Lawrence of Arabia in Saudi Arabia
A cultural and historical journey along the route of the Hejaz Railway
Tour Introduction
This carefully curated journey reveals Saudi Arabia at its most dramatic and diverse, combining world-class heritage sites with remote desert exploration and cutting-edge modern travel. From the museums and fortresses of Riyadh to the breathtaking escarpments of the Edge of the World, the route unfolds through landscapes rarely experienced in such depth. UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Diriyah, Hegra, and Jeddah’s Al-Balad anchor the journey in deep history, while days spent following the abandoned Hejaz Railway uncover forgotten stations, tunnels, and forts scattered across the desert.
In AlUla, monumental Nabataean tombs rise from sandstone cliffs, while Medina and Yanbu reveal the region’s religious, maritime, and revolutionary pasts. Travelling by coach, 4x4, and high-speed rail, the itinerary balances adventure with comfort, offering an immersive exploration of Arabia’s past and present.
Highlights
- Trace the Hejaz Railway and Arab Revolt sites
- Follow Lawrence of Arabia’s desert and rail sabotage routes
- Access remote desert rail corridors by 4x4
- Study Nabataean, Islamic, and Ottoman material remains
- Examine Arab Revolt forts, stations, and supply routes
- Visit Yanbu, Medina, and key revolt locations and the Arab Revolt” tour.
Background
In the early years of the twentieth century, the deserts and mountains of Arabia became the stage for one of the most remarkable episodes of modern history.
During the Arab Revolt of 1916–18, T.E. Lawrence — later known as Lawrence of Arabia — travelled across this vast landscape alongside Arab forces, targeting the Ottoman Hejaz Railway and helping to reshape the political future of the region. Moving between remote desert forts, railway stations, and Red Sea ports, Lawrence’s journey revealed an Arabia poised between ancient traditions and the forces of modern change.
The railway itself, an ambitious imperial project, cut across landscapes long shaped by pilgrimage routes and tribal networks, leaving behind a chain of stations, tunnels, and fortifications that still speak of its strategic importance. This journey follows that historic corridor, tracing the story of revolt, empire, and emerging nationhood across the heart of the Arabian Peninsula.
Tour Details
Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.
Expert Guides
Prof Nicholas Saunders
Professor Nicholas Saunders is in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at Bristol University. His research focuses on the archaeology and anthropology of landscape, material culture, and cultural memory of 20th and 21st-century conflict in Europe and the Middle East. Between 2006 and 2014 he was co-director of the ‘Great Arab Revolt Project’ in southern Jordan – the first archaeological investigation of the 1916-18 Arab Revolt along the Hejaz Railway from Ma’an to Mudawwara. He has worked extensively in France, Belgium, and the Slovenian-Italian borderlands on his First World War projects and museum exhibitions. His recent publications include: 'Killing Time': Archaeology and the First World War (2010), Bodies in Conflict (2014) and The Poppy: A History of Conflict, Loss, Remembrance and Redemption (2014). In 2019, he co-organized and published Dragons on the Western Front: Chinese trench art from the Collection of In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, Belgium. His book Desert Insurgency: T.E. Lawrence, Archaeology and the Arab Revolt was published by Oxford University Press in 2020.
"Do not try and do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not win it for them."
T. E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom
What's Included
- 4 Star Hotels
- Return flights from London (optional)
- Dedicated Tour Manager
- Expert historians throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
- Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
- Dinner parties hosted by your expert historians and tour manager
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Soft drinks with dinner
- All taxes and gratuities
- Helpful and friendly travel advice
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Riyadh
Day 1: Arrival in Riyadh
Fly from London or make your own way to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s modern capital, and transfer to our hotel for three-nights. Due to late arrival of flights, no dinner this evening.
Day 2: Riyadh – Fortress to Metropolis
Day 2: Riyadh – Fortress to Metropolis
Discover the foundations of the Saudi state with visits to the National Museum, Al Murabba Palace and Al Masmak Fortress enjoying lunch with spectacular views and dinner at a traditional Saudi restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Diriyah and At-Turaif – Birthplace of the Kingdom
Day 3: Diriyah and At-Turaif – Birthplace of the Kingdom
Arrive mid-morning at At-Turaif, explore Salwa Palace and heritage galleries, walk mudbrick lanes, visit Military Gallery, enjoy terrace views, then dine overlooking UNESCO-listed Diriyah at Bujairi Terrace. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Riyadh to Tabuk – Gateway to the North
Day 4: Riyadh to Tabuk – Gateway to the North
Flight north to Tabuk for two nights. After lunch, visit Tabuk Fortress and the Hejaz Railway Museum, marking the beginning of the railway journey. (B,L,D)
Day 5: The Hejaz Railway - Desert Engineering
Day 5: The Hejaz Railway - Desert Engineering
Trace the Hejaz Railway from the Jordanian border across vast desert landscapes, visiting abandoned stations, track remains and drive the remarkable Al-Baghaz Tunnel in 4x4s. Return to Tabuk. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Stations of the Desert – To AlUla
Day 6: Stations of the Desert – To AlUla
Continue south along the railway, stopping at Al-Mu’azzam and Al-Manshiyah Station and Museum, before arrival in AlUla for two nights. Explore AlUla Old Town and enjoy desert dinner and stargazing. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Nabataean Kingdoms
Day 7: Nabataean Kingdoms
Discover the monumental Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone cliffs at Hegra; the evidence of of ancient kingdoms and lion tombs at Dadan; inscriptions and rock art of Arabia’s remarkable open-air library of antiquity at Jabal Ikmah; and at Harrat enjoy sweeping desert panoramas, dramatic canyon vistas, and glowing sunset views across sandstone valleys and historic landscapes. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Elephant Rock and Southern Railway Ruins
Day 8: Elephant Rock and Southern Railway Ruins
Early visit to Elephant Rock, followed by exploration of the southern Hejaz line in 4x4s through Hadiyyah, Wagga Fort, Istabal Antar and Al-Buwayr, then onward to Medina for two nights. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Medina – History Beyond the Sacred
Day 9: Medina – History Beyond the Sacred
Explore Medina’s historical sites beyond the holy precinct, including the Hejaz Railway Station and Museum, Mount Uhud’s Archers’ Hill and local museums. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Yanbu – Lawrence’s base
Day 10: Yanbu – Lawrence’s base
Drive to Yanbu to explore the historic quarter and the Lawrence of Arabia House from which many of the Hejaz Railway raids were planned. Fly to Jeddah and check-in to our hotel for the final two nights. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Jeddah – Pilgrim Gateway
Day 11: Jeddah – Pilgrim Gateway
Morning wander through Al-Balad’s coral-stone houses, visit Naseef House Museum, explore souks and historic mosques, lunch in a traditional courtyard, then sunset stroll along the Red Sea Corniche where we enjoy our farewell dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 12: Departure from Jeddah
Day 12: Departure from Jeddah
Farewells or transfer to Jeddah Airport for return flight to London. (B)
Recommended Reading List
Desert Insurgency: Archaeology, T. E. Lawrence, and the Arab Revolt Hardcover