Fifteen minutes from central Riyadh, Diriyah occupies a bend in the Wadi Hanifah valley where, in the 15th century, the ancestors of the Al Saud dynasty established the settlement that would eventually give rise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At its heart sits the At-Turaif district — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010 — a dense cluster of palaces, courts, and residential quarters built in the distinctive Najdi architectural tradition: thick mud-brick walls, crenellated parapets, and geometric plasterwork that has endured for centuries in the dry central Arabian climate.
The centrepiece of At-Turaif is Salwa Palace, the seat of the first Saudi state, its multi-storey reception halls and private apartments now carefully restored and open for guided exploration. The surrounding district preserves the remains of mosques, markets, and administrative buildings that together tell the story of a civilisation that shaped the entire Arabian Peninsula. Beyond the walls, the Bujairi Terrace — on the opposite bank of the wadi — offers some of Riyadh's finest dining in a setting that frames At-Turaif across the valley.
Enquire About DiriyahExplore the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district, listed in 2010 as an outstanding example of Najdi architectural tradition and a place of exceptional historical significance. The walled complex encompasses palaces, mosques, and domestic buildings constructed from rammed earth and mud brick — an architectural vocabulary that evolved in perfect response to the central Arabian climate over several centuries.
Step inside Salwa Palace, the official residence and administrative centre of the first Saudi state, founded in the 18th century under the rule of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud. The restored palace complex includes ceremonial reception halls, private royal quarters, and a mosque, offering a vivid and intimate sense of how power and governance were organised at the founding of a dynasty.
Nowhere in the Arabian Peninsula is the Najdi building tradition better preserved or more extensively displayed than at Diriyah. Characterised by tapered mud-brick towers, deeply recessed doorways, and intricate geometric relief plasterwork on exterior facades, the architecture of At-Turaif represents a sophisticated response to both climate and culture that developed over four centuries.
Winding through Riyadh for 120 kilometres, Wadi Hanifah has been a source of water and life in central Arabia for millennia. At Diriyah the wadi is at its most historically evocative — a green corridor of palms and tamarisk flanking the ochre cliffs on which At-Turaif stands, offering peaceful walking paths and a sense of the landscape as it appeared to the city's earliest founders.
The Bujairi Terrace, built on the site of Diriyah's original agricultural settlement across the wadi from At-Turaif, has been transformed into a curated dining and cultural destination. Restaurants drawing on the culinary traditions of Najd and the broader Arabian Peninsula serve guests against one of Riyadh's most remarkable architectural backdrops — the illuminated mud-brick silhouette of the historic quarter at dusk.
Diriyah sits just fifteen minutes from central Riyadh, making it the natural anchor for a broader programme that takes in the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, the Murabba Historical Palace, and the contemporary cultural institutions of the capital. A two or three-night Riyadh extension pairs effortlessly with AlUla or Jeddah to create a complete journey across Saudi Arabia's heritage landscape.
Explore our handcrafted itineraries designed to showcase the best of each destination. Customize any journey to match your preferences.
7 DaysRiyadh → Diriyah → AlUla → Hegra
From €5,500 per person
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10 DaysJeddah Al-Balad → AlUla → Hegra → Red Sea Coast
From €8,200 per person
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5 DaysAlUla → Hegra → Desert Camp
From €5,000 per person
View Full ItineraryWe spent four days exploring Diriyah and the At-Turaif district. The mud-brick architecture and the storytelling from our guide were remarkable. Dinner at Bujairi Terrace overlooking the illuminated ruins was an evening we will never forget. Thank you, Nia.
We booked the AlUla and Diriyah itinerary for our anniversary. Every transfer, every hotel, every experience was seamless. Nia herself checked in with us throughout the trip. The private picnic among the sandstone formations of AlUla was a moment of pure magic.
I came for the heritage and left with a completely new understanding of Arabia. The guided walk through Diriyah's At-Turaif district was like a living history lesson, and the stargazing experience in the AlUla desert, with an astronomer pointing out constellations the Nabataeans would have navigated by, was absolutely extraordinary.
Diriyah exceeded all our expectations. Standing in the At-Turaif district where the Saudi story began, hearing the history from a guide who brought every detail to life, it was deeply moving. The evening walk through the illuminated mud-brick walls was hauntingly beautiful.
Our private tour of Hegra was the highlight of a lifetime. Standing before 2,000-year-old Nabataean tombs with our own archaeologist guide, we felt like we had stepped back in time. Nia personally ensured every detail was perfect, from the luxury camp to the candlelit desert dinner.
As a history professor, I had high expectations for AlUla, and Nia Travels exceeded every one. The private access to Dadan and the Lihyanite tombs was extraordinary. I have visited Petra twice, but Hegra, without the crowds, felt infinitely more intimate and powerful.
UNESCO HeritageDiscover Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk among 2,000-year-old Nabataean tombs carved into golden sandstone cliffs, explore the ancient oasis city of Dadan, and experience the vast desert landscapes of one of the world's most remarkable open-air museums.
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UNESCO HeritageWander through a living heritage quarter where 400-year-old coral stone houses with intricately carved wooden balconies line narrow alleyways. Browse traditional souqs, discover centuries-old merchant history, and experience the vibrant culture of Jeddah's UNESCO-listed historic district.
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Luxury RetreatEscape to pristine coral reefs and crystal-clear waters along Saudi Arabia's untouched coastline. Stay at luxury island resorts, snorkel among vibrant marine life, and relax on secluded beaches in one of the world's last undiscovered coastal paradises.
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