One full day in Jeddah, split between the old town and the water. It starts in Historic Jeddah, the old merchant quarter on the eastern shore of the Red Sea that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. From the 7th century AD the city worked as a major port on the Indian Ocean trade routes, and this quarter is what that trade left behind.
The second half of the day is the shoreline. The corniche runs for 30 kilometres along the coast, King Fahd Fountain and its 312 metres are visible from across the city, and the fish market shows the working side of the same water. A walking morning and a driving afternoon, so it suits a first day in Jeddah or a stopover on the Red Sea coast.
Day by day
Morning
You are collected from your hotel and driven to the edge of the old quarter, which is covered on foot rather than by vehicle. The route follows the lanes between the old merchant houses, with stops in the shade and time in the market streets. Your guide sets the pace and there is no fixed order to the walk, so quieter lanes can be taken when the main ones fill up.
Afternoon
Back in the vehicle for the coast. You drive the corniche with stops to walk sections of it, look out at the water and see King Fahd Fountain from the shore. The last stop is the fish market, where the boats land their catch and the stalls sort it. You are returned to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.
What is included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off anywhere in central Jeddah
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the full day
- English-speaking guide throughout
- Walking tour of the old quarter
- Corniche and fish market stops
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Start time set to suit you
What is not
- Meals and drinks
- Personal spending and shopping
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Travel insurance
- Visa and entry permits
The places on this trip
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