The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may well be in the top ten most visited countries in the world. Millions of Muslims travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina each year for the Haj. However, due to visa restrictions, the Kingdom is still regarded as an inaccessible and rarely visited destination for non-pilgrims. Yet there is plenty to offer those who are able to visit.
The two main cities of Riyadh and Jeddah show the country’s connection between old and new, combining ancient souks and 19th century Ottoman houses with modern high-rise buildings. Further afield you can find mesmerising Nabatean archaeological sites, forts dating back to the 7th century and Yemeni style mud built skyscrapers. Finally if you really want to get away from it all, there is always a trip to the Empty Quarter.
