Skyscrapers, beaches, mountains... 1 week to discover Saudi Arabia

A cultural morning

After dropping off our bags at the Hotel Takhaososi, it was time to explore the city and learn more about Riyadh and Saudi Arabia. We head for the Saudi National Museum. Built in a modern architectural style, the museum has 8 rooms in which different parts of the country's history are represented through objects dating back thousands of years. From the pre-Islamic era to the present day, the museum retraces the country's history and also offers reconstructions for total immersion in a distant world. This is the case, for example, with reproductions of Bedouin camps in the desert or traditional houses in Jeddah.

📍 Location here

Soaring high at Riyadh Sky Bridge

For a breathtaking view, head for the Kingdom Tower. This impressive tower, with its arch-shaped architecture at the top, rises to a height of over 300 metres, and offers an impressive view of the city of Riyadh and its buildings. To see it for yourself, head to the 99th floor of the tower (the top!) where a glass platform offers an exceptional panorama.

The tower also houses a mosque (on the 17th floor) and a shopping centre with boutiques and restaurants. Tickets cost €17 for adults and €5 for children.

After this breathtaking stroll, it's on to the Café al Masaa. Considered to be the largest coffee shop in the world, it is also one of the best. Hot drinks and juices are available here, as well as tasty pistachio-based desserts for those with a sweet tooth.

📍 Address: Al Urubah Rd, Al Wurud Dist, Riyadh.

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Sunset "at the end of the world

In the middle of the afternoon, we set off for Jabal Fahren, also known as the End of the World for its location and unparalleled panoramic view over a desert plain. It's not easy to get to, as the rocky, sandy ground makes it impossible to get there by car, so we had to hire a 4x4 or book an excursion in advance so that a driver could take us.

After 1h30 on the road, we discover a lunar desert landscape surrounded by cliffs. These impressive cliffs rise 300 metres above the desert, which was once an ocean. The breathtaking view over the horizon makes this a must-see spot to admire the sunset. The lights reflect off the cliffs and offer a suspended moment.

A stroll through Ushaiqer Heritage Village

Visiting the province of Riyadh, Ushaiqer Heritage Village is well worth a day's visit. Approximately two hours from the capital, the village is steeped in history. Many years ago, it was the obligatory stop-off point for travellers making the pilgrimage from Kuwait.

The best time to leave is early in the morning, so as to arrive before lunch. Throughout the day, we stroll through the streets of the different districts and discover the daily life of the inhabitants. The traditional houses catch our eye, as do the mosque and the shops. To find out more about the culture of the local people, we visit the Al Salem museum, where a collection of objects provides an insight into the village's handicrafts.

A last majestic evening in Riyadh

Back in Riyadh, head to The Globe restaurant for one last magical evening in the capital. The restaurant, located in the Al Faisaliah tower, occupies a glass dome offering a breathtaking view of the city of Riyadh. The refined, gourmet cuisine blends European dishes with oriental fare. A delicious moment that becomes magical when the lights of the city illuminate in the evening. There's no better way to savour one last moment in the Saudi capital.

After two days in Riyadh, it's time to explore part of Saudi Arabia. We take a domestic flight to Jeddah. A veritable artistic capital, the city on the shores of the Red Sea is full of surprises. A quick stop at the Prime Almina hotel and we're in the city's historic centre.

This morning in Al-Balad takes us back to the 7th century, when the historic centre was founded. We stroll through the narrow streets, discovering the typical architecture of the houses and admiring the city gates, all more different with their ancient houses with wooden windows, some of which have been converted into museums or exhibition centres, such as the Al Nasseef house.

It's time to discover Jeddah's famous historic markets. Take Qabel Street, home to the Souq Alawi, where you can buy clothes, traditional objects and precious stones, before admiring the handicrafts in the shops of the Al Khaskeva markets.

At lunchtime, street food stalls are set up in the Al-Arbaeen park, and the choice can be difficult as the smells of each stall are so enticing. Sitting in this tree-lined park surrounded by palm trees, Jeddah already seems to have conquered us.

Afternoon along the Corniche

While on the Corniche, don't miss the floating Al Rahma mosque. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Standing on stilts, it gives the impression of floating on the water of the Persian Gulf at high tide.

This is an opportunity to enjoy the beaches in a calm, family atmosphere. The 30km-long corniche is a great place for families to stroll, and you'll also find hotels and restaurants. In the distance, you can see the impressive 312-metre-high King Fahd water jet. Al Hamra Park offers a good insight into the city's artistic sensibility, with several works and sculptures by renowned artists to admire in this tree-lined park.

In the evening, we dine at Caffe Aroma, one of the oldest restaurants in Jeddah. We love its nature-themed decor, but also the variety of dishes on offer.

📍 Al Kurnaysh Rd, Al-Hamra'a, Al Hamraa Center 7169، Jeddah.

The next day, we set off on an excursion to the Arabian Desert. In a jeep, a private driver takes tourists to this immense expanse of orange sand, where the dunes are impressive and around which you can stop to take a few photos.

The tour continues in a Bedouin camp. A traditional lunch is served. The afternoon is free for desert activities such as quad biking and sandboarding.

After renting a car for the rest of the trip, we continue our journey around Jeddah, heading for Taif, a village 130 km from the city. Perched at an altitude of almost 2,000 m, this town was once almost as important as Mecca, and was an obligatory stop-off for pilgrims. Although it has lost some of its religious influence as a result of conflicts, the town shines in terms of tourism and culture.

An ideal place to avoid the summer heat, Taif is also renowned for its fig, pomegranate and rose crops, earning it the nickname "City of Roses".

As we pass through the city, we visit the Okaz souk. It's one of the most historic in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula! Founded in 501 AD, it was a veritable meeting point for trade, but also for all forms of art. Poets, knights, tribes and pilgrims crossed paths, clashed and met again.

Today, the place has kept its cultural soul. Every year in June, a festival revives popular traditions. Painters, dancers and poets gather here for a few weeks of competitions and performances. As you stroll around, keep your eyes peeled for works painted on the walls or poems engraved in the rock... a veritable open-air museum! Parks and playgrounds surround the site located in the suburbs of Al-Arafa.

In the afternoon, we set off for the village of Al Hada, a few kilometres from Taif, where the road leading to the high-altitude village was once used for trade by camel. This is where you'll find the Al Kar Resort, a tourist village with a wide range of activities. From water games to go-karting to paintball, there's something to keep young and old busy. You can even attend street theatre performances.

From Al-Hada, a cable car takes you over the mountains to the village, where you can admire a breathtaking panorama. At the end of the afternoon, we head back to Jeddah.

Early in the morning, we hit the road to reach the masterpiece of this trip, the Al-Ula oasis. It's just over 8 hours' drive from Jeddah to Al-Ula. Following the Red Sea, we stop off in Yanbu for a day's stopover, a small village with a port, an old centre and a number of attractions well worth a visit.

If you're a seafood lover, Yanbu has something to tempt your taste buds. In the old port, you can follow the scent of grilled fish to the restaurants near the lighthouse. In the afternoon, snorkelling in the waters of the Red Sea, scuba diving or a visit to Lake Yanbu and its palm grove await tourists looking for a glimpse of paradise. Shopping enthusiasts can visit the Dana Mall or the souk in the old town, where they can also pass Lawrence of Arabia's house.

Still little-known by tourists, Al-Ula is an exceptional site in the heart of the desert. From the old town to the palm forest and the archaeological sites, there's a lot to discover. Inhabited until 1980, the old quarter is now made up of ruins dating back 700 years. You can see ancient dwellings, buildings constructed using a traditional method involving bricks and mud, as well as the ruins of an ancient mosque.

For a breathtaking view of the town, head for the castle, built in the 10th century. You can also take a stroll around the town to discover the markets and pick up a few souvenirs.

Afternoon in Mada'in Saleh

Head for a unique spot 20 km from Al Ula to discover the remains of the Hegra city. Between desert, canyons and rock formations, Mada'in Saleh is a place of natural wonders. This exceptional site is known for its tombs carved into the rock. Some of the cliffs have unusual shapes and provoke the imagination. One of them is nicknamed Elephant Rock for its shape that suggests an elephant's profile. It is 11 km from Al Ula.

Hegra is unique in that, despite its false airs of Petra, the town is not (yet) affected by tourism. So you could find yourself alone in front of these natural wonders.

To make the most of this magical environment, we sleep in the desert, in a camp with comfortable, luxurious tents.

An early wake-up call followed by breakfast in the camp and it's already time to head back to Jeddah. Depending on your flight time, you can stop off again in a town along the Red Sea, or drive to Jeddah and catch a late-afternoon flight to Paris, leaving you with indelible memories.