SAUDI ARABIA The Forbidden Kingdom March 05 to 18, 2022 Led by Iman R. Abdulfattah, Islamic Art Historian - Spiekermann Travel
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SAUDI ARABIA The Forbidden Kingdom March 05 to 18, 2022 Led by Iman R. Abdulfattah, Islamic Art Historian Saudi Arabia…The Forbidden Kingdom Can be combined with our Lebanon tour (March 18 to 26, 2022) AND our Gulf and Oman tour (Feb 19 to March 05, 2022) OR our Oman tour (February 23 to March 06, 2022)
As the birthplace of Islam, Saudi Arabia has been shielding itself from the eyes of the west for a long time, but time has come now that the
Kingdom is moving in huge steps towards modernization and openness. However, this is also a land with a vibrant cultural pedigree, aside
from its glitzy oilrich modern cities. Amongst the rock-hewn splendors of Madain Saleh and Madain Shoeb, you will explore Nabatean
heritage equal to what Petra offers. Most of the great empires of the ancient world traded with the Arabian Kingdoms that commanded
the important spice trade routes in the peninsula. Colorful markets, desert landscapes, coral reefs, rock engravings, ancient monuments,
traditional mud-brick cities, and imposing fortresses are abundant in a country that has so much to offer to those who choose to venture
in it &explore its enigmatic and intriguing side.
Ihab Zaki
Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel
Saturday, March 05 at the top of Mount Souda, located in the Hejaz Mountains. The
USA - Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) location of the first cable car in Asir, is named after an old village
located on a steep 400-meter cliff made famous by the people
Upon arrival in Jeddah (depending on your arrival time), you will of Al Habala. The inhabitants lived in stone dwelling clinging to
be met, assisted and transferred to the hotel for check-in and the cliff-face for the security and safety found in the rock walls.
overnight. (D) So sheer was the Cliffside that the villagers --men and women--
lowered themselves down into ravine on ropes. We’ll continue to
Dinner will be provided, only if you arrive to Jeddah prior to 8:00 PM Rejal Alma, and then back to Abha to visit Khamis Mushayt, an
industrial city about 25 km east of Abha. The city’s antique silver
Sunday, March 06 market is its chief tourist draw. Afterwards we’ll stop at Bin Ham-
Jeddah san Traditional Village on the outskirts of town, an imaginative
development consisting of a stone tower and buildings; includ-
We’ll begin our morning with a visit to some of the old Ottoman ing a museum that is replica of an Asir home two decades ago,
houses, mostly constructed from coral and reinforced with wood an auditorium, a traditional restaurant and a gift shop. We’ll enjoy
so that beams crisscross the interior walls. The most beautiful & lunch at a local restaurant in Bin Himsan Al Habala. Return to the
well known is the Nasif House, which was built during the 1850s hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D)
by the well-known Nasif Family, one of the most influential trading
families in the history of Jeddah. In the 19th and early 20th centu- Wednesday, March 09
ries, the house was one of the most important buildings in Jeddah. Abha - Al Ula
It was here that King Abdul Aziz spent his first night in Jeddah, as
the guest of Mohammed Nasif, after he led his victorious army into Enjoy breakfast, then you’ll be transferred to the airport for your
the capital of the Western Province. We’ll also have the chance to flight to Al Ula via Jeddah or Riyadh; arrive and connect to your
visit Shafei Mosque and Other Famous houses from Outside. En- next flight to Al Ula. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the Hotel or
joy lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to visit the corniche Camp for check-in and lunch. In the afternoon, head to visit the old
of Jeddah (sea-side promenade), a major attraction that acts as an houses, Hijaz Railway Station and the magnificent iconic Elephant
open air museum displaying an array of modern sculptures and
Rock then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
gathering social place for locals. Head to visit Altaybat Int’l City for
Sciences and Knowledge, and also known as Abdul Rauf Khalil
Art Museum, which is a very beautiful museum that houses end-
Thursday, March 10
less collections of arts, ethnography and archaeology artifacts. Re- Al Ula - Madain Saleh - Al Ula
turn to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) We’ll begin our day by visiting the archaeological site of Madain
Monday, March 07 Saleh, known as “Al Hijr” in the ancient times & served as a stop-
over on a very prosperous trade route. The cities flourished over a
Jeddah - Abha
vast area that is now quite isolated and it encompasses 2000 square
We’ll head in the morning to visit the colorful Fish Market, and meters of relics and tombs. We’ll also visit the Nabatean Well, Qasr
then transfer to the airport for your flight to Abha. Upon arrival, Al Bint, Diwan and Al Farid Palace, and then we’ll continue to Wadi
you’ll be met and transferred to the hotel for check-in and freshen Al Ula, gateway to Madain Saleh, which is known for its Lion of the
up. We’ll head to visit the traditional baskets’ market and Muftaha Lihyanites -predecessors of the Natateans (100 to 500 BC). Return to
Village Art Gallery. This evening, visit a typical Saudi home for per- the hotel or camp for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
sonal interaction with local people. Return to your hotel for dinner
and overnight. (B,L,D) Friday, March 11
Al Ula - Al Jouf
Tuesday, March 08
Abha We’ll begin the day with a morning drive to Al Jouf via Tima, were
we’ll see the Haddaj Water Well, Al Hamra Palace and Radham
Asir, with its capital at Abha, is mainly a highland province and in- Fort. We’ll continue the drive to visit Dowmat Al Jandal. This an-
cludes the entire area of southwest Saudi Arabia until the Yemen cient stone fortress is also known as Marid Castle, and is 2,000 Feet
border. We’ll begin the full day excursion with a visit to Mount high and was built with stones on a hill that majestically overlooks
Souda, to enjoy riding the cable car and visit Rejal Alma, a located the old city. In the city, we’ll head to visit Omar’s mosque, named
45 km away from Abha. Anciently, the village used to be a natu- after the second Moslem Caliph: Omar Ibn Al Khatab. Upon arrival
ral passage that linked between Yemen, Makkah, Madinah and
in Al Jouf, you’ll be transferred to the hotel for check-in, dinner
Levant. Thus, it was a regional trade center then if time permits,
we’ll visit Khamis Mushayt, and Bin Hamsan Village. We first stop and overnight. (B,L,D)
Saturday, March 12 Wednesday, March 16
Al Jouf - Hail Riyadh - Al Hafuf
We begin our day with a visit to Sakaka Fort, situated on high We’ll depart in the early morning to Al Ahsa/Al Hafuf, considered
ground overlooking the town of Sakaka from the northwest; it is the largest oasis in the world. We’ll visit Qara caves, consisting of
the center of many legends, but it’s widely believed that this for- calcareous sandstone, and sedimentary rock of clay and lime. Jabal
Al-Qarah rises about 738 feet above sea level and has a complex set
tress was built in the 7th century B.C. Mud construction was add-
of passageways. The site has iron railings and smooth walkways to
ed to it in the 3rd century AD. It is known as Zaa’bal Fortress or allow visitors to safely navigate small portions of the intricate caves.
Zaa’bal Palace. Then continue to Al-Rajajil - the site of a group of We’ll continue to the Ottoman Turkish Fort (from Outside) from
standing stone pillars that date back to the Chalcolithic period. the 17th Century AD and the mosque it houses within its walls was
Also visit the Camel Rock Art, 2,000.00-year-old life size camel art built in 1571 A.D. we’ll visit the traditional Qysaryyah Souq, the
found in the Heart of Saudi Arabian Desert. Continue to Hail via most popular market, where the local people shop and do their
Nafud Desert, visiting en-route Jubbah to see the magnificent auctions. Return to the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D)
rock carvings and petroglyphs showing camels, lions, and other
wildlife that existed in these region millennia ago. Upon arrival, Thursday, March 17
transfer to your hotel for check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Al Hafuf - Dammam
Sunday, March 13 We’ll drive in the morning to Dammam, and upon arrival we’ll head
to visit King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture “Ithra”, and a local
Hail – Qassim museum of Dammam or one of the private museums then transfer
We’ll view the Oraif and Qishla Forts in the morning “from outside” to the hotel for check-in and overnight. (B,L,D)
(as some of the historical Forts might be under renovation), then
we’ll drive to Qassim and head to visit Uyoon Al Jawa or Water Friday, March 18
sources, Shenana Tower and Musawgef Souq. Transfer to the ho- Dammam - USA
tel for check-in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) OR onward to your next adventure
Monday, March 14 Transfer in the early morning to the airport for your flight back home,
Qassim - Riyadh arriving USA the same day OR onward to your next adventure.
We’ll start the day by driving to Ushaiger, a small village 200 km NW “We reserve the right to change the order of activities or places
of Riyadh. The village is one of the oldest towns in the Saudi region visited due to unforeseen schedule conflicts or in order to make
of Najd and it was a major stopping point for pilgrims coming from the itinerary run smoothly and more effectively”
Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran to perform Hajj. Ushaiger historical village is
restored to preserve its heritage and has a museum, which displays
various relics and pieces from the village. We’ll have lunch at a local
restaurant and then continue to Shagra to visit the old walls that used
to protect the city from attacks. It was built in the early 18th century
and was in use until the mid-20th century. We’ll continue to Riyadh
and upon arrival, we’ll be transferred to the hotel for check-in, dinner
and overnight. (B,L,D)
Tuesday, March 15
Riyadh
We’ll start the day by visiting Diriyyah, one of the most important
sites, from where the history of Al Saud Dynasty began. It is the
old town, where we’ll walk through its ruins seeing the palace,
the houses and the market place. We’ll continue to Musmak Fort,
which was built during the reign of Abdullah bin Rashid in the
year 1895 A.D. Afterwards, we’ll see Dira Souq, and then stop for
lunch at a local restaurant. We’ll then head to visit the National
Museum, meant to kindle pride in the Arab heritage and rev-
erence for Islam. This national landmark is composed of eight
galleries telling the complete story of Arabian History from the
creation of the universe to our modern era. We’ll visit Murabba
Palace, it is among the most important palaces that was built by
King Abdulaziz in the year 1937 A.D. built to accommodate his
family and was composed of a number of a smaller palaces, ser-
vice buildings and the Royal Divan. This palace was built on the
local traditional Najid style by using local building material only.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
About your host lecturer… Iman R. Abdulfattah,
Tour cost (Land Only): $7,995.00
A PhD Candidate in Islamic Art and Archaeol- per person sharing in double occupancy
ogy at Universität Bonn in Germany. She spe-
cializes in the material culture and built envi- Single Supplement: $995.00
ronment of medieval Egypt and the Eastern
Mediterranean. She obtained her MA in Islamic Price based on group size minimum of
6 participants and maximum of 14 participants
Art and Architecture from The American Uni-
versity in Cairo (AUC) in 2004, and BA in Near Trip Grade: II Lodging Level: ***-****
Eastern Languages and Literature from New
York University (NYU) in 1996. Iman has taught
various courses in the field of Islamic art and architecture, Islamic history, and Norman Sicily at NYU’s School of Professional Studies since
2018. Previously, from 2005 to 2010, she worked as a Project Manager and Assistant to Dr. Zahi Hawass of the Ministry of Antiquities in
Egypt, where she developed the concept for a number of museum and heritage projects. Among her diverse activities, she also worked
at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She has authored
a number of publications on the art and architecture of the Mamluk and Crusader periods of Egypt
Tour includes: Tour does not include:
• All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage. • International air from USA-Jeddah/Dammam-USA
• Transportation within country using A/C motor coach. (Approx. $1000.00)
• All mentioned accommodations in 4* hotels (or best available • Saudi Arabia electronic Visa ($117.00 at time of printing –
in smaller towns 3* in some places). subject to change).
• All meals as mentioned in the itinerary Passport should not include any Israeli stamps.
(B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner). • Beverages with meals and meals not noted.
• All entrance fees to visited sites as mentioned in the itinerary. • Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants.
• Service of professional English speaking tour guide along some • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry,
local guides at various cities and sites. phone calls, emails, etc.
• Bottled water on bus during touring days. • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline
• Assistance in obtaining visa approval letter. flight schedule changes.
• All gratuities to guide, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff, etc. • Transfers if arriving or departing on flights that are at different
times than the group.
• Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum participants.
• Travel protection insurance. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
Trip Grade:
II Active: Some hikes, slightly more demanding walks at or to some
ancient sites; few elevations, comfortable but busy schedule and some
long rides and extensive drives.
Lodging Level:
*** -**** Superior: In large cities 5 stars’ hotels and in some small-
er towns, lodges and hotels with limited amenities, average service and
comfort level acceptable to western standards. (3 or 4 stars).
Special Trip Remarks: Saudi Arabia is a dry country. Alcohol is ab-
solutely forbidden (as are narcotics and pornographic materials). Dress
is modest and women do not need to cover their heads. The wearing of
abayas for ladies has been recently easing up and is not mandatory any
longer. Be advised that you will be fingerprinted and undergo a retinal
scan upon arrival in the country. Also be aware that most places in the
Kingdom shut down between noon and 3 pm every day as well as sev-
eral other times during prayers and often the group will be returned to
the hotel for some free time during these periods. In addition, sometimes
sites can be closed for no foreseen reasons or authorities can also deny
visit of certain places without prior notice and we (STS) are not respon-
sible for any such events/acts. Some of the drives can be long and monotonous crossing vast expanses of desert with nothing much to
observe along the way but it’s needed to cover a large territory like that; we shall use sometimes internal flights to reduce some of this
dreary driving if available.
.
Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc. 18421 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021
Phone: 1-800-645-3233 Fax: 586-775-9556 www.mideasttrvl.com info@mideasttrvl.com
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