Saudi Arabia: Women's Expedition

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.

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.

Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take it in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible.

If your trip includes travelling on overnight trains or primarily using public transport, the smaller your luggage, the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful, especially when travelling on public transportation as well.

When you're exploring during the day, you'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, a camera, a jacket and activity-specific items like a swimsuit, a waterproof pouch/bag for your phone, or hiking shoes.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.

Grand Plaza Gulf Hotel, King Abdulaziz Road, Ad Dhubbat District,, Ad Dhubbat, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA

Located on King Abdul Aziz Road, Grand Plaza Gulf is located a 40-minute drive from King Khalid International Airport, 3.4km from Al Faisaliah Tower, and 4.4km from Murabba Palace. The hotel facilitates include free Wi-Fi, terrace, restaurant, spa and fitness centre. café, and restaurant. All rooms are equipped with a flat screen tv, mini bar, safe deposit box, ensuite with bathroom amenities, laundry services and a 24-hour room service.

Alternate Joining Point

Shada Hotel Al Shatie, 633 Hira St, Ash Shati District, 3215 Al Shatiea,, Jeddah, 23513, SAUDI ARABIA

Shada Hotel Al Shatie enjoys a prime location near North Corniche Beach, with the Red Sea Mall just 4.8 kilometers away, along with other cultural attractions. The property features a bar with free Wi-Fi, currency exchange services, a fitness center, a shared lounge, a garden, a sunbathing terrace, and an outdoor pool. The rooms are equipped with ensuite bathrooms, Air conditioning, flat-screen TV, coffee machine, and fridge.

Alternate Finish Point

If you have a confirmed departure transfer, your driver will be dropping you at the Jeddah Airport according to your flight schedule. Your leader can confirm this time with you on the ground. If your driver has not arrived within 30 minutes of the scheduled pick-up time, or your departing flight is cancelled or changed, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section.

Breakfasts included: 11

Lunches included: 4

Dinners included: 4

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

SAUDI ARABIA
Your trip leader will endeavour to cater to specific dietary requirements where possible. Gluten intolerances and vegan diets can be challenging in some parts of Saudi Arabia. Be prepared for there to be limited choices in some locations. Please speak with your trip leader about any dietary requirements at the start of the trip so that they can assist you throughout the trip.

SAUDIA ARABIA CLIMATE & WEATHER
Saudi Arabia has a predominantly desert climate, meaning that the summers are very hot and dry, and the winters are more temperate. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are considered the best seasons to visit. The weather during these seasons is mild and comfortable, with temperatures averaging between 20-30°C (68-86°F). Winter (December to February) can be chilly in the evenings and drop to as low as 5°C (41°F) in some locations so we recommend bringing warm clothes for the evening or early mornings.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +966 554447070

Some of the accommodations on your trip will have a swimming pool, but access may only be available to men and children, or only open for you to swim during particular hours.

Saudi Arabia is not a particularly pedestrian friendly destination so even when accommodation is centrally located, it won’t always be practical to explore the surrounding area on foot. Uber and Careem are easily accessible and used for getting around locally. We recommend chatting to your leader or local guide.