Travel

Saudi Arabian Odyssey: From the Desert to the Sea

Elephant Rock AlUla. Photo courtesy of Barbara Porter.

Save the Date

Take the road less traveled and join the SAA for a fascinating journey through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country untouched by tourism until relatively recently. The trip combines history, culture, archaeology, architectural wonders, and natural beauty. Led by distinguished Middle East archaeologist and art historian, Dr. Barbara Porter, we will explore a variety of venues, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Nabatean ruins of Hegra (Mada’in Salih) and historically strategic sites along the incense trade route, such as AlUla. We will also visit the holy city of Madinah, the JAX district of contemporary art in Riyadh, and significant castles and forts. Throughout the trip, we will be inspired by Saudi Arabia’s stunning geographical diversity, including sandstone cliffs, dramatic rock formations, an ancient natural canyon, historic oases, and the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. The trip will begin in the capital city of Riyadh in the historical heartland of Najd, and conclude in the port city and commercial hub of Jeddah, along the shores of the Red Sea, the historic gateway to Mecca. This trip will open for registration the last week of March and will be announced via email.

An email announcement with trip details and registration instructions will be sent the last week of March to all Society members and newsletter subscribers. The trip is limited to 20 Society members and will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

Registration Policies

The Society for Asian Art’s cancellation policy requires at least one week’s advance written notice in order to receive a refund of registration fees. This excludes our Travel programs, which have separate cancellation policies, as well as any programs where a specific refund policy is stated on the event page. Your fees will be returned to you through a check in the mail. To cancel, please contact us.

For programs located within the Asian Art Museum, the museum entrance fee must be paid separately and is not included with your registration fee.

Please note that by registering for a program, you are giving consent to the SAA to be photographed or videoed as a participant.

More Programs

view all