Ushaiqer Heritage Village & Shaqra Private Tour from Riyadh - Hotel Pickup

Walk through Ushaiqer,
an oasis village in Najd

After pickup from your accommodation in Riyadh, head to Ushaiqer in an air-conditioned vehicle. Ushaiqer was first settled by Bedouins 1,500 years ago, and thanks to its springs and groves of olive and palm trees, it became a favorite rest stop for pilgrims traveling to Mecca. A small community still lives here today, using the school, shops and mosque.

The village is a maze of winding alleys, shaded paths and wooden walkways running between hundreds of mud houses. Divided into several quarters and split in two by a palm grove, it feels like stepping into a living museum full of traces of the old way of life as you wander its narrow lanes.

Discover traditional Najdi architecture and the village museum

The beautifully restored houses, with their distinctive triangular windows and roofs and ornately carved wooden doors, are fine examples of Najdi architecture. Some houses still bear the names of the families who lived there. You also visit the museum in the village.

Stop at the Al Qassab salt flats and Shaqra's traditional market

During the tour, you stop at the Al Qassab salt flats and explore the traditional market in Shaqra. There is time for a traditional lunch along the way, and the tour runs as a private tour with an English-speaking guide/driver for your group only.