Useful Direction of Saudi Arabia

+(39) 06 99268145 - (more phones) Mon-Fri: from 10am to 2pm - from 4pm to 8pm | Sat: from 9am to 2pm (gmt+1)

in/to

explore the world with the Destinia.com travel guides

travel guide | Middle East - North Africa | Travel Guide for Saudi Arabia

Travel Guide for
Saudi Arabia

[travel forums]

wanna talk?
share you experiences and stories with other users in our forums

trips to Saudi Arabia

TopThigsToSeeAndDo

Arabia Saudi

TopThigsToSeeAndDo Top Things To See & Do • If you are Muslim, take the pilgrimage to Mecca – or Hajj – in January. Although concerns over overcrowding (many have perished due to crushing) persist, for Muslims, the pilgrimage remains a magnificent sight and, as long as you are able-bodied and can afford it, it is something that is required to be done at least once, according to Islamic tenet. Many symbolic ritual acts are performed at the Hajj, and completion of them is what nearly all Muslims strive towards. However, due to the impossibility of all Muslims travelling to Mecca, a quota system is in place, which means that for most Muslims, it really is an once-in-a-lifetime event. Places of significance to Muslims include the Kaabah Enclosure, the Mountain of Light, the Plain of Arafat and the House of Abdullah Bin Abdul Muttalib, where Muhammad was born. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter holy cities such as Mecca and Medina, and until recently, such a crime was punishable by death by rioting.

• Saudi Arabia, somewhat surprisingly to some, boasts a multitude of fantastic shops, from traditional souks to large department stores and shopping complexes. This may be because there is such a huge demand for these facilities – since Saudi Arabia has no bars, casinos, nightclubs, theatres or cinemas, its shops are a much-loved way of passing the time.

• Visit the royal capital, Riyadh (Ryad), a modern city built on the site of the first town captured by Ibn Saud, when he stormed the Masmak Fort in 1902 (a spearhead embedded in the main door is said to be the one with which Ibn Saud killed the Turkish governor). Apart from the fort and a few traditional Najdi palaces near Deera Square, little trace of the old town remains. However, this is a cosmopolitan city that is well worth a visit, for the surprises it may give you.

• Watch the King’s Camel Race, held near Riyadh in April or May. Camel racing was a traditional desert sport of Bedouin tribes. The annual King's Camel Race is one of the world's most important camel races, with something between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators, plus 2000 camels and riders, usually in attendance. The race itself is held on a track that stretches for around 14 miles. And it is all part of the national Heritage and Cultural Festival at Jenadriyah.

• Discover Hofuf, at the centre of the great Al-Hasa oasis, which has a strong Turkish influence and a very good camel market. Due to being at the centre of an oasis, the agriculture here thrives and the food is sensational. The area is also extraordinarily pretty.

• See the ragged, coral-coloured Ottoman buildings of the ancient city of Jeddah. If visiting, you should know that leisure facilities have increased and the corniche has a ‘Brighton’ feel about it. There is an amusement park and a wonderful creek allowing both sailing and snorkelling. Its hotels and restaurants are cosmopolitan and there are good fish and meat markets.

• For astonishing landscape and wildlife, head for the Asir (Southern Region), a range of coastal mountains and the only part of the kingdom where there is significant wild vegetation, mostly palms and evergreen bushes. Millet, wheat and dates are grown using largely traditional methods. The inhabitants are darker than other Saudis, being in part descended from African slaves. Baboon, gazelle, leopard, honey badger, mongoose and other ‘African’ species inhabit remoter areas. Unique to Asir are the ancient gasaba towers, phallus-shaped and of unknown purpose. Places to visit include the ancient caravan city of Qaryat-al-Fau, recently excavated; the great dam and temple at Najran; and nearby, amidst orchards of pomegranates, limes and bananas, the ornate ruins of the ancient cities of Timna and Shiban.

• Obhir Creek, 50km (30 miles) north of Jeddah, has good facilities for swimming, water-skiing, fishing and sailing, and there are similar beaches on the Gulf coast south of Al Khobar. Elsewhere, hotels and certain Embassies have swimming pools.

• Find some of Saudi Arabia's ancient crafts and skills, usually still in use and kept in the family. In Jebel-al-Qara, the potteries have been worked by eight generations of the same family. In Abqaiq there is a 5000-year-old saltmine, still in operation. And Tarut Island is the site of the oldest town on the peninsula, now a picturesque settlement of fishermen and weavers.

• As long as you are careful (Saudi Arabia does not boast great driving conditions and has a high incidence of car accidents), it is well worth taking a drive down the astounding modern corniche road that winds down the sheer cliffs of the Taif escarpment to the hot coastal plain. Look around you and you will see pink palaces inbetween the stunning cliff-tops. Such beauty – combined with its far milder climate – have made Taif the official summer capital. Tourist Information Saudi Arabian Information Centre in the UK
18 Seymour Street, London W1H 7HU, UK
Tel: (020) 7486 3470.
Website: www.saudinf.com

destinia.com © Copyright Destinia S.L. Travel Agency C.I.C.M.A. nº 1257. general conditions
Inscrita en el R.M. de Madrid Tomo 15.973, F. 206, Sec. 8, Hoja M-270179 . C.I.F. B82826991 Gran Vía, 22 Dcdo. 4º Madrid, 28013 Spain.
Tel. (+34) 913 605 670 - (+34) 915 242 400 Fax: (+34) 902 196 339