At-Turaif District sits in the heart of historic Diriyah, north-west of Riyadh, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. It was the first capital of the Saudi Dynasty, founded in the 15th century, and later the seat of the Emirate of Diriyah, the First Saudi State that ran from 1727 to 1818. The whole district is built in mud brick, and walking the raised streets between the palace blocks is the clearest way to read how it worked.
The rest of the half day is spent on the ground around it: Al-Bujairi Heritage and Tourism Park, which is green and surrounded by palm trees, and the edge of Wadi Hanifa, the watercourse that runs 120 kilometres through the capital and is now Riyadh's largest natural park, with shaded trails and landscaped gardens and no ticket needed to enter.
Day by day
Morning
Pick-up from your hotel in Riyadh and the drive out to Diriyah. The walking route through At-Turaif takes in the mud-brick palaces and the defensive walls, with your guide setting out how the district functioned as a capital and what the First Saudi State was.
Afternoon
Time in Al-Bujairi Heritage and Tourism Park beside the district, which is shaded by palms and easy for children, then a stop on the edge of Wadi Hanifa to see the trails and gardens along the watercourse before the drive back and drop-off at your hotel.
What is included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Riyadh
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide at At-Turaif
- At-Turaif entry arranged in advance
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- All fuel, parking and road charges
What is not
- Meals and drinks
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed under inclusions
The places on this trip
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