00:00I'm Lily Dowse and this is Grand Voyager.
00:05From my base in Qatar, I travel the world to discover incredible places filled with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way, I meet the people, taste the flavours and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.
00:21Субтитры делал DimaTorzok
00:51Known as the City of Earth for its distinctive mudbrick architecture, it's built from the very soil it sits upon
00:58I'm here to discover its timeless beauty, from ancient roots to modern hospitality, and explore what makes this place truly remarkable
01:08To start my journey, I've arranged to meet Sarah Alfrayan, a cultural guide with a deep passion for local heritage
01:17Sarah, thank you so much for showing me around today, this 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 Dereya
01:29We are now in the Treyf district
01:31As you can see, it actually has the real culture of Najdi, architectural, and authenticity of our traditions
01:39Also, at Treyf, it's gained the world UNESCO recognition for this site
01:45At Treyf spans 160,000 square meters, and is one of the largest heritage restoration projects in the region
01:53Wandering through its walkways and courtyards with Sarah, I can almost picture what life was once like here
02:00This district was home to mosques, schools, and family houses
02:05A thriving community long before Riyadh became the nation's capital
02:09At its center stands Salwa Palace, the largest structure in At Treyf
02:16This is one of the important places that you should see
02:20This wasn't only a residential home for the ruler
02:24It was actually the administrative and the political center from the first Saudi state
02:30That is incredible, what an amazing building
02:34At Treyf gives a real glimpse into Saudi Arabia's past
02:38Fully restored, yet still full of life and tradition
02:42Close by, that same heritage continues in a different way, through food
02:49Sarah has invited me to a local restaurant to try some authentic Saudi flavors
02:54Here, traditional dishes are given a modern touch
02:59It's a perfect way to end my experience with Sarah
03:02Let me do that for you, Lily
03:05I want to take care of you today
03:08And to welcome you to our signature dishes
03:12Thank you so much, you truly have welcomed me
03:16And 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
03:32Saudi warmth is about more than just generosity
03:36It's deeply rooted in the culture
03:38The food and Sarah's kindness reflect the spirit that defines life here
03:44After an incredible meal, I'm heading off to see another side of Dorea
03:49Not far from here lies Wadi Safar
03:54A 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
04:05Blending local heritage with contemporary design
04:09My coach today is Callum, an experienced golf instructor
04:12And we're starting with some practice at the club's brand new driving range
04:17Hello Callum, it's such a pleasure to meet you
04:20Good morning Lily, lovely to have you
04:22I'm so excited to be here, what is in store for me today?
04:25So in store we have a warm-up area on the driving range first
04:28Before we head over to the putting green
04:30Get 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, okay
04:43So the left hand would go at the top of the golf club
04:45With our left thumb running down towards the club head
04:48Next would be aim
04:49So this part of the golf club here is the club face, okay
04:52So 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
04:59To the intended target line on the driving range
05:02There's a lot to think about
05:03How to hold the club
05:04How to line it up
05:06And how to stay loose and relaxed
05:08As I become more confident
05:10Callum shows me how to bring it all together
05:12When we put that back down and we take that stronger grip
05:16That's what it's called
05:17Yeah
05:17When you make your motion off the swing
05:19The club face is then squarer at the point of impact
05:22Okay
05:23Grip's looking good
05:24Now just focus your eyes on that golf ball
05:27Keep that head nice and still
05:28And strike down towards the ground
05:30Good
05:30Well 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
05:42It's time to head out onto the course
05:44To put it all together
05:46A few good shots later
05:50And 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
05:58After an incredible day out on the course
06:02I'm heading to get a better view of it all
06:04It's been such a rewarding experience
06:08And I want to take in this beautiful landscape
06:10From 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
06:22Not far from here lies Wadi Hanifa
06:27A long green valley that winds through the heart of the old city
06:31Once an oasis in the desert
06:35It'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
06:48Just a short ride away stands Bab Samhan Hotel
06:55A luxurious retreat with real historical roots
06:59Miss Lily, welcome to Bab Samhan
07:03The hotel's general manager, Fabrice Ducray
07:06Is here to tell me more about the story behind the hotel
07:09The hotel itself actually is a historical site
07:13It started off in the Ministry of Culture
07:17Wanting to renovate a few houses, nudge the houses
07:19And then one thing led to the other
07:22That's turned into the hotel that it is today
07:25What began as a simple restoration project
07:29Has evolved into one of Doria's most remarkable hotels
07:33Bab Samhan blends original features
07:36With heritage-inspired designs
07:38What I love about this place
07:42Is how it captures the essence of Doria
07:44Heritage, culture and beauty all in one
07:48Each suite here reflects Doria's history
07:51Crafted with natural materials and decorative touches
07:55This royal suite perfectly balances tradition and luxury
08:00A colourful space that feels truly part of Doria's story
08:04Just outside Riyadh, in the desert area of Al-Muzamia
08:12I'm meeting Salma Tari, a skilled rider and Arabian horse enthusiast
08:17Known online as La Cavliere Al-Igon
08:21She has inspired over a million followers
08:24Across Saudi Arabia and beyond
08:26With her epic cinematic videos
08:28Today she has something special lined up for me
08:34Hello 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
08:42What are we doing today?
08:43Thank you, so I'm happy to have you in our stable
08:46Called Charifat and Nudge
08:47And first of all, I will give you a little tour
08:49And then I will let you have your first experience with an Arabian horse
08:53And the last part, I will be riding in the desert
08:56Okay, let's get straight to it
08:58Let's go
08:59Arabian horses are known for their unique appearance
09:03Strength and gentle nature
09:05Let me introduce you to our mares
09:07Yes
09:08So most of our mares are located on this side
09:11So we separate the mares and the stallions
09:13And we also train them to be calm and relaxed
09:17So when the students come and train with our horses
09:20They are comfortable
09:22Because Arabian horses are quite nervous
09:24That's why we only let our students to ride females
09:28Arabian horses are famous for beauty shows
09:31Or for endurance
09:32When it comes to endurance horses
09:34We train them to canter for a very long distance
09:37And only Arabian horses can ride up to 160 kilometers
09:41Salma takes me further around the stables
09:44Where beautiful Arabian horses are everywhere
09:46As you can see on my left
09:49We have some mares
09:50And we can put them together
09:52And they're all fine
09:54They're all fine
09:54It says a lot, doesn't it?
09:56The females are the relaxed ones
09:58Exactly
09:59We get on very well
10:00And then you have the stallions against each other
10:03And you cannot do that with stallions
10:04If you put them together, it's just impossible
10:07They will be fighting
10:08Salma brings me closer to these beautiful creatures
10:11So I can get to know them better
10:13We feed them dates
10:15A favorite treat
10:16And it's easy to see how much they're loved and cared for here
10:20Next we head to the training area
10:22Where a horse and riding gear are waiting for me
10:25Before we begin, Salma shares a few tips
10:27On how to approach a horse safely
10:29So first of all, I need to give you a little bit of guidance
10:33So when it comes to horses
10:35Always come from the front side
10:37Not the back side
10:38Especially if you do not know the horse
10:40It might kick
10:41And always try to make some noise
10:43So the horse is alert
10:45And knows that you are around him
10:47With Salma's help, I climb into the saddle
10:50It's a little higher than I expected
10:52But once I'm up
10:53There's an incredible sense of calm and connection
10:56Let me show you how we hold the reins
10:58So when you put your hands like this inside
11:00Like that
11:01And the same thing on the other side
11:04Okay?
11:06You can really sense the horse's strength
11:08Her gentleness and intelligence
11:11But I must admit
11:12It's hard to tell who's guiding who
11:15And I want you to keep the horse head straight
11:18Come towards me
11:20Yes, and when you're in front of me
11:21You stop the horse
11:22We leave the stables behind
11:26And head out into the open desert
11:28Riding through the sand dunes with Salma
11:31Feels like something out of a dream
11:33The landscape, the light
11:35And the beautiful horse beneath me
11:37Feel truly special
11:39As the sun is setting here in Saudi Arabia
11:42I'm reflecting on what an incredible experience
11:45This has been
11:46I mean horse riding in the desert
11:48It doesn't get much better than this
11:50But now, on to the next adventure
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