Saudi Arabia 16 day Group Tour

Customer Reviews

• AB

  Anneliese

  · February 20th, 2024
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  Fahrer super gut und unheimlich nett und zuvorkommend, Guide genial - tolles Wissen, sehr umsichtig, Hotels sehr gut, es wäre fein gewesen mehr Zeit in Medina zu haben - zumindest einen ganzen Tag (am Tag davor, die Besichtigung des Löwentempels hätte man kürzen können)
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  Madventure commented on this review

  Hi Anneliese, Thanks for your review - I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour, Saudi is a wonderful country, and its fascinating to see it now, just at the beginning of the tourism boom - imagine what it'll be like in 10 years...! Haroon loved... Show more
  Trip date: November 2023
• 

  Helene

  · December 4th, 2023
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  The trip was very interesting, well organized and varied. The food was very good, there is a lot to see and definitely worth a recommendation.
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  Madventure commented on this review

  Hi Elena, Thanks so much for the great review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour so much. Haroon is definitely a wonderful guide, and very passionate about Saudi Arabia. Thanks for attaching the pictures too, the Concert Hall looks amazing!!!!... Show more
  
  Trip date: November 2023
• 

  Mark

  · March 23rd, 2023
  I moderately enjoyed this trip. But the itinerary of sites was heavy on the old historical, which meant a lot of mud and straw buildings, though not specifically Muslim sites like early mosques (which Salafists themselves apparently destroyed during anti-idolatry campaigns). We did visit one new skyscraper and a couple modern malls. But the itinerary might have included more of the contemporary Saudi Arabia, revealing how all those billions of petrodollars have been spent—very intelligently, it would seem—on new infrastructure, large public and private buildings, including the many new universities, desalination plants and such. Also, the tour took us to Jazan, which is still listed (despite a recent truce) by Western foreign ministries a highly dangerous, due to periodic attacks from Yemen. Our tour leader was good at getting us from place to place in a timely fashion but is not, by his own admission a genuine tour guide; that would require a government license, obtained presumably after training in important aspects of the country’s history and society. In fact, he knew very little about the country and showed little interest in sharing with us what little he did know. And he certainly did not exude the kind of passion and curiosity about the place one finds in all the best touring guides (I’ve known many). So as not to embarrass him, we stopped asking him any serious questions after a few days.
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  Madventure commented on this review

  Hi Mark, Thank you for your review. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your Saudi Arabia tour, on the whole. Saudi is a fascinating country, with so much to see and do, and we are sorry that you felt there wasn't enough 'modern Saudi' sights. We... Show more
  Trip date: March 2023
• JR

  JEANETTE

  · December 1st, 2022
  Saudi Arabia is spending billions on diversifying its oil economy. Developing International tourism (including expanding the number of religious visitors) is a major 2030 focus and they are busy building the infrastucture to support it. But much of it is still being done in Nov 2022. For example 30% of Jeddah ( a city of 4 million people) is currently being clearfelled to make way for new developments. They want to out do Dubai! But their ambitions are big and tourism will remake the country. (I wanted to visit before it changes). Tourism is already having a social impact. For example cinemas, concerts and other entertainment are now being allowed and promoted. The dress code has been dropped for foreign women. (We only wore our abayas when visiting the religious centre of Medina around the Mosque of the Prophet.). Attractions: Landscapes. I never thought desert could come in so many different types and colours: sandy, rocky, flat, mountainous, dunes. And it even rained! But Saudi Arabia also has spectacular mountain scenery, a Red Sea coastline and islands! There are plenty of historical sights and sites and each city is different. The Madventures Saudi Arabia Tour covered the highlights of the country very well. Weather: November was a good month to travel. Personal coments: 1: Saudi Arabia needs to provide more and better bathroom facilities for travellers on the road (currently very basic and mostly provided at a local mosque) 2: Our bus was good and the driver was very good but I would still like all seats to come with working seat belts.
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  Madventure commented on this review

  Hi Jeanette, Thanks for your review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour of Saudi Arabia. Saudi is definitely at the beginning of its tourism boom, and no doubt in the near future, many things will change for tourists. You're one of the lucky ones... Show more
  Trip date: November 2022
• KP

  Karl-Hermann

  · March 28th, 2022
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  A wonderful tour with so many highlights in a country that has so much to offer and is extraordinarily hospitable.
  

  Madventure commented on this review

  Hallo Karl, danke für deine gute Review. Es war sehr schön mit dir zu Reisen und eine Ehre dich an Bord zu haben. Saudi Arabien ist ein faszinierendes Land und bei jedem Besuch gibt es etwas neues zu entdecken. Nun hoffen wir dich in Süd Amerika für... Show more
  Trip date: March 2022