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8-Day Saudi Arabia : Desert Kingdoms Abercrombie & Kent
Hegra , Saudi Arabia
Until recently , Saudi Arabia has been closed to outsiders , its wonders locked within a chest of complicated immigration rules and visa requirements . Now that the country has opened its doors for tourism , the Saudi people are eager to introduce foreign visitors to the vibrant local culture and abundant natural beauty of this formerly uncharted territory .
It ’ s easy to understand why Saudis extend such a warm welcome . The sites to be discovered are truly stunning and frankly , too numerous for a single vacation . In the capital of Riyadh , hyper-modern geometric buildings tower over a winding tangle of ancient souks ; their stalls overspilling with premium
SAUDI ARABIA
textiles , solid gold jewelry and the world ’ s most coveted dates . Meanwhile , the Rub ' al Khali desert feels like something plucked straight from a movie set , where wild camels saunter along cinematic ridgelines and a shimmering mirage might reveal a palm-fringed turquoise oasis nestled between bright orange rolling dunes . In the mountains of Taif , the air is thick with the scent of roses while Jeddah is a colorful contrast of historic Hejazi architecture and ultra-swanky beach resorts .
But the crown of Saudi Arabia and most stunning of the country ’ s six UNESCO World Heritage sites — which range from historic Ottoman cities to ancient mudbrick villages and thousand-year-old petroglyphs — is in AlUla . Located on the site of the Biblical city of Dedan , it once served as a meeting place for pilgrims , nomads and merchants traversing the spice and silk routes that linked Egypt , Arabia and India .
Carved into the desert ’ s already otherworldly rock formations , the ancient Nabatean tombs of Hegra are reminiscent of Jordan ’ s Petra with a bit more mystery and fewer crowds . Covering nearly 130 acres , this open-air museum represents 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history . Accessible only by private tour , this archaeological playground is a must-see on your Saudi Arabia vacation .
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