return to Riyadh where we will have the night to unwind and reminisce about the past week on the road.
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Day 9Sun Dec 3
Riyadh, Baghdad
  • Today we will fly between Riyadh and Baghdad (flights not included).
  • Free time in Riyadh and Baghdad for the rest of the day.
  • Overnight in Baghdad.
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Day 10Mon Dec 4
Baghdad
  • Today weā€™ll be exploring Baghdad and getting familiar with Iraq. Weā€™ll begin the morning by visiting the National Museum.
  • Weā€™ll then pay a visit to Al-Mustansariya School, which used to be the most important university in the Islamic world.
  • No trip to Baghdad is complete without a visit to the famous Almutanabi Street, also known as Book Street. This is where we will also pop in for a tea at the iconic Shabandar CafĆ©.
  • After a refreshment we will then check out the super cool copper market.
  • In the afternoon, we will see some of Baghdadā€™s most impressive monuments such as the Al Shaheed monument (the big blue half domes that youā€™ve no doubt seen plenty of photos of), Liberation Square and the Save the Iraqi Culture monument.
  • In the evening weā€™ll have dinner at one of Baghdadā€™s charming and delicious restaurants.
  • Overnight in Baghdad.
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Day 11Tue Dec 5
Baghdad, Samarra, Baghdad
  • We begin the day with a road trip to visit the majestic Great Mosque of Samarra with its spiral minaret. Ā The minaret is a UNESCO world heritage site and this used to be one of the largest mosques in the world during its time as the former capital of the Abbasid empire.
  • We then head to the Virgin Palace with its huge pool. The size of this palace will give you an idea of how important this city once was in the 9 th century.
  • We then pay a visit to the Al-Askari shrine which was built in 944 CE and is still one of the most important Shia shrines in the world.
  • Return to Baghdad for a free evening.
  • Overnight in Baghdad.
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Day 12Wed Dec 6
Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala
  • We hit the road again this morning, this time headed for Karbala!
  • On the route we will visit theĀ remains of the ancient city of Babylon, which has now been heavily reconstructed.
  • We will also visit one of the infamous palaces of Saddam Hussein. There are several of these palaces across the country, all of which are in varying degrees of disrepair, and this is likely to be a highlight for most of you.
  • We will then visit the legendary city of Babylon. It is certainly impressive to walk the same streets that the rulers of one of the most prominent ancient empires once did, and where Alexander the Great died.
  • We will get the chance to walk through a reconstruction of the glorious Ishtar Gate ā€“ constructed of vibrant blue tiles and adorned with depictions of fantastic animals.
  • We will then proceed to Karbala, one of the most important holy cities for Shia Muslims. This is also the site of one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, where every year hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims come to mark the holy day of Ashura.
  • Overnight in Karbala.
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Day 13Thu Dec 7
Karbala, Al Kifl, Kufa, Najaf
  • In the morning we head out in the direction of Najaf, another one of Islamā€™s most holy cities.
  • On the way we will stop off in Al Kilf, which holds an important and unique pilgrimage site, the tomb of Ezekial. This spot is important for both Muslims and Jewish peoples. It has a Jewish shrine enclosed in a mosque which canā€™t be seen anywhere else in the world.
  • We then continue on to Najaf where we visit the Shrine of Imam Ali who was the cousin of the prophet Mohammed. Here weā€™ll learn about the split between Shia and Sunni Muslim history. Some people believe Noah and Adam from the Bible are also buried here.
  • In the evening we will explore the old souks of Najaf and enjoy some of the cityā€™s great food.
  • Overnight in Najaf.
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Day 14Fri Dec 8
Najaf, Ur, Nasiriya
  • We continue our journey into the ancient world where we will visit one of the worldā€™s oldest city states, Ur. This city is said to date back to 3800 BCE and was once one of the most important cities of the ancient world, inhabited by the Sumerians .
  • Here we will visit the gigantic Ziggurat of Ur, which is a giant stone temple built in honour of their moon God, Nanna.
  • In the afternoon, we will head to Nasiriya where youā€™ll have a chance to explore at your own pace.
  • Overnight in Nasiriya.
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Day 15Sat Dec 9
Nasiriya, Marshes, Basra
  • Now we make our way somewhere really special ā€“ to Iraqā€™s amazing marshlands. We will spend the day navigating the wetlands by canoe, exploring the amazing and incredibly unique culture and ecosystem that exists here.
  • Here we will meet the Maā€™dan people, otherwise known as the ā€˜marsh Arabsā€™. The Maā€™dan have lived the same way in the marshes for 1000s of years and maintain the same way of life today.
  • The marshlands here are said to be the inspirations for the garden of Eden because of its amazing beauty.
  • Afterwards, we continue on to Basra, where we will have dinner.
  • Overnight in Basra.
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Day 16Sun Dec 10
Basra
  • Today we will explore Basra, the second largest city in Iraq.
  • Weā€™ll begin by exploring the beautiful old houses of Basra from the 16 th and 17 th centuries. These houses are now crumbling and falling apart but show the once former glory of the city.
  • Later in the afternoon, we will head to the magnificent Shatt al-Arab river for a sunset boat ride.
  • We will then head out for dinner and drinks for our last night in Iraq.
  • Overnight in Basra.
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Day 17Mon Dec 11
Basra, End of Tour, (Optional return to Baghdad)
  • Today is the end of the tour. There are flights directly out of Basra to some Middle Eastern destinations, or you might like to stay and explore some more of Basra by yourself. Please let us know if you need help with any of that.
  • Optional extension: return to Baghdad - $100
    • If you'd like to join us for this, we'll drive all the way back to Baghdad today, stopping along the way for photos and food/drink breaks. It will take roughly 7 hours, and we'll arrive back in the capital in the evening.
    • If you'd like to spend the night let us know and we can either arrange it for you or give you some pointers.
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