Comfort
Women's Expeditions
Saudi Arabia: Women's Expedition
4.2
Very Good
21 reviews
12 days
Start
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Finish
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Trip Code
EYKS
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Metro, High-Speed Train, Boat
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Heritage Hotel (1 night), Desert Lodge (3 nights), Boutique Hotel (2nts)
From £5,445(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
See the remarkable rock formations and giant Nabatean era-tombs of Hegra, visit a family-owned citrus farm and explore the world’s largest mirrored building in AlUla.
Visit Madinah – the second holiest site in Islam, after Mecca – and tuck into a Saudi-style picnic of local bread and peppermint tea with views over the Holy City.
Take a bullet train to Jeddah’s Al Balad – a UNESCO World Heritage site – and wander the narrow streets, meet friendly vendors and sample local delicacies.
Cruise the Red Sea on a boat trip. Jump in and float in the salty water, maybe go for a snorkel and end it all at a private women-only beach club for sunset.
This trip is designed to support local women and entrepreneurs. You’ll travel with a female leader and guides, join a local cook for a cooking demonstration, share a home-cooked meal with a family and stay in a female-owned boutique hotel.
Is this trip right for you?
Saudi Arabia's tourism industry is still in its infancy, and there are some challenges to overcome, like a lack of infrastructure in some locations, reliable systems, and trained leaders and guides. Even the most experienced leaders are still very new to group travel. Sites are occasionally closed with little or no notice and restoration work is common. You’ll need to have a degree of flexibility when travelling here.
Hotel standards and service levels vary across the country and may differ from what you’ve experienced elsewhere. Locals are new to international tourism, so please have an open mind and heart.
The country has strict laws and customs that visitors should be aware of before travelling, such as dress codes. Alcohol is also banned. Please see the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
Saudi Arabia is a large country and we cover a lot in this trip. Be prepared for some long travel days where lunch stops will be simple and limited. Our vehicle is comfortable and we've broken these journeys up with free time in key locations to allow you to rest and recharge.
Saudi Arabia's tourism industry is still in its infancy, and there are some challenges to overcome, like a lack of infrastructure in some locations, reliable systems, and trained leaders and guides. Even the most experienced leaders are still very new to group travel. Sites are occasionally closed with little or no notice and restoration work is common. You’ll need to have a degree of flexibility when travelling here.
Hotel standards and service levels vary across the country and may differ from what you’ve experienced elsewhere. Locals are new to international tourism, so please have an open mind and heart.
The country has strict laws and customs that visitors should be aware of before travelling, such as dress codes. Alcohol is also banned. Please see the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
Saudi Arabia is a large country and we cover a lot in this trip. Be prepared for some long travel days where lunch stops will be simple and limited. Our vehicle is comfortable and we've broken these journeys up with free time in key locations to allow you to rest and recharge.
Itinerary
Discover a unique perspective of Saudi Arabia on a women-only expedition
On this women-only adventure through Saudi Arabia’s dramatic landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage sites, you’ll spend 12 days learning about the country’s deep history, sampling local cuisine and connecting with local women. Eager to tell their own stories, they’ll introduce you to the diverse lives of Saudi women today. Visit a citrus farm run by two sisters who turned their father’s vision into a multigenerational business, learn traditional recipes with a local cook, explore the Holy City of Madinah and the historic district of Al Balad with female guides, and unwind at a women-only beach club on the Red Sea.
Inclusions
Meals
11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Metro, High-Speed Train, Boat
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Heritage Hotel (1 night), Desert Lodge (3 nights), Boutique Hotel (2nts)
Included activities
Riyadh – Traditional Saudi Dinner
Riyadh – Complimentary Airport arrival transfer
Riyadh - National museum
Riyadh - Traditional Home cooked meal with female hosts
Diriyah – UNESCO Site
Riyadh - Souq Al-Zal Market visit
Ushaiger - Heritage Village
Buraydah - Cooking demonstration with female chef
Unayzah – Al Musoawkaf Traditional market
Buraydah - Date market
Hail – Barzan Market & Abaya shop
Hail - Jubbah Rock art with local guide
AlUla – Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil)
AlUla - Citrus Farm Tour & Lunch
AlUla - Madain Saleh (Hegra) Tour with local guide
AlUla – Maraya concert Hall Guided Tour & Entry
AlUla - Oasis visit
AlUla - Historical Old town and Al Jadidah Area
Madinah - City Tour with local female guide
Madinah - Sunset Saudi Picnic with female local guide
Madinah - Market visit & lunch
Madinah - Hijaz Railway Terminus Station
Al Balad - UNESCO Heritage walking tour with female guide
Jeddah - Floating Mosque
Jeddah - Ladies only Beach Club
Jeddah - Red Sea Boat trip
Optional activities
Riyadh – Kingdom Tower - USD19
Riyadh - Al Masmak Fortress - Free
Hail - Visit A'arif Fort - Free
Hail - Traditional Market - Free
Hail - Kishta (Picnic) Dinner - USD400
AlUla - Harra View point (transport cost per group of 4) - USD66
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. Checked in luggage on the high speed train from Madinah to Jeddah is restricted to 1 x 25kg bag.
4. Please provide a copy of your passport at time of booking in order to to secure train tickets.
Reviews (20)
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Hannah
May 09, 2025
If you are thinking of exploring Saudi Arabia and wondering if this is a way to do it - the answer is YES. Tourism is new. This tour is new. But that’s honestly part of the magic of the trip. The hospitality and local interactions we experienced was unlike anywhere I have ever been before. Typically I think that group trips take away from local encounters and experiences but in this case, I would argue the opposite. Our guide, Fatima, was incredible and the group of women I travelled with were all inspirational. Book this trip!
Charlotte
May 08, 2025
One of the best trips I have ever been on! I have never been made to feel so welcome in a country and there is so much to see and do. Great to have the opportunity to experience it with all-women.
Donna
May 08, 2025
This trip was brilliant! Saudi is a beautiful country and the people are so kind and welcoming. Our tour guide Fatima and bus driver Yassir were both exceptional in leading with enthusiasm, high energy and terrific organisational skills. Hotels were nice and the other women on the tour were fabulous. My only suggestion is making the tour a few days longer as there are lots of long travel days and it would have been nice to spend more time at some of the sites.
Dianne
Apr 24, 2025
Visiting Saudi was a great privilege for me and i was not dissapointed. I got very negative responses from friends when I mentioned where I was travelling to but I would pro.ote this tour and place as somewhere wonderful to visit.
Katharina
Mar 03, 2025
Saudi is a fascinating country and i can totally recommend this trip! Bring an open mind, some humor and try to be flexible, as some things won’t go as planned. But you will be rewarded with fascinating landscapes, welcoming people, amazing food and the feeling you saw and experienced something very unique. I am sure Saudi has a great future ahead <3
Pauline
Feb 27, 2025
An amazing trip to an amazing country. Saudi Arabia is incredibly scenic, friendly and historic. From ancient rock art to high-tech malls, from windy deserts to snorkeling in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s variety of offerings will astound you. Go!
Jade
Feb 22, 2025
One of the best trips I have been on, in no small part down to Sara, our absolutely fantastic guide (the best tour guide I have ever had) and the hospitality shown by people everywhere we went. Alula is a highlight but meeting women and supporting their work was also fantastic. This is a destination that does not yet have mass tourism and all the issues that come with that, so I highly recommend to others to go now.
Amy
Jan 28, 2025
Great trip! Book it - you won't be sorry! Chatting with women and understanding their perspective was fantastic. So unique and surreal to be in KSA. A few things that will help you, because online info isn't complete. Don’t buy intrepid return airport transfer in Jeddah Easy to get one at hotel. Intrepid is $91 for a 15 minute ride. Pack warm clothes, socks. We were often cold. It didn't get hot until the last 2 days. Many hotels had shower issues with cold water and clogged drains. To be expected in a country that is new to tourism, but be ready for some discomfort in this area. WiFi in hotels is intermittent and no Wifi at all on all the long drives. My used tmoble and an esim for date, and it worked well for me. I alternated between the two and didn’t run out of data. Used tmobile/esim in hotels too, when wifi was not working. Spa visit is just nail polish. You can pay extra for additional services if you want. Many long hours on the bus. Bring something to do, like knitting, reading, phone, pictures, etc.
Jennifer
Dec 07, 2024
Saudi Arabia Women's Expedition was the most unexpected tour through an amazing country. From busy cities and giga projects demonstrating the 2030 vision to the beauty of AlUla and Hegra with the tour finishing with a snorkel in the Red Sea. Our guide, Sara’s kindness and generosity enabled a fabulous trip but this also was represented in the Saudi Arabian community as a whole, where we were embraced and welcomed as visitors. Intrepid, as always, provides an insight into the everyday lives of real people and a peek into some of the hidden gems. I really look forward to visiting this fabulous country again.
Sylvie
Dec 06, 2024
This was the best intrepid trip I ever did. The country is amazing & worth visiting! I will never forget the hospitality of the Saudis!
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