The Travel Diaries

Discovering Saudi - Destination Special

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Episode notes

On today’s destination special, we’re going to be discovering a country which, for the longest time, was out of reach for travellers, Saudi Arabia, or Saudi as it’s now known. Within the travel industry Saudi has been front and centre for the past few years, with prominent features about its developments in most of the major travel magazines; the world’s leading luxury hotel brands from Six Senses to Aman have been announcing impressive future openings across the country, and new tourist destinations are being developed from the Red Sea resort on the coast to Sindalah at NEOM…even a ski resort in the 3000m mountains. These are all offerings that have really intrigued the travel world, now that the doors are wide open.


To be honest, I’ve been conflicted about making this episode. I had preconceptions about the country, which I’m sure many of you may share, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about showcasing it with its own episode. However, I firmly believe in the power of travel as a force for good – tourism brings connection, understanding, and often positive change. And I also firmly believe you’ll find this episode really interesting. Because if you’re anything like me, you’re probably very curious about destinations that feel like uncharted territory, that we don’t know that much about yet. My goal is to give you more insight about the country from the travel experts who know it best so you can make up your own mind.


First, we’ll hear from adventurer, writer, and TV presenter Alice Morrison. Alice is like a real-life Indiana Jones – most recently, she’s been exploring Saudi for her BBC series Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the Nabataeans, where she delves into the mysteries of this ancient civilization. She’s also travelled extensively across Saudi as a solo female traveler, offering a unique perspective on what it’s really like to explore the country as a woman.


Then we’ll be joined by Isabella Craddock, former editor of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East and the founder and editor of Near+Far Magazine. Isabella has spent years exploring Saudi’s landscapes, cities, and hidden gems and she’ll share her favourite spots, latest travel news, and tips for making the most of a visit.


Destination Recap:


Alice Morrison -

  • Riyadh 
  • Diriyah Gate, Riyadh 
  • National Museum, Riyadh
  • AlUla
  • Nabatean Tombs, Hegra 
  • Jeddah 
  • Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Royal Reserves 
  • Wadi Disah 
  • Banyan Tree Hotel, AlUla


Isabella Craddock -

  • NEOM
  • The Line 
  • AlUla 
  • Habitas, AlUla 
  • Maraya, AlUla
  • Asir 
  • Trojena Ski Resort 
  • Banyan Tree, AlUla
  • Dar Tantora The House, AlUla 
  • Aman, Diriyah 
  • Jeddah Edition, Jeddah 
  • AL-Balad, Jeddah 
  • Sindalah, NEOM 


You can find out more about Saudi by reading nearfarmag.com, and you can listen more to Alice's adventures in Saudi on her podcast Alice in Wanderland. The tourist board website is another great resource if you’re planning a trip. 


Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 13 seasons to catch up on.



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