Dreams of Saudi Arabia: Self-Launched Riyadh to Jeddah Adventure
7 days · Saudi Arabia
DMC Arabia Tourism charges £1,435
No-markup version: ~£645 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 7-day self-launched version of DMC Arabia Tourism's "Dreams of Saudi Arabia" escorted tour — from Riyadh's mud-brick forts and national museum, north to Ha'il and the Jubbah rock art, down through Elephant Rock and the Nabataean tombs of Hegra in AlUla, then on to Medina's holy sites and Jeddah's UNESCO-listed Al-Balad. Instead of a bus-and-guide package, you'll use the SAR high-speed Haramain train, domestic flights or the Riyadh–Ha'il train, ride-hailing apps and local guides booked through GetYourGuide, staying in budget hotels and guesthouses. Costs are rough backpacker-to-midrange estimates per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Riyadh
Riyadh
Land at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and take a Careem/Uber into the city centre (~£10-14, 35 mins) — or the airport shuttle bus for a few pounds. Check into a budget hotel near Al Olaya or Al Murabba. Apply for your Saudi tourist eVisa online before travel (approx. £110 for UK/US/EU passports; check current rules). Use the evening to pick up a local SIM/eSIM and grab dinner at a Saudi chain or a shawarma/kabsa spot on Al Tahlia Street. Note that many attractions close in the afternoon heat, so plan early mornings.
🚌Airport taxi/Careem ~£12
🛏Budget 3* hotel in Al Olaya / Al Murabba (e.g. Ewaa Express-type, £35-50)
- →Airport transfer
- →Al Tahlia Street evening stroll
Riyadh city tour: Masmak Fort, Murabba Palace & National Museum
Riyadh
Hit the sights early before the heat. Start at Masmak Fort and museum (free entry) in the old town, walk through Souq Al Zal for antiques and rugs, then view the Murabba Palace exterior and spend a couple of hours in the National Museum (free, closed some mornings — check hours). GetYourGuide runs a half-day Riyadh highlights walking/driving tour from around £50-70 if you'd prefer a local guide. In the late afternoon, view Kingdom Tower and Al Faisaliah from outside, or pay to go up the Kingdom Tower Sky Bridge (~£10) for sunset views.
🚌Careem/Uber between sites ~£6 total; much is walkable
🛏Same budget 3* hotel in Riyadh
- →Masmak Fort
- →National Museum
- →Murabba Palace exterior
- →Souq Al Zal
- →Kingdom Tower Sky Bridge
Riyadh to Ha'il — A'Arif Fort and old town
Ha'il
Take the morning SAR passenger train from Riyadh to Ha'il (roughly 5-6 hours, ~£25-35, book on the SAR website/app) — reviewers of the original tour flagged this as the comfortable option. Alternatively, a 1hr domestic flight with flynas or Saudia often costs £30-50 if booked ahead. On arrival, check into a budget hotel, then visit A'Arif Fort on its rocky outcrop overlooking the city (small entry fee ~£2) and wander the traditional market. The Ha'il Regional Museum and heritage museum are cheap add-ons if time allows. Evening: grilled meats at a local restaurant in the old town area.
🚌SAR train Riyadh–Ha'il ~£30 (or domestic flight ~£40)
🛏Budget hotel in Ha'il (Boudl-type, £40-55)
- →A'Arif Fort
- →Traditional market walk
- →Ha'il Regional Museum (optional)
Jubbah rock art, then Ha'il to AlUla
AlUla
Hire a local driver or join a small-group tour from Ha'il to Jubbah (about 1.5 hrs each way), home to 7,000-year-old petroglyphs at Jebel Umm Sanman — a UNESCO-listed site. Expect ~£60-90 for a half-day private car, or look for a shared GetYourGuide/Klook Jubbah excursion. Return to Ha'il, then take the afternoon/evening flight to AlUla (flynas/Saudia, ~1hr, £40-70 booked ahead; the overland drive is 5+ hours so flying is worth it). Check into a guesthouse or budget hotel, then catch sunset at Elephant Rock (Jebel Al-Fil) — free to visit, with a cafe on site, ~20 mins by taxi from AlUla old town (~£8-10).
🚌Private driver to Jubbah ~£35 share + flight Ha'il–AlUla ~£50 + taxi to Elephant Rock ~£10
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in AlUla (Sahary-type, £45-65)
- →Jubbah petroglyphs
- →Jebel Umm Sanman
- →Elephant Rock at sunset
Hegra (Madain Saleh) — full day in AlUla
AlUla
Book your Hegra entry in advance through the official Experience AlUla website — the only way in is a guided shuttle tour (roughly £25-35 per person for the standard 2-hour Hegra tour; Rawi guides included). Go early to beat the heat. If you have time and budget afterwards, add Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, or the AlUla Old Town and Oasis walk (free/low cost). Note the Maraya concert hall is a short photo stop by taxi if you're keen — the original tour skips it, but it's easy to add yourself (~£10 round trip). Evening: take an evening bus or arrange a shared transfer towards Medina, or overnight in AlUla and travel early the next day (Haramain/AlUla flights or a long drive ~5hrs — most independent travellers fly AlUla–Madinah if available, or take the bus).
🚌Local taxi/Careem around AlUla ~£10-15
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in AlUla
- →Hegra guided shuttle tour
- →AlUla Old Town & Oasis
- →Maraya photo stop (optional)
AlUla to Medina — Prophet's Mosque & Uhud
Medina
Travel to Medina: fly AlUla–Madinah with Saudia/flynas where scheduled (~1hr, £50-80), otherwise a long-distance bus or shared car (~5hrs). Check into a budget hotel near the Haram. Non-Muslims are not permitted into the Prophet's Mosque and central Medina, so if this applies to you, plan the Medina day around museums and the outer areas or skip to Jeddah a day early — check current rules carefully. Those who can enter should dress modestly (women: loose clothing and hijab) and visit Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Qiblatain Mosque and Mount Uhud. Dar Al Madina museum is a good low-cost stop (~£3-5).
🚌Flight AlUla–Medina ~£65, or bus ~£20
🛏Budget hotel near the Haram, Medina (£40-60)
- →Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
- →Qiblatain Mosque
- →Mount Uhud
- →Dar Al Madina Museum
Medina to Jeddah — Haramain train & Al-Balad walking tour
Jeddah
Take the Haramain high-speed train from Medina to Jeddah (~2 hrs, ~£20-25, book on the Haramain website) — every reviewer of the original tour asked for exactly this instead of the 6-hour bus. Drop bags at a budget hotel, then explore Al-Balad, Jeddah's UNESCO-listed old town, on foot: coral-stone houses, roshan balconies, and the spice and gold souqs. A GetYourGuide Al-Balad walking tour runs ~£30-45; otherwise do it yourself with a map. Finish with the Jeddah Corniche and King Fahd's Fountain at sunset, then head to King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) for departure (~£8-12 by taxi) or stay a final night.
🚌Haramain train Medina–Jeddah ~£22 + taxi to airport ~£10
🛏Budget hotel near Al-Balad or the Corniche (£45-65) if staying the night
- →Haramain high-speed train
- →Al-Balad old town walk
- →Jeddah Corniche & King Fahd's Fountain
Self-launched vs. DMC Arabia Tourism
| This itinerary (self-launched) | DMC Arabia Tourism | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£645 | £1,435 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £790 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more DMC Arabia Tourism-style trips? Check them out here.~£645
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Dreams of Saudi Arabia: Self-Launched Riyadh to Jeddah Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £645 per person for 7 days in Saudi Arabia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with DMC Arabia Tourism?+
Yes — DMC Arabia Tourism charges around £1,435 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £645 — a saving of roughly £790 (55%) per person.
How long is the Saudi Arabia trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Saudi Arabia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Saudi Arabia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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