Journey through Arabia - Saudi to Jordan

Arrive in Jeddah, the largest commercial city in Saudi Arabia. A major port, a historical Red Sea trading point, and an important gateway for the thousands of yearly pilgrims heading to Mecca or Medina, Jeddah has a bustling atmosphere of opportunity and growth.

There are no planned activities today, so you can arrive into Jeddah at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary transfer today, you'll need to arrive into King Abdulasiz International Airport (JED), which is around a 20 minute drive.

If your flight arrives in the day, you may wish to take a taxi to the city's corniche (sea front), a 30 kilometre palm-lined stretch of coastal path that represents the modern face of the city. It's a great place to walk and people watch on your arrival into the city.

It's worth noting that several flights from Europe arrive in the very early hours of the morning (between midnight and 3am). The Tour Leader will allow for that when planning the meeting time on Day 2. If you're taking one of these flights and you'd like to arrive in the early hours of Day 1 (instead of Day 2), we recommend that you book an additional night's accommodation in order to check-in upon arrival.

We'll explore Jeddah today, beginning with a visit to the enormous fish market. Seafood is essential to the economy of Jeddah, and a visit to this thriving fish market puts this into perspective. We'll also explore Jeddah's corniche, which extends many miles along the Red Sea coast - this long sea front incorporates parks, mosques and playgrounds, and is lined with sculptures that culminate at the small open-air sculpture 'museum' in the north of the city. We'll walk a section of it, aiming to see the 'floating mosque' along the way.

After lunch we visit the afore-mentioned sculpture park, before driving to the UNESCO-listed old town of Al Balad this afternoon. A quirk of Saudi culture, which we will have noticed throughout the trip, is that many places only come alive after 4pm, with souks, shops and cafes opening late into the night. This is no different in Al Balad. Founded in the 7th Century, Al Balad was once the city centre of Jeddah and an essential Red Sea port. This wonder of architecture is famous for its wooden 'roshans' (intricately carved facades), which provide fascinating subjects for photographers. During our guided tour of Al Balad we'll enter some of the houses for a perspective on how people lived and worked in old Arabia. We'll also have some free time to explore the maze of narrow streets that lead into the Souk Al Alawi section of Balad - in the late afternoon this area is transformed into a busy network of shops selling rugs, herbs, silver and perfume, as well as a lively street market with everything from okra and rice to meat and chilli peppers.

Our included meal this evening will give us the opportunity to sample what Jeddah is really known for - fish! We'll go to one of the city's popular fish restaurants and try the local catch. Normally the menu includes a delicious and creamy fish chowder, alongside a main of fish (grouper or parrotfish are common) and shrimp, together with hummous, vine leaves, rice and the trimmings.

The morning is free to spend further exploring Jeddah. There are several worthwhile museums here, including the Tayebat Museum and the Museum of Islamic Art - both veritable showcases of Arab history and tradition. At the Tayebat Museum you'll be walked through Jeddah's 2,500 year history, including an immaculate model of the Mecca pilgrimage made by the Prophet Mohammed. Alternatively, you may wish to simply take a relaxing stroll along the corniche, or visit one of the city's malls for souvenirs. Although it seems early, there will be little opportunity later in Saudi Arabia.

From Jeddah we drive up the coast to Yanbu. Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast is largely undeveloped, although this is set to change drastically in the coming years. The government have already earmarked much of the Red Sea north of Yanbu for development, temporarily stopping boat trips in certain places. Yanbu is one of the larger towns, a port that is part industrial, part historic. We'll arrive after sunset into the city, and if time permits we will visit the night market, a small set of indoor stalls selling crafts and souvenirs. As the area is not at all touristy, but has recently started opening to cruise ships, the market is not always open. It's situated next to the old town, which is currently being renovated, with an as-yet unconfirmed opening date - in normal times it's a maze of wooden-fronted buildings, similar to Jeddah, included T. E. Lawrence's accommodation from 1915-1916. If the old town opens up before our arrival, we will also visit here this evening.

We have an early start this morning, meeting the Yanbu coast as we travel before sunrise to a small nearby harbour, home to fishing boats and small yachts each bobbing up and down in the calm Red Sea water. Here we'll pick up our boat for our morning snorkel trip to one of the nearby islands. An approximately one-hour boat ride away from the coast will bring us to an absolutely tiny atoll - this mound of perfect white-sand, dotted with blades of grass, is the only thing that we will pass during our boat trip. Navigating the reef that hugs close to the island, our boat will get as close as possible before a wet landing.

We'll have a wonderful breakfast here on this island paradise, as well as plenty of time for snorkelling and swimming in the warm ocean. The boats do have snorkels available but if you're a keen snorkeller and have your own equipment then we recommend that you bring it along with you. The technicolour coral simply has to be seen to be believed.

From here we drive to Al Ula and our desert-based accommodation.

A short drive this morning brings us to the Lion Tombs of Dedan. Pre-dating the Nabatean Empire, the kings of Dedan, and later named Lihyan, ruled from the 6th to the 2nd Century BC. At their capital, Dedan, the remains of ancient tombs have been found hewn into the rockface at different heights and of different sizes. The name 'Lions Tomb' comes from the carved lion sculptures found outside one of the necropolis entrances - denoting the importance of its owner.

From here, we continue to what may be one of the highlights of our Saudi Arabian journey - the ancient Nabatean city of Hegra (also known as Mada'in Saleh). This set of ornately carved tombs was constructed in the 1st Century AD by the Nabatean people, and it would become their second-largest city after the capital, Petra, in Jordan. These magnificent tombs are eerily quiet in contrast to Petra, but as tourism grows we can expect this to change dramatically within the next few years. For the moment, what was once a thriving city at the southern-most part of the spice trade, and a key part of the Nabatean Empire, is now a deserted outpost, with many buildings partially hidden under layers of sand.

We end our day at Elephant Rock, an instantly-recognisable geological feature that takes its name from its elephantine shape.

Please note, the sites around Al Ula currently depend on timed tickets, so the order of our visits may change. We may also have to split the group in two depending on the maximum numbers permitted at either site.

Departing Al'Ula in a 4WD, we move northwards towards Tabuk, the principle town in an region of wide-open spaces and panoramic scenery. En route we'll discover the enormous canyon of Shuwaq, a great chasm that scythes through the province. The sheer scale of the canyon only really becomes apparent when we approach.

After exiting the towering cliffs of Shuwaq, we drive into Wadi Disah, another simply mind-blowing canyon flanked by giant sandstone cliffs. In some places these walls are over hundreds of metres tall. The road through the canyon is reminiscent of the USA's wild west - all dry, dusty and bright in the sunshine, with pops of green plants surviving in the heat. We'll drive through the canyon to the town of the same name (Disah), and onwards to Tabuk.

It's a 1.5 hour drive to the Jordanian border at Al Mudawara, but we'll depart Tabuk early as the border crossing can be chaotic and busy. As we complete the border formalities, we'll say goodbye to our Saudi Arabian team, and meet our Jordanian driver and Tour Leader on the other side. This afternoon is all about embracing the Wadi Rum desert experience in its authenticity, as we have the opportunity to live the lifestyle of the nomadic Bedouin people. We'll drive from the border to Wadi Rum Visitor Centre, where we transfer into 4WD vehicles for an exhilarating two-hour jeep drive through the desert. This is a great chance to see the most spectacular and untouched parts of Wadi Rum.

Our drive is a fitting comparison to our experience at the towering Wadi Disah yesterday. Here, Monolithic outcrops of granite rock and sandstone rise out of the desert with a drifting blanket of sand between them. It is at its most impressive at the beginning and end of the day when the soft light and blue sky create a coppery effect on the sand.

After sunset, we enjoy the Bedouin hospitality around the campfire under a blanket of stars; a great setting to share stories while sipping mint and sage tea. A traditional zarb, consisting of a chicken or a goat meat (vegetarian options available) cooked under the desert sand, is served as well as a delicious selection of mezze.

The campsite we use presents the opportunity to experience traditional Bedouin living arrangements in a large communal style goat hair tent, which provides the best protection against typical desert extremes of hot and cold weather. The tent is laid out with rugs, mattresses, pillows and blankets and is where each tribe would commune to eat, sleep and socialise, as well as a fire pit to sit around and enjoy some local sweet tea. Far away from the tourist centre, roads and within the Wadi Rum protected area, the camp is intimate and provides great views over the desert. A toilet and wash block with limited washing facilities is also available during our stay. Private tents can be paid for locally should you wish, subject to availability.

The Bedouins learnt to live with the hostile desert environment 3000 years ago, choosing the partnership with the camel for their survival. They understood the importance of keeping on the move and interpreting the elements, in order to find food and water. This morning before our departure we have the chance to experience a camel ride and learn about this precious alliance between the dromedary and the nomads.

We'll then drive by 4WD to the visitor centre, where we again rejoin our vehicle and drive to Petra - without doubt Jordan's most valuable treasure. We can look forward to a couple of days spent here to really get under the skin of this awe-inspiring site. We arrive in time to take an optional candlelight tour of the ancient city. Abandoned centuries ago, this other-worldly place is enhanced by the play of light and shadow to create an altogether magical experience.

Over the next two days we get the opportunity to discover Petra and to soak up this mysterious city. Our entrance fee for both days is included, giving us the chance to truly do justice to this jewel with an in-depth visit. Defined by John Burgon with the illustrious words 'A Rose Red City half as old as time', Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as one of the new wonders of the world. This ancient city carved in the rocks has retained its grandeur throughout the centuries and although much has been written about it, nothing really prepares you for the impact of this unique site.

After a guided orientation tour which will take us to some of the key areas, we have the rest of the day to explore in our own time. Petra's spectacular setting deep inside a narrow desert gorge adds to its majesty. The site is accessed by walking through a kilometre-long chasm (known as the Siq), the walls of which soar to a height of 200m. Petra's most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the Siq, carved out of the sheer, dusky-pink rock face.

While you wander through literally hundreds of tombs, temples and colonnaded streets, your mind finds it easy to picture caravans loaded with frankincense, spices and textiles travelling through the Siq. The site is excellent for photography and the best time to take pictures is either early to mid-morning or late afternoon, as this is when the angled sun highlights and enhances the natural red, pink and orange colours of the rocks.

Please note: Depending on your chosen departure date, the hotel location in the Petra area may vary; all hotels we use are three star and are either located a 5 - 10 minute walk away from the visitor centre, or a 25 minute walk away from the visitor centre in the town of Wadi Musa. For groups based in Wadi Musa transport will be provided to and from Petra Visitor Centre on day 4 and on day 5 options are a 25 minute walk or a taxi for around £2-£4 each way. Please ask your Sales Consultant or refer to your final documentation for a final hotel list.

Today is free for you to discover more of Petra's beautiful and awe-inspiring buildings and scenery. You may choose to climb the steep path to the 'High Place of Sacrifice' for a stunning view over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert, or trek up to the impressive 'Monastery' - Petra's largest monument.

This evening we'll visit a small, family run restaurant for a Bedouin cookery demonstration. The the chef will show us how to cool a traditional main meal and Jordanian sweet before we sit down for our dinner.

This morning we depart Petra and travel for around three hours to the the Dead Sea. Officially the lowest point on the earth's surface, this unique water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) which means that no animal life survives and it is almost impossible to sink. The experience of floating naturally is unique and relaxing on the calm sea. We'll spend a couple of hours this afternoon at a tourist beach, where food and drink can be purchased and we use of showers facilities.

Finally, we drive on to Amman and spend our last night in the bustling capital with free time to do some last-minute shopping and sightseeing. To mark the end of your trip, you may choose to enjoy a traditional or cosmopolitan meal, washed down with some excellent Jordanian wine, in one of the capital's many restaurants.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Amman.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Amman at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which a 30 minutes' drive.