Here is the main page covering our two visits to Saudi Arabia, plus a slide show of pictures at the end.
For journal postings from Saudi Arabia, CLICK HERE.
At the end of 2024, we spent about a month in the Gulf Region, enjoying Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar as well. This visit to the region was quite unexpected, with hotels, itineraries, and car transport among these States all cobbled together in a short time. We had intended to remain in Georgia for the Christmas and New Year’s period. But the political troubles that generated continual protests there both saddened the country and imperiled our stay. So, we shifted to the region that locals choose to escape the cold.
We were even more accidental tourists in Saudi Arabia. We determined that the easiest way to travel among the three Gulf States was driving, but that meant entering and exiting Saudi Arabia many times. We were somewhat surprised to find that the Saudis were happy for us to do this, offering a multi-entry visa lasting a whole year for about 100 USD.
So, in January 2025, faced with such a large country and limited time, we focused on one important part of the Kingdom near Qatar, the World Heritage oasis town of Al-Ahsa. And – after such a friendly welcome – resolved to return!
That’s what brought us back in November and December of 2025, at the tail end of our visa, to see much more of the country by driving around it. Here is our itinerary:
- Riyadh (Edge of the World; Nat Museum, Masmak Palace, Souk Al-Zal and Al-Mashaleh; Diriyah)
- Al Qassim (Al Aqilat Museum; Al-Bassam Heritage House)
- Hail
- Al Ula (Mirrors Theatre; Elephant Mt; Heritage Oasis; Hejr-Old City; Fest of Ancient Kingdoms)
- Medinah (Quba Mosque; City House Museum; Mt Uhud Tourism; Quran Printing; 7 Mosques)
- Jeddah (Historic city, Nassif House Museum, waterfront, Yacht Club)
- Taif
- Al Baha
- Abha (Popular Mkt, Al Muftaha Village; Art Street, Fog Walk Tour; High City; Souda Tourism, honey hut, Rijal Almaa Village, Asiri Cat Museum)
- Jizan (Heritage Vlge, Dossary Castle
- Farasan Island
- Najran (old souq; Hima & desert)
You can browse the map below for the highlights of our short visit (and access the articles we wrote). Click a pushpin to find the posted articles from the marked locations. Zoom into the map to separate the pins better.
Loading map...
Walled oasis farm, Al-Hasa 
Canal from palms to lake, Al-Hasa 
Flowers and palms, Al-Hasa 
Palm family 
Farm owner, Al-Hasa 
Al Hasa hospitality 
Palm farms at night 
Ibrahim Palace courtyard, Al-Hasa 
Khuzam Palace, Al-Hasa 
Courtyard, Khuzam Palace 
Mosque, Khuzam Palace 
7th c Jawatha Mosque 
Al-Qarah exterior, Al-Hasa 
Entering Al-Qarah 
Entrance, Al-Qarah 
Entering Al-Qarah 
Al-Qarah passage 
Blue-lit passage Al-Qarah 
Another passage, Al-Qarah 
Passage, Al-Qarah 
Leaving Al-Qarah 
Departing Al-Qarah 
Al-Hofuf village 
City walls, Al-Hofuf 
Qasariyah souq, Al-Hofuf 
Sabers or scythes at souq 
Fancy dress ware, Qasariyah souq 
Souq gate 
Fragrant wood chips, Al-Hofuf 
17th c city school, Al-Hofuf 
600 years of pot making, Al-Hofuf 
Baking bread fit for king 
Restaurant, Al-Hofuf 
Camels along the highway, Saudi
SLIDE SHOW HINT: If you’ve already seen the earlier pictures in the slide show, arrow back and forth quickly to jump around.