00:00I'm Lily Douse and this is Grand Voyager.
00:04From my base in Qatar,
00:07I travel the world to discover incredible places
00:10filled with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way I meet the people,
00:16taste the flavours and experience the moments
00:19that make each destination unforgettable.
00:22Today I'm heading to a place where history, heritage and luxury come together.
00:33Just a short flight from Qatar.
00:36Dariya is one of Saudi Arabia's most important historical destinations.
00:41The place where the kingdom's story began.
00:44At its heart lies Ataraif,
00:47a heritage site that once served as the capital of the first Saudi state.
00:52Known as the City of Earth for its distinctive mud brick architecture,
00:56it's built from the very soil it sits upon.
00:59I'm here to discover its timeless beauty,
01:02from ancient roots to modern hospitality
01:05and explore what makes this place truly remarkable.
01:10To start my journey, I've arranged to meet Sara Alfrayan,
01:14a cultural guide with a deep passion for local heritage.
01:18Sara, thank you so much for showing me around today.
01:21This is incredible.
01:23Please explain a little bit about this place.
01:25First of all, I'm delighted to have you here today, Lili, in the Dariya.
01:29We are now in the Tariya district.
01:31As you can see, it's actually have the real culture of Najdi,
01:36architectural and authenticity of our traditions.
01:39Also, Ataraif, it's gained the world UNESCO recognition for the site.
01:45Ataraif spans 160,000 square metres and is one of the largest heritage restoration projects in the region.
01:55Wandering through its walkways and courtyards with Sara, I can almost picture what life was once like here.
02:01This district was home to mosques, schools and family houses, a thriving community long before Riyadh became the nation's capital.
02:11At its centre stands Salwa Palace, the largest structure in Ataraif.
02:17This is one of the important places that you should see.
02:21This wasn't only a residential home for the ruler.
02:24It was actually the administrative and the political centre from the first Saudi state.
02:30That is incredible. What an amazing building.
02:35Ataraif gives a real glimpse into Saudi Arabia's past.
02:39Fully restored, yet still full of life and tradition.
02:44Close by, that same heritage continues in a different way, through food.
02:50Sara has invited me to a local restaurant to try some authentic Saudi flavours.
02:56Here, traditional dishes are given a modern touch.
02:59It's a perfect way to end my experience with Sara.
03:04Let me do that for you, Lily.
03:06I want to take care of you today and to welcome you to our signature dishes.
03:13Thank you so much. You truly have welcomed me and sharing food with you is incredible.
03:18Why is food such an important part of the Arabic culture?
03:21Actually, you know, the food is representing the culture and the customs of the people.
03:26And the hospitality is actually very important to us in Saudi Arabia.
03:30It actually comes from the soul.
03:33Saudi warmth is about more than just generosity.
03:37It's deeply rooted in the culture.
03:40The food and Sara's kindness reflect the spirit that defines life here.
03:44After an incredible meal, I'm heading off to see another side of Doria.
03:49Not far from here lies Wadi Safar, a wide open valley set to become one of the most exciting new destinations in the region.
03:59The clubhouses and academy buildings are inspired by traditional architecture, blending local heritage with contemporary design.
04:09My coach today is Callum, an experienced golf instructor, and we're starting with some practice at the club's brand new driving range.
04:18Hello, Callum. It's such a pleasure to meet you.
04:20Good morning, Lily. Lovely to have you.
04:21I'm so excited to be here. What is in store for me today?
04:24So in store, we have a warm up area on the driving range first before we head over to the putting green, get a little practice there.
04:31And then we're going to head out on the academy course for some golf.
04:34This sport is all about precision and patience.
04:38And with Callum's help, I'm hoping to get the hang of it.
04:41How we would hold the club first, OK?
04:43So the left hand would go at the top of the golf club with our left thumb running down towards the club head.
04:48Next would be aim. So this part of the golf club here is the club face.
04:52OK, so that's an important part, especially when we're aiming for a certain target.
04:56So what we're looking for is to line the centre of the club face up to the intended target line on the driving range.
05:02There's a lot to think about how to hold the club, how to line it up and how to stay loose and relaxed.
05:08As I become more confident, Callum shows me how to bring it all together.
05:13When we put that back down and we take that stronger grip, that's what it's called.
05:17Yeah.
05:18When you make your motion off the swing, the club face is then squarer at the point of impact.
05:22OK, grip's looking good.
05:25Now just focus your eyes on that golf ball. Keep that head nice and still and strike down towards the ground. Good.
05:31Well done.
05:33With each swing, it's starting to feel more natural.
05:36Callum shows me how to putt on the practice putting green.
05:39And with the ball finally going into the hole, it's time to head out onto the course to put it all together.
05:48A few good shots later and I'm really starting to enjoy it.
05:52Ah, fantastic.
05:54Yes.
05:55Great golf shot.
05:56Thank you so much, Callum.
05:57No problem at all, Lily.
05:59After an incredible day out on the course, I'm heading to get a better view of it all.
06:04It's been such a rewarding experience and I want to take in this beautiful landscape from the perfect vantage point.
06:12I've had such an incredible day here today.
06:18Wadi Safa truly is the epitome of heritage meets luxury.
06:25Not far from here lies Wadi Hanifa, a long green valley that winds through the heart of the old city.
06:33Once an oasis in the desert, it's now a peaceful place to walk, cycle and enjoy nature.
06:39Cycling in this area is really relaxing.
06:43The cool breeze and stunning views make it a perfect way to explore and exercise.
06:52Just a short ride away stands Babsam Han Hotel, a luxurious retreat with real historical roots.
07:00Miss Lily, welcome to Babsam Han.
07:03The hotel's general manager, Fabrice Dukrai, is here to tell me more about the story behind the hotel.
07:10The hotel itself actually is a historical site.
07:14It started off in the Ministry of Culture wanting to renovate a few houses, nudge the houses.
07:20And then one thing led to the other that's turned into the hotel that it is today.
07:25What began as a simple restoration project has evolved into one of Daria's most remarkable hotels.
07:33Babsam Han blends original features with heritage inspired designs.
07:39What I love about this place is how it captures the essence of Daria.
07:44Heritage, culture and beauty all in one.
07:47Each suite here reflects Daria's history.
07:52Crafted with natural materials and decorative touches.
07:56This royal suite perfectly balances tradition and luxury.
08:00A colourful space that feels truly part of Daria's story.
08:04Just outside Riyadh, in the desert area of Al Muzamiyah, I am meeting Salma Tari, a skilled rider and Arabian horse enthusiast.
08:18Known online as La Cavliere Eligon, she has inspired over a million followers across Saudi Arabia and beyond with her epic cinematic videos.
08:28Today she has something special lined up for me.
08:35Hello Salma, thank you so much for having me today.
08:38Thank you, it's really nice to have you here.
08:40This is absolutely incredible, what are we doing today?
08:43Thank you, so I'm happy to have you in our stable called Chalifat and Naj.
08:47And first of all I will give you a little tour and then I will let you have your first experience with an Arabian horse.
08:54And the last part, I will be riding in the desert.
08:56OK, let's get straight to it.
08:59Let's go.
09:01Arabian horses are known for their unique appearance, strength and gentle nature.
09:06Let me introduce you to our mares.
09:08Yes.
09:09So most of our mares are located on this side.
09:12So we separate the mares and the stallions and we also bring them to be calm and relaxed.
09:18So when the students come and train with our horses, they are comfortable because Arabian horses are quite nervous.
09:24That's why we only let our students to ride the females.
09:29Arabian horses are famous for beauty shows or for endurance.
09:33When it comes to endurance horses, we train them to canter for a very long distance.
09:38And only Arabian horses can ride up to 160 kilometres.
09:41Salma takes me further around the stables where beautiful Arabian horses are everywhere.
09:47As you can see on my left, we have some mares and we can put them together.
09:53And they're all fine. They're all fine.
09:55Yes. It says a lot, doesn't it? The females are the relaxed ones.
09:59Exactly.
10:00We get on very well. And then you have the stallions against each other.
10:02And you cannot do that with stallions. If you put them together, it's just impossible. They will be fighting.
10:08Salma brings me closer to these beautiful creatures so I can get to know them better.
10:14We feed them dates, a favourite treat, and it's easy to see how much they're loved and cared for here.
10:20Next, we head to the training area where a horse and riding gear are waiting for me.
10:24Before we begin, Salma shares a few tips on how to approach a horse safely.
10:30So first of all, I need to give you a little bit of guidance, okay?
10:34So when it comes to horses, always come from the front side, not the back side, okay?
10:39Especially if you do not know the horse, it might kick.
10:42And always try to make some noise so the horse is alert and knows that you are around him, okay?
10:48With Salma's help, I climb into the saddle. It's a little higher than I expected.
10:52But once I'm up, there's an incredible sense of calm and connection.
10:57Let me show you how we hold the reins. So we put your hands like this inside, like that.
11:02And the same thing on the other side, okay?
11:05You can really sense the horse's strength, her gentleness and intelligence.
11:11But I must admit, it's hard to tell who's guiding who.
11:15And I want you to keep the horse head straight. Come towards me. Yes.
11:20Yes. And when you're in front of me, you stop the horse.
11:25We leave the stables behind and head out into the open desert.
11:29Riding through the sand dunes with Salma feels like something out of a dream.
11:34The landscape, the lights and the beautiful horse beneath me feel truly special.
11:39As the sun is setting here in Saudi Arabia, I'm reflecting on what an incredible experience this has been.
11:47I mean, horse riding in the desert, it doesn't get much better than this.
11:51But now, onto the next adventure.
11:52To the Sun X Adventure.
11:53To the Sun X Adventure.
12:10So here's what books it looks like, yes, maybe one of the best,
12:13what a whole run of sirenines.
Yorumlar