Photography tour to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Tour Dates
2027
14-21 January 2027
Available
€ 4 500
About the Tour
Saudi Arabia is still one of the least explored and most surprising destinations for landscape photography. Vast deserts, towering sandstone mountains, and hidden canyons - this journey is about discovering places that feel untouched and deeply atmospheric.
During this expedition, we’ll explore two of the most photogenic regions of the country: the dramatic valleys around Al Disah and the legendary landscapes of Al Ula. We will explore composition, search for unique foregrounds and practice a lot of focus stacking. We’ll stay in carefully selected accommodations, enjoy traditional Arabian hospitality, and travel in a small group so we can move flexibly and focus on photography.
If you’re looking for new landscapes, new inspiration, and a truly unique photographic experience, Saudi Arabia will surprise you.
Itinerary
Day 1 Day 1
Your Saudi Arabia photo tour begins at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the city of Tabuk. We recommend planning your arrival around midday - giving you time to check in, freshen up, and decompress after your flight before the real adventure begins.
Tabuk is well connected and easy to reach, with direct flights from Jeddah, Riyadh, Dubai, Doha, Cairo, and many other regional hubs.
Once the group is assembled, we'll gather for our first dinner together - a relaxed, unhurried evening to meet your fellow photographers, share a meal, and go over the plan for the extraordinary days ahead.
Day 2 Day 2
Al Disah Valley - one of Saudi Arabia's most photogenic landscapes!
After breakfast, we load up the vehicles and begin our drive toward the Al Disah region - approximately three hours from Tabuk. As the city fades behind you and the desert opens up ahead, you'll already be reaching for your camera.
Upon arrival, we check in at a local farm - an authentic base camp right in the heart of the Wadi Al Disah landscape. We settle in over traditional Arabic coffee and snacks, and then, as the afternoon light turns golden, we head out for our first sunset photography session at a hidden gem tucked deep in the valley - a location that doesn't appear on any tourist map.
Day 3 Day 3
Sunrise Photography in Wadi Al Disah - Sandstone Peaks and Desert Rivers
We rise before dawn for sunrise photography in Wadi Al Disah - a landscape of dramatic sandstone peaks, lush vegetation, ancient caves, and a desert river we'll cross in our 4x4 vehicles.
The contrast between towering rock walls and the greenery below is unlike anything most photographers have encountered. Keep your telephoto lens ready - this valley is home to a variety of bird species, offering wonderful wildlife photography opportunities between landscape frames.
After breakfast, we rest through the midday heat. As the temperature drops and the light warms again, we head out to a magnificent canyon, stopping multiple times to work the textures, scale, and shifting quality of evening light on ancient stone.
Day 4 Day 4
Some mornings in photography are just different. At sunrise, we position ourselves before one of the most striking mountain views of the trip - a towering peak so dramatic I've come to call it the "Arabian Tre Cime." The foreground possibilities here are overwhelming: desert rocks, sculptural flora, sand textures, natural leading lines in every direction. It's the perfect real-world setting for focus stacking practice, and we'll spend serious time here working through the technique together. Bring your wide-angle lenses.
In the evening, we move to a different ridge - equally impressive - where patient photographers will discover beautiful natural desert foreground elements sculpted by wind and time.
Day 5 Day 5
At sunrise, we return to one of the most iconic viewpoints in Al Disah Valley - this time photographing it from inside a cave. The rock frame transforms a beautiful landscape into a truly compelling photograph, adding depth and a sense of discovery that's impossible to replicate from the outside.
At sunset, we venture to a remote desert location in search of something genuinely rare: reflection photography in the desert.
Finding water in this landscape is always a discovery - and capturing a clean reflection among rocks and sand is one of the most rewarding challenges this region offers.
Day 6 Day 6
We begin at sunrise with a breathtaking elevated view over a traditional desert village, framed by dramatic mountain ridges. On the right morning - and we plan for this - a gentle haze or ground fog settles into the valley, adding extraordinary depth and tonal layering to the scene.
This is a moment made for telephoto lenses, isolating layer after layer of receding ridgelines in soft atmospheric light.
After breakfast, we transfer to Al Ula - one of Saudi Arabia's most photographed and visually spectacular regions. After check-in, we head out to photograph the famous Al Ula rock arch in evening light, then explore the atmospheric streets and restaurants of Old Town Al Ula.
Day 7 Day 7
Sunrise in Al Ula is something you don't forget. We photograph one of the most impressive rock formations in the region, where the diversity of foreground material is extraordinary: rolling sand dunes, textured stone plates, and - depending on the season - wildflowers that bring unexpected color to the desert palette. Every photographer will find their own composition here.
At sunset, we visit my personal favorite Al Ula photography location - surreal rock towers rising from the desert floor, shaped over millions of years by wind and sand. Standing among these formations as the last light turns them amber and violet is one of those experiences that reminds you exactly why you travel with a camera.
Day 8 Day 8
Our final sunrise holds one more gift - an unusual rock formation unlike anything else we've seen on this Saudi Arabia photography tour. What does it look like? That, I'll keep as a surprise. Some things are better discovered in person, in the early morning light, with a camera in your hands.
After breakfast, we drive back to Tabuk - approximately three hours - arriving around 3 PM. Farewells are said here, and almost certainly a few "see you on the next one" as well.
P.S.
Those who wish to linger can stay on in Al Ula to explore its world-class archaeological sites at Hegra (Madain Saleh), take a hot air balloon flight over the desert at dawn, or join additional desert photography excursions. Just ask - we are happy to help you plan the perfect extension.
From Al Ula, you can travel independently to Tabuk by bus, or fly directly to Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, or Medina from the local airport.
Behind the Scenes
What's Included
Included
- Guided by 2 professional photographers (English, Russian, Czech languages)
- Transport
- All transfers
- Breakfast (farm and hotels) and dinner (on the farm only)
- Twin share
- Processing sessions
- Support in my private WhatsApp chat
Not Included
- Air tickets
- Visa
- Insurance
- Lunch, dinner (hotels only)
- Personal expenditures (souvenirs etc)
- Single supplement +1000 €
- Anything not mentioned in the “included” list
What to Bring
Photo Equipment
- Camera
- Tripod
- Wide angle lens (11-24mm or 16-35mm)
- Middle range zoom lens (24-70mm or 24-105mm)
- Telephoto zoom lens (70-200mm or 100-400mm)
- ND, GND, polarizer
- Memory cards
- Extra batteries
- Shutter release
- Headlamp
Clothing
- Jacket
- Pants
- Hiking shoes
- Casual clothing for dinners, processing sessions
- Hat
- Gloves
- Fleece/softshell jacket
- Sunglasses and sunscreen cream
Your Guides
Oleg Rest
My name is Oleg Rest, I am a professional landscape photographer and traveler. I was born in Kazakhstan, the land of steps and severe climate. Since early childhood I was dreaming of traveling. I first took camera in my hands at 6, when my parents rented a Zenit film camera during our holidays on the Black Sea coast. I enthusiastically took pictures of my parents, later with my father we developed films in our bathroom and dried them on a rope. Now I shoot with a modern camera Canon R5, but nature and photography still inspire me the most. I have been to such amazing places as Patagonia, Norway, Iceland, Tuscany, Namibia, Slovenia, China, Moravia, the Alps and the Lofotens, Myanmar, Czech Switzerland and I wish to share my impressions and delight with you! Life is full of beauty. This is my motto. I am not a fan of sophisticated and time-consuming processing of photos. The best shot for me is the one that needs minimal processing. My main principles in photography are:
Interesting composition
Beautiful light
Minimum of processing
Nowadays it is hard to find a location where no photographer has ever been, that is why even in popular places I try to find an unusual foreground which makes any shot look in a new light. I have won several landscape photography competitions. My photos are published by Canon Czech Republic, Canon Ukraine. I am an ambassador of Lucroit filter manufacturer (Spain), H&Y (Hong Kong), software company Skylum (Luminar, Aurora HDR software) and backpack manufacturer f-stop (USA).
Maria Rest
My name is Maria. I am a portrait and landscape photographer. For several years in a row I have been travelling together with my husband and my camera all over the world. This has always been our dream to travel together sharing our love to nature and photography. We are now guiding photography tours together as tour leaders. I am happy to assist Oleg and to help participants of our tours with anything they might need.
Refund & Cancellation
Booking & Payment
A tour is considered booked once you receive confirmation of availability and pay a deposit. The remaining sum is to be paid 90 days before the beginning of the tour.
Cancellation Policy
- 90 days before — deposit is non-refundable (100% of deposit)
- 60 days before — 50% of the tour price
- 30 days before — 100% of the tour price
If the tour is cancelled by me due to force-majeure, 100% of the paid sum is returned to you.
⚠ Important Information
A tour may be cancelled 90 days before departure if the minimum number of spots is not filled.
I strongly recommend NOT buying air, train or bus tickets far in advance. Please buy insurance covering all risks. Purchasing tickets earlier than 90 days before the tour is at your own risk.
All participants acknowledge that tour organizers cannot control weather conditions. The shooting schedule and planned activities may be adjusted on site. The itinerary may also be modified at the sole discretion of the organizers to achieve the best possible results.
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Ready to Join?
Secure your spot on this photography journey.
2027
€ 4 500
Available
per person
Pay Deposit €1,000
Deposit secures your spot. Balance due 60 days before departure.
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