This tour starts in Riyadh where we meet at our hotel at 14H00 to check in and have a quick pre-departure meeting. This afternoon we will then visit the National Museum and Murabba Palace, 2 of Riyadh’s most historically interesting sites.

This evening we will take the 180kph lift up the 99th floor of the Kingdom Tower where you can brave a walk across the Sky Bridge for unsurpassed views over the city.

We end our evening at the Najdi Village where you are invited to join us for a group welcome dinner at a traditional Saudi restaurant before retiring to the comfort of your 4 star hotel.

This morning after breakfast we will venture into the old part of the city and visit Masmak Fortress, a mudbrick museum showcasing one of Saudi’s most important historical landmarks.

We continue to the mud-brick ruins of the ancient town of Diriyah, a UNESCO heritage site where the At-Turaif open-air museum showcases quintessential Najdi architecture.

This afternoon we will take 4×4’s to visit The Edge of the World, a dramatic escarpment that rises steeply out of the rocky desert floor offering uninterrupted views of the horizon, best viewed at sunset.

This evening we return to our 4 star hotel in Riyadh where you have the rest of the night free to relax and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant.

After breakfast we travel to the cultural heritage village of Ushaiger, a living museum where you can wander through the maze of twisting alleyways that lead to hundreds of yellow mud houses displaying traditional Najdi architecture.

We end our day in the town of Buraidah, famous for its date farms and a camel market which we visit early the following morning.

Tonight we stay at a 4 star hotel in Buraidah and you have the evening free to relax or explore the town at your leisure.

This morning we will visit the ancient rock art at Jubbah. This area was once an oasis where thousands of years ago the Arab ancestors left traces of their passages in numerous petroglyphs in the rock face including representations of humans, lions, ibex, horses, camels and ostrich.

In the afternoon we continue our journey to the oasis of AlUla where we will have the following 2 days free to explore this area of outstanding natural beauty and history.

After checking into a local guest house in AlUla you will have the option to visit the old town at night where you are free to explore this quaint area and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Today we will visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Hegra (Madain Saleh) where we find well-preserved tombs with magnificent facades carved into the sandstone rocks by the Nabataean civilization nearly two thousand years ago.

Please note that our timings to visit the sites at AlUla today may vary depending on how many tourists are at each of the sites, so be prepared to be fluid.

We will spend this evening at our local guest house in AlUla where you are free to relax or explore more of AlUla by night if you so wish.

Today we will visit the Lion Tombs of Dedan, a site that predates Hegra where the kings of Dedan were laid to rest with some of the most important tombs displaying lions carved at their entrances.

AlUla is an area not only famous for its ancient tombs but also for its natural beauty and today we spend sunset at the iconic Elephant Rock where nature has created an enormous geological feature resembling an elephant. 

Please note that our timings to visit all the sites at AlUla today may vary depending on how many tourists are at each of the sites, so be prepared to be fluid.

We will spend this evening at our local guest house in AlUla where you are free to relax or explore more of AlUla by night if you so wish.

Today we will drive through Lawrence of Arabia country where in WW1 the Arab tribes frequently sabotaged the famous Hejaz Railway line that ran from Damascus to Medina. Along our route we will stop at an historic site that displays the remnants of this bygone era including rusting train carriages and an abandoned train station.

This afternoon we will arrive at the holy city of Medina where we will stay at a comfortable 3 star hotel.

Today is a free day for you to explore the city of Medina by utilising the hop-on hop-off open top bus service. Officially the city centre and Prophet’s Mosque remain off-limits to tourists but muslims are welcome to visit and reports of non-muslims visiting these sites are becoming more common. Your time in Medina is free for you to explore as many of the historic sites as possible on your own.

Tonight we will stay at a comfortable 3 star hotel.

Today we drive to the ancient port of Jeddah, the cosmopolitan hub of the country displaying a vibrant mix of new and old. After checking into our hotel you have the opportunity to visit the lively corniche, a beautiful walkway along the Red Sea coast which also offers a wonderful view of the Al Rahma floating Mosque and King Fahd’s fountain which at 312 metres high makes it the world’s tallest fountain.

You will have this evening free to explore more of Jeddah at your leisure and enjoy the comforts of our 3 star hotel.

This morning we will visit the UNESCO listed historic centre of Jeddah, Al Balad, where narrow alleyways lead you to spice-scented souqs, art galleries, quirky cafes and traditional bakeries. Some of the old coral merchants’ houses and mosques have been carefully restored and turned into living museums of which Naseef House and Al Shafee Mosque are two of the finest examples.

This afternoon we will take a trip to the Tayebat City Museum where you can learn all about Jeddah’s 2500 year history through a collection of over 60,000 items including ancient coins and manuscripts, Arabic weaponry, traditional Saudi costumes and fine art.

This evening you are invited to a traditional Arabic group dinner at a popular local restaurant before returning to our 3 star hotel.

This morning we will fly to Jazan in the southeastern part of the country and from there we catch the afternoon ferry to the Farasan Islands, an idyllic archipelago made up of more than 80 islands with pristine coral reefs and white sand beaches.

After checking into our resort you are free to explore the island and sample some of the country’s best seafood.

This morning you are invited to join the group for a 4 hour boat tour around the archipelago to enjoy some of the area’s best beaches and snorkelling.

After lunch we will then visit Al Qassar sandstone village and explore the historic Pearl Merchants Neighbourhood, the 2 most historic highlights of the Farasan Islands.

This evening you are free to explore more of the islands at your leisure or relax in the comfort of our resort.

Today we catch the early ferry back to Jazan where we meet our bus and continue up to Rijal Almaa, a village displaying dark block-like fortresses elegantly studded with white quartz. The men of the village wear colourful wrap-around skirts and adorn themselves with floral wreaths which give them the nickname the Flower Men.

Later in the afternoon we reach the town of Muhayil where we spend the night at our 3 star hotel and you have the evening free to enjoy some of Saudi’s more modern conveniences.

This morning a snaking road leads us up to the Asir province, so named after the local Asir tribe. This is an entirely different face of the Kingdom with the area boasting big mountains and lush vegetation, a huge contrast to the desert landscapes further north.

We head directly into the beautiful Asir National Park and explore this area of outstanding natural beauty which is home to troops of Hamadryas baboons and incredible views of Saudi Arabia’s highest peak, Mt. Soudah (3000m).

After lunch we visit the hanging village of Al Habala which is dramatically perched on the ledge of a sheer cliff. Built nearly 400 years ago by the Qahtan tribe and only accessible by rope ladders, this village is the only one of its kind in the Kingdom.

We continue on to Al Yanfa, a village that sits atop a warren of underground tunnels which resembles something out of a fairytale. Wandering through the labyrinth of low ceilinged tunnels is an experience not to be missed.

Tonight we spend our final evening of the tour in a 3 star hotel in Abha, a town famous for its mud-walled Shada Palace, a showpiece of traditional Asir architecture. This evening you are invited to attend a group farewell dinner to say goodbye to your crew and fellow travellers.

After breakfast today we catch a flight from Abha to Riyadh where our tour ends upon arrival at Riyadh airport, usually around midday. For your own peace of mind please do not book your flight home before 18H00 today.

If you need any extra nights accommodation in Riyadh your tour leader will be happy to help arrange that for you.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay a £300 deposit by Bank Transfer, Paypal, Wise or Credit/Debit Card. 

Once we receive your online booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your expedition preparations.

TOUR PAYMENT

The Tour Payment of £3547 is the complete payment for your tour and is payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). In order to reserve a place on this tour you must pay £300 as a deposit. Eight months prior to departure a further payment of £1500 must be paid to secure your booking. The final balance of your Tour Payment £1747 must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date. If you book between 4 to 8 months prior to the departure date a deposit of £1800 should be paid upon booking. If you book within 4 months of the departure date the full Tour Payment of £3547 should be paid upon booking.

The Tour Payment can be paid by Bank Transfer, Paypal, Wise or Credit/Debit Card.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by direct transfer.

Bank: HSBC

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Paypal

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by Paypal.

Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now – www.paypal.com

Wise

Please use your full name as a reference when paying by Wise.

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now – www.wise.com

Credit/Debit Card Payments

Call us on +44 7712 225 438 in order to make a Credit/Debit Card payment over the phone.

INCLUDED

Services of your Madventure tour leader

Local guides where required

All transport costs including private buses, 4×4’s and domestic flights

15 breakfasts and 3 evening meals provided

All accommodation costs in 3 & 4 star hotels, resorts and local guest houses

National Museum

Murabba Palace

Najdi Village group dinner

Masmak Fortress

Diriyah

Edge of the World 4×4 tour

Ushaiger heritage village

Buraidah camel market

Jubbah rock art entry

Hegra (Madain Saleh) tour

Lion Tombs of Dedan tour

Elephant Rock

Jeddah Old Town tour

Jeddah Arabian group dinner

Farasan Islands boat trip

Rijal Almaa

Al Yanfa village

Abha Arabian group dinner

NOT INCLUDED

International flights

Airport transfers

Personal travel insurance

Personal spending money (£150 – £200 per week recommended)

E-visa (approximately £100)

All lunches and 12 evening meals

Snacks and soft drinks

Accommodation upgrades

Entrance fees and local guides at optional sites

Any optional activities and excursions

Tips for tour leader ($100 recommended)

We have designed this tour to be comfortable and avoid long drives wherever possible.

Most of the time we will be travelling in private air-conditioned buses and 4×4’s. We also include 2 domestic flights, from Jeddah to Jazan and from Abha to Riyadh, as the drive between these places is time consuming without much to see along the way.

All breakfasts will be provided during this tour, usually at the hotel before we start the day’s activities.

We include 3 evening meals during this tour, usually a welcome dinner in Riyadh, a traditional group dinner in Jeddah and a farewell dinner in Abha. The rest of the evening meals are at your own expense.

We do not include any lunches during this tour so this is a good time to sample the local food.

Arabian food is delicious and also inexpensive by western standards so we are sure you will enjoy sampling the local dishes as much as possible. 

Please bear in mind that in Saudi Arabia the availability of western style food may be limited outside of the big towns.

Hotels and restaurants do cater for vegetarians but the dishes may not be exactly what you are used to at home so please be prepared to try a few new things.

We stay at 3 & 4 star hotels, resorts and local guest houses throughout this tour. All the accommodation we provide is comfortable with modern conveniences and private bathrooms.

Accommodation is provided on a twin share basis so if you are travelling alone be prepared to share your room with another traveller of any gender. Your tour leader will always strive to put you in a room with a suitable partner. Couples can request a room with a double bed.

There is a single room supplement fee of £800 if you are a solo traveller and prefer to have a private room just for yourself.

You will have a crew of 1 Madventure tour leader on this small group tour. Our well trained tour leaders are passionate about travel and will ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. 

Your tour leader will arrange local guides to give you the history of the important historic sites that we visit along the way. Please bear in mind that your tour tour leader is not a guide and will not be giving you the history of the sites we visit. Historic sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. We recommend you tip your tour leader a minimum of $100 at the end of this tour, thank you.

1: Your contract is with Madventure Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 6809461) whose office is at 10 Ablett Close, Oxford, OX4 1XH, United Kingdom.

2: A deposit of £300 is payable at the time of booking. The deposit is non-refundable unless Madventure is unable to offer you a place or you cancel within 14 days of the initial booking date. Madventure guarantees not to increase the tour price once the deposit has been received.

3: A booking is made in the name of the client and is not transferable to another person. You are only permitted to transfer your deposit once to a future tour, after that a further £300 non-refundable deposit will be required to book another tour. Please note that you will be affected if you have transferred and there is a price increase as you will have to pay the current tour price at the time that the tour balance payment is due.

4: Eight months prior to departure a further payment must be received to cover 50% of the total tour price in order to secure your booking. This payment is non-refundable unless we can not provide the tour. The final 50% balance of your tour payment must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date at which time the tour will be confirmed to run. Once the tour is confirmed to run you will not receive any refunds of any monies paid. If the full payment is not received 4 months prior to departure Madventure may deem the booking cancelled and all monies paid will be forfeited. If you book within the 4 to 8 month period prior to departure a non-refundable 50% deposit of the total tour price should be paid upon booking. If you book within the 4 month period prior to departure the full non-refundable 100% tour payment must be paid upon booking.

5: Cancellation of a booking must be notified in writing and when received by Madventure any monies paid will be forfeited. You acknowledge that payment for the tour is an intrinsic part of the tour’s income and contributes towards the overall costs of equipment, vehicle running costs, staff administration, travel permits, etc. and Madventure will have incurred a large part of its costs before the actual departure date. You will not receive a refund of any amount after the tour has been confirmed to run (which will usually happen no later than 4 months prior to the tour departing). We therefore recommend you take out your travel insurance from the date you make your final tour balance payment, 4 months prior to departure, so you are insured if you have to withdraw off the tour. If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

6: It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your tour, but we do plan all tours many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your tour. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular tour is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your tour less than 4 months before your departure date (except for reasons of Force Majeure). If we are unable to provide the tour for any reason you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value).  In the event of the tour being cancelled prior to departure, all monies paid by you towards the tour cost only will be refunded. In the event of a cancellation Madventure is not responsible for reimbursing equipment, flights, visa costs, vaccinations, medication, etc. purchased by yourself so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance to ensure these types of expenses are covered under the terms of your insurance policy as you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

7: In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel the tour within 4 months of the planned departure date because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, you can either have a full refund of all monies paid within 14 working days of the tour being cancelled or accept an offer of an alternative tour of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In the unlikely event of a Force Majeure situation that forces us to cancel or change the tour while it is underway because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control we will not refund you or pay you compensation, so we therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for the tour cancellation while underway is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company. Force Majeure situations can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, epidemics, pandemics, health risks, closed or congested airports, ports or stations, poor local infrastructure, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of transport by the transport supplier such as flights by airlines or main charterer, the alteration of transport or transport types, adverse weather conditions (actual or threatened), avalanche and technical failure with transport, Foreign & Commonwealth Office advice changing and advising against travel to the tour destination. 

8: If you choose to leave the tour for any reason on your own accord once the tour is underway you will not receive any compensation from Madventure including any refunds of the tour payment and/or the local payment. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for your departure is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

9: We reserve the right at any time prior to the departure date, without prior consultation with yourself, to merge your tour with one or more other tours travelling at the same time. This will not constitute a major change and would usually just mean swapping vehicles.

10: The tour payment and local payment cover transport, accommodation, some related ferry and train tickets, meals and national park entry fees as specified on the website, repair of our expedition vehicle as well as repair and replacement of camping equipment including stools, cooking equipment & utensils.

11: The tour leader has sole responsibility for the local payment. Any local payment monies or stock remaining at the tour end are non-refundable.

12: You undertake to comply with the laws and regulations, whether in respect of health, immigration, currency exchange control, dress or any other matter of all the countries visited during the tour.

13: You undertake to obtain a valid passport and have enough blank pages in the passport for the tour and your specific passport and visa requirements. Immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. We do not accept any responsibility and shall not be liable if you cannot travel or cannot participate in any part of the tour because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. You are responsible for obtaining and having available the necessary documents (including but not limited to full, current passport with enough blank pages to complete the trip and valid for at least 9 months from the last day of the tour and visas for all periods, countries and territories within the tour) enabling you to participate in the tour and shall comply with all local legislation and regulations of the countries in which the tour takes place (including immigration requirements, customs regulations and currency exchange). You shall indemnify us against any loss or expense that we may incur or suffer as a result of breach of this condition by you.  We cannot guarantee visa prices and availability of visas. Ultimately visas are your own responsibility to obtain.

14: Madventure reserves the right to deviate from the advertised tour route if in their reasonable opinion such deviation is necessary for the safety or well-being of any or any one of the members of the tour or for the satisfactory progress of the tour. In the event of it becoming necessary to fly over a country or countries in order to satisfactorily and safely continue the tour, all costs of your flights will be borne by yourself.

15: Madventure accepts no responsibility for matters arising out of political disputes, border closures, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters, climate, armed robbery, terrorism, etc. Should it become necessary to abandon a tour because of such an event Madventure will be entitled to retain all monies paid. We therefore recommend you have suitable travel insurance as if the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges but it is your sole responsibility to do so and we accept no liability for any acts or omissions of your insurance company.

16: You accept that owing to the nature of countries visited, all tours involve an element of personal risk and are of a potentially hazardous and unpredictable nature. In many countries we visit, the basic infrastructure, such as roads, is very poor and therefore less safe than that familiar to people from many western countries. In particular, lack of road markings or warning signs, unmarked speed bumps, seasonal flooding of roads and bridges, local vehicles which are poorly maintained and driven and which are hazardous to other road users etc. are factors beyond the control of Madventure. You accept that in some areas we drive off-road and that this involves personal risk when the expedition vehicle can be negotiating rough terrain. Madventure owns and operates many of its own expedition vehicles and employs its own crew. Where stated, locally arranged transport and crew, including trains, ferries, buses or coaches are used. Where Madventure’s own vehicles and/or crew are not used for the above services, you agree that the obligation of Madventure to yourself is to select normally competent, independent subcontractors to provide the necessary services related to the tour and to exercise reasonable care in selecting such suppliers to provide these. You also accept that you undertake this tour at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

17: You accept that local emergency facilities are usually of a very limited nature. Hospitals outside of large cities often have no accident and emergency facilities and emergency transport facilities can be non-existent.

18: If you have a problem during your trip please inform the tour leader immediately who will endeavour to put things right. If your complaint is not resolved locally please follow this up by emailing or writing to our office giving all other relevant information and, where possible, evidence. We must receive any such complaint no later than 28 days from the date of completion of your tour in order to take appropriate action. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you.

19: We do not accept any liability or responsibility for any personal possessions (including but not limited to cameras, jewellery, valuables and money) which is carried on or in our vehicles, carried on public transport or transport supplied by independent subcontractors, left in accommodation provided by us or our suppliers during a trip or left in our care during a tour. Such items are carried and/or left at your own risk.

20: Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on our tour are not part of your tour arrangements provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you book your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of the excursion or tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator. You accept that the prices quoted for optional activities are approximate as local prices can and do change. Any of the optional activities listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Madventure. You also accept that you undertake any activity at your own risk and your participation is your own decision and does not form any part of your contract with Madventure. Madventure does not take responsibility for cancellations, unreliability of services or safety of operators, agents or contractors.

21: Whilst a tour is in progress you will at all times be expected to act in accordance with all reasonable instructions from us and/or the tour leader. We may exclude you from the tour or any part thereof at any time (including during the tour itself) if we are of the opinion that you are likely to prejudice the good order, discipline or safety of the tour, including as a result of failing to comply with the tour leader’s instructions, breaking any law or regulation of any country where the tour takes place or failing to adhere to the tour code of conduct, provided that we exercise our discretion reasonably in this regard. In such an event you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result of our decision to exclude you from the tour, and Madventure shall cease to have any responsibility to/for you. No refund will be given for any unused services.

22: By completing the booking form you confirm that you appreciate the risks involved in the tour and that you do not suffer (or have ever suffered) from any pre-existing medical condition that may prevent you from actively participating in the tour other than those that have been declared to us. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit enough to undertake the tour and to ensure that you have received the necessary vaccinations and medications (and taken them as prescribed by your doctor) relevant to the destination country. Unless informed otherwise in writing we will assume that you are in good health and are not aware of any reason why you may be unsuitable to take part in the tour. We recommend that you consult your doctor before making a booking to ensure that you are medically fit and are fully aware regarding the immunizations and medical issues related to your destination countries. If you have any pre-existing medical condition, illness or disability, are undergoing medical treatment or, since entering into the contract, develop any medical condition, illness or disability or undergo any medical treatment; you will give us full particulars at the earliest opportunity and at the latest sixty (60) days before the departure date. If it is later discovered that a pre-existing condition was not declared within the specified time, and such condition would, if we had knowledge of it, have led to our refusal to accept or to cancel your booking, we reserve the right to withdraw you from the trip without any refund or recompense. In such an event, you shall reimburse to us any reasonable costs, losses or expenses which we incur or suffer as a result. In the event of you being withdrawn from a tour, no refunds will be given and we will not be responsible for (and you agree to indemnify us against) any costs, claims, losses and expenses arising including costs of repatriation, eg. flights and legal expenses. By agreeing to these conditions, you provide your consent to us and our insurers obtaining your medical records should we consider it necessary. You will be responsible for any charges for the provision of the information. We reserve the right to inspect your vaccination book at any time and to withdraw you from the tour in the event that you have not received and/or taken all the requisite inoculations and/or medication. If the information provided by you is incorrect and we discover that the correct information affects your suitability to take part in the tour, we may terminate the contract and withdraw you from the tour without refund or recompense, including during the trip. You agree and acknowledge that certain activities undertaken whilst you are on the tour may be inherently hazardous and have risks associated with them. You agree to abide by all instructions given to you whilst you are on the tour and you acknowledge that we cannot be held responsible for any injuries that may arise as a result of you failing to comply with such instructions.

23: You must be covered by personal travel insurance to undertake any Madventure tour. We recommend you take out a travel insurance policy that covers you fully against the cost of tour cancellation by you or by Force Majeure, medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue and above all covers you against the cost of air evacuation should sickness or injury necessitate such a course of action. You should also note that passenger liability insurance covering vehicles, particularly in third world countries, may be inadequate. It is therefore important that your travel insurance cover makes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. Please note however that we have no control over the availability or standard of medical and repatriation services and facilities in the areas we visit and these do not form any part of our contract with you. Please remember that many of the areas we visit are not as developed as the UK and the availability and standard of such services may well be lower. Please read your travel insurance policy details carefully and take them with you when you travel. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. We do not check individual insurance policies for suitability.

24: It is understood that on the Madventure tours where we use our own expedition vehicles the sections of the tour that travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico are provided to you free of charge. You will not have to pay any additional fee to travel through Europe, USA, Canada and Mexico with us but it is understood that we do not operate for hire and reward in these areas. We do this purely as a legality in order to operate our specialised overland vehicle in these areas legally.

25: Privacy & Data Protection – we shall ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your personal data (as defined in the European GDPR act 2018 and the UK Data Protection Act 2018) and we do not store our customers financial details. When you make a booking, you do however consent to all the information you provide being passed on to our suppliers, agents, subcontractors, employees or volunteers whether based inside or outside of Europe for the purposes of us providing you with the tour.

26: By agreeing to these terms and conditions you consent (unless otherwise stated on your application form) to our staff taking photographs and or video footage of you during the tour and that these images may be used by us for publicity and training purposes including, but not limited to, brochures, websites, marketing material and in the media.

27: We shall be entitled to novate or assign the contract or any part of it to any third party. You shall not be entitled to assign the contract or any part of it. This contract is made on the terms of these conditions, which are governed by English law, and subject to the provisions of condition you agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If any of these conditions is found by any court or other competent authority to be wholly or partly unfair or unenforceable the validity of the rest of the booking conditions and the rest of the condition in question shall not be affected and shall remain valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law. A reference in these conditions to a statute, convention or regulation shall be as a reference to that statute convention or regulation as amended, re-enacted or extended at the relevant time. The headings in these conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation. Where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular meaning shall include the plural meaning and vice versa and words denoting the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders. Where the context so admits, words denoting persons shall include natural persons, companies, corporations, firms, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, joint trips, trusts, voluntary associations and other incorporated and/or unincorporated bodies or other entities (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality) and all such words shall be construed interchangeably in that manner.

28: The information given on the website, on social media, in newsletters, in the brochure and other literature supplied is given in good faith but no warranty is given that it is correct.

29: No servant, agent or authorised representative of Madventure has authority to commit Madventure to any liability whatsoever and Madventure will not be bound by any statement or representation unless it is in writing and signed by one of the directors.

30: ABTA – We are members of ABTA, membership no. Y6801. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com

31: Financial Protection – In accordance with the UK Package Travel & Linked Travel Regulations 2018, Directive (EU) 2015/2302 or the local applicable law in the country of residence of the passenger(s) booking with Madventure Ltd are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies received by us, including repatriation costs and arrangements, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Madventure Ltd.

The respective laws according to the country of residence of the passenger(s) usually only requires us to provide cover for Package & Linked Travel Arrangements, there is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips or single elements, and none is provided unless the local law requires such. If you have questions on this then please contact Madventure Ltd.

Madventure Ltd has taken out an insurance provided by International Passenger Protection Ltd (IPP) with Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE (LMIE) trading as Liberty Specialty Markets, a member of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. LMIE’s registered office: 5-7 rue Leon Laval, L-3372, Leudelange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Registered Number B232280 (Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés).  LMIE is a European public limited liability company and is supervised by the Commissariat aux Assurances and licensed by the Luxembourg Minister of Finance as an insurance and reinsurance company. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to Madventure Ltd.

In the event of our insolvency please make contact as soon as practically possible giving full details of what has happened quoting the name of your Travel Operator:

For UK & Worldwide excluding EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +44 (0) 345 266 1872

Email: Insolvency-claims@ipplondon.co.uk

or online at http://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

For EU Passengers

IPP Claims at Sedgwick

Telephone: +31 103120666

Email: ippclaims@nl.sedgwick.com

or online at https://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

PERSONAL BUDGET

As breakfasts, accommodation, transport and entrance fees are included during this tour you won’t need much spending money. We therefore recommend a budget of £400 per person to live comfortably during this tour. This budget should cover day to day things like the lunches and dinners that are not included, snacks, soft drinks, etc. 

Budget approximately £100 for your e-visa.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying things like silk carpets you should budget for it.

TRAVEL MONEY

We recommend you bring all of your spending money on your credit/debit card as they generally accept cards everywhere in Saudi Arabia.

ATM’s are also widely available for you to draw local currency using your credit/debit card.

To keep your money/credit cards/ipod/camera/laptop safe you may want to consider purchasing a ‘Pacsafe Travelsafe’ product. They offer various size portable anti-theft bags that can be attached to the vehicle when travelling and also attached to any immovable object when off the vehicle.

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only. Madventure is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

Most nationalities can now obtain an online e-visa to visit Saudi Arabia. The visa processing time is usually within minutes and the cost of the visa including insurance is approximately £100.

Nationalities that can’t get an e-visa should check the requirements with their closest Saudi Arabian embassy.

Please ensure you have 1 free page in your passport in order to accommodate immigration stamps and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour end date.

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

When applying for your e-visa you may be given the option to include local Saudi Arabian travel insurance which may be the cheapest option for you.

As this is a relatively short tour you may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it may be worth checking with your credit card provider first.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for a comprehensive reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734, https://microsite.campbellirvinedirect.com/madventure/ 

Campbell Irvine is familiar with what we do so if you mention Dragoman and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.

For people based in North America a company called Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and if possible try to make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

Backpack/sports bag/suitcase: We recommend you carry your luggage in a backpack but irrespective if you prefer a sports bag or a suitcase you are restricted to a maximum 100 litre volume. 

Day bag: You are also permitted to bring a day bag with a maximum 40 litre volume that you can carry in the overhead luggage rack or under your seat on the vehicle with you.

Pacsafe: In order to keep your valuables safe we recommend a Pacsafe product. They make a range of anti-theft bags which vary in sizes and can accommodate your money, credit cards, passport, camera, laptop, etc. They can be attached to a fixed part of the vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed item in your hotel room. 

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: not a necessity but most places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will enable you to stay connected.

Smartphone:  It is highly recommended that you bring a smartphone with you as the majority of the tour communications are sent via WhatsApp. It is also very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking and sharing photos, mapping and calling home. 

Camera: Completely up to you but most people bring one.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some  toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

First aid kit: Only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.

Digital Covid 19 vaccination certificate: If you are vaccinated against covid please have a digital colour copy of your Covid 19 vaccination certificate with QR code (5 – 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop..

Passport: Please ensure you have 1 free page in your passport in order to accommodate any stamps and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour end date.

Clothes & shoes: 

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes, trainers or boots

7 x socks

7 x underwear

4 x t-shirts

1 x lightweight long sleeve top

1 x fleece top or fleece jacket

1 x waterproof jacket

2 x zip-off  trousers which can be worn long or short

1 x headscarf for the ladies

1 x thermal beanie or woolly hat

1 x baseball cap

1 x swimming trunks/bikini

Saudi Arabia was once a conservative Islamic country but over the last few years change has swept through the country and people are now much more free to wear western style clothing.

Females no longer need to wear headscarves (hijab) and the traditional ‘abaya’ if they don’t want to. These days it is not uncommon to see women wearing jeans and t-shirts however we still recommend that our female travellers err on the side of caution and have a headscarf handy along with a long loose shirt that covers their arms and hangs down to mid-thigh level. Women will need this type of clothing to get into many of the religious sites too.

Males no longer need to wear long trousers or the traditional Arabian attire if they don’t want to either and many younger men are seen wearing shorts and t-shirts during the day. We still recommend men err on the side of caution and wear long trousers as that will also ensure you get access to all the sites we visit.

Alcohol and drugs are illegal in Saudi Arabia and they enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession so don’t be fooled into thinking you can sneak a couple of bottles of wine into the country because you could get yourself into serious trouble. If you are offered alcohol at any point during the tour please do not accept as you not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group. Saudi Arabia has the death penalty in place for anyone caught in possession of hard drugs.

Public displays of affection are uncommon and it would also be deemed unusual to shake a woman’s hand when meeting her.

In general Saudi Arabia is a very friendly, modern, clean and hassle-free destination. If we all respect Saudi traditions, culture and religion we will have an unforgettable experience in one of the most welcoming countries in the Middle East.

OVERVIEW

This Madventure group tour is for travellers seeking an adventurous yet comfortable vacation where your tour leader does all the planning to ensure you get to enjoy yourself as much as possible. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 30 travellers of all ages and nationalities. We use private buses, 4×4’s and domestic flights to reach our destinations quickly and we stay in 3 & 4 star hotels, resorts and local guest houses to ensure your comfort at all times. This tour is meticulously planned to ensure you visit the highlights of Saudi Arabia at a leisurely pace and we also visit a couple of harder to reach destinations such as the Farasan Islands and Abha. If you are looking for a true adventure shared with a group of like-minded travellers then this Madventure group tour may be the trip for you!

At Madventure we like to go through every aspect of the tour with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. We believe in not only telling you about the highlights of the tour but also providing you with all the small details of what to expect as we know these are just as important. We want to explain the tour in as much detail as possible so that you are sure you are suited to one of our group adventures. If after reading the information below you decide that this tour is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We have no age restrictions on our small group tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 30 travellers of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. Most tours run with approximately 12 to 24 travellers.

WEATHER

We run our Saudi Arabia tours during their winter months as any other time of year is simply too hot and uncomfortable. You can expect the days to be warm and the nights to be cool during this tour.

ALTITUDE

We remain at a relatively low altitude throughout this tour so you should be comfortable.

HYGIENE

As wonderful as Saudi Arabia is, some places do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to use squat toilets and accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are washed regularly. If anyone stinks or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone on the tour.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

In Saudi Arabia your tour leader will arrange many short sightseeing and walking tours. For many of the organised tours your tour leader will arrange a local guide to provide the history of the sites we visit. Some of the sites have information boards and a guide is not necessary. You are always free to go sightseeing on your own at your leisure if you prefer not to join the group for some of the activities.

YOUR ATTITUDE

A friendly, easy-going attitude will help you enjoy this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travellers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to any tour are people that constantly moan. It has nothing to do with age, gender or nationality, some people just like to find fault in everything and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. This type of constant negativity can be extremely detrimental within a small group so it may sound a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them to try and ensure your tour is as good as it can be. We don’t hide anything so people who travel with us usually know exactly what to expect on this tour which makes for an enjoyable group experience.

Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the crew) grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the tour if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme case but we will not let one or two rude individuals spoil it for everybody else. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

When we are in Saudi Arabia things generally go to plan but if something unexpected does delay us or force us to change our itinerary please understand that sometimes things happen that are simply out of our control and we may have to make alternative arrangements. Please be prepared to expect the unexpected and accept that things might go wrong from time to time. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not! When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the majority of the group, not the individual. 

TRAVEL TIMES & ITINERARIES

We have designed this tour to visit all the highlights of Saudi Arabia in a comfortable timeframe and have plenty of time to look around the sites. 

We usually set off at 08H00 after breakfast, have various stops during the day to see the sites and arrive at our destinations before nightfall.

It is unlikely to happen but sometimes we do have to alter our route slightly and the itinerary may have to be changed due to unforeseen circumstances.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Alcohol and drugs are illegal in Saudi Arabia and they enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession so don’t be fooled into thinking you can sneak a couple of bottles of wine into the country because you could get yourself into serious trouble. If you are offered alcohol at any point during the tour please do not accept as you not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group. Saudi Arabia has the death penalty in place for anyone caught in possession of hard drugs.

If you are caught in possession of drugs or alcohol you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given.

DRESS CODE

Saudi Arabia was once a conservative Islamic country but over the last few years change has swept through the country and people are now much more free to wear western style clothing.

Females no longer need to wear headscarves (hijab) and the traditional ‘abaya’ if they don’t want to. These days it is not uncommon to see women wearing jeans and t-shirts however we still recommend that our female travellers err on the side of caution and have a headscarf handy along with a long shirt that covers their arms and hangs down to mid-thigh level. Women will need this type of clothing to get into many of the religious sites too.

Males no longer need to wear long trousers or the traditional Arabian attire if they don’t want to and many younger men are seen wearing shorts and t-shirts during the day. We still recommend men err on the side of caution and wear long trousers as that will also ensure you get access to all the sites we visit.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. You need to be able to carry your bags from the vehicles to the hotels, do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on this tour, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

ACCOMMODATION

We stay at 3 & 4 star hotels, resorts and local guest houses throughout this tour. All the accommodation we provide is comfortable with modern conveniences and private bathrooms.

Accommodation is provided on a twin share basis so if you are travelling alone be prepared to share your room with another traveller of any gender. Your tour leader will always strive to put you in a room with a suitable partner. Couples can request a room with a double bed.

There is a single room supplement fee of £800 if you are a solo traveller and prefer to have a private room just for yourself.

TRANSPORT

We have designed this tour to be comfortable and avoid long drives wherever possible.

Most of the time we will be travelling in private air-conditioned buses and 4×4’s. We also include 2 domestic flights, from Jeddah to Jazan and from Abha to Riyadh, as the drive between these places is time consuming without much to see along the way.

MEALS

All breakfasts will be provided during this tour, usually at the hotel before we start the day’s activities.

We include 3 evening meals during this tour, usually a welcome dinner in Riyadh, a traditional group dinner in Jeddah and a farewell dinner in Abha. The rest of the evening meals are at your own expense.

We do not include any lunches during this tour so this is a good time to sample the local food.

Arabian food is delicious and also inexpensive by western standards so we are sure you will enjoy sampling the local dishes as much as possible. 

Please bear in mind that in Saudi Arabia the availability of western style food may be limited outside of the big towns.

Hotels and restaurants do cater for vegetarians but the dishes may not be exactly what you are used to at home so please be prepared to try a few new things.

CREW

You will have a crew of 1 Madventure tour leader on this small group tour. Our well trained tour leaders are passionate about travel and will ensure your journey is both safe and enjoyable.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. 

Your tour leader will arrange local guides to give you the history of the important historic sites that we visit along the way. Please bear in mind that your tour tour leader is not a guide and will not be giving you the history of the sites we visit. Historic sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Tipping your tour leader at the end of the tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. We recommend you tip your tour leader a minimum of $100 at the end of this tour. Thank you.