Tourist guides make our travels more memorable as they enlighten us with their knowledge about the places we visit. In Saudi Arabia, one of the more memorable tourist guides I’ve had the pleasure of meeting is Mr. Khalid Alsherbi.
It was in the spring of 2021 when I first met Khalid in Taif, Saudi Arabia. He was our tour guide on our first trip outside of Riyadh after the quarantined days of the pandemic. Masks were still required back then but he welcomed us with his big, charming smile and assured us that we were going to have a great time in Taif. And indeed, we did.
Khalid Alsherbi has been an officially licensed tour guide in Saudi Arabia since 2010, long before the tourism sector boomed in the country a few years ago. It all started when he saw an ad in the newspaper from the tourism authority asking, “Are you passionate? Do you want to meet new people and tell them how wonderful the Kingdom is?”. He loudly answered “Yes!” and he went on to pursue his passion from there. More recently, he was also certified as an international trainer for tourist guides from the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations: WFTGA.
He currently offers private and VIP tours to a number of destinations in Saudi Arabia – such as Alula, Jeddah, Jizan, Farasan Islands, Neom, and his hometown of Taif. He is also a frequent tour leader in Hail and Aljouf. During our tour with Khalid, I remember him as very eloquent and knowledgeable about the places that we visited, often offering insights on the history and significance of the places we went to. The car rides with him were especially fun as he even introduced us to some classic Arabic music like “Coco” by Muhammad Zuwaid, whose catchy lyrics I still remember up to this day.
Challenges can sometimes occur in group tours and Khalid has had his fair share of them. For example, some sites can close without prior notice and therefore he needs to be flexible and always have a Plan B. Khalid adds, “Planning, leading, time management, and caring for the guests make a big difference in any tour. Through my years of experience, I have learned how to solve issues easily.”
When asked what are the Top 3 destinations in Saudi that he can recommend, he answered with: Alula, Diriyah, and historical Jeddah – mainly because they are all listed as World Heritage Sites in UNESCO.
“In Alula, you will be delighted with its heritage of the ancient kingdoms that ruled this part of Arabia. The masterpieces of the Nabateans, Danans, and Lihyans are evident in the remains that we see today, yet that is only 6% of the ongoing excavations.
In Diriyah, you will witness the renovated site of the first ever Saudi state, a city that is rich with history and is coming back to life again.
In the historical area of Jeddah, you can see the vibrantly colored Roushan or Mashrabiah (windows) of the old houses; you can walk through the Hajj route that is headed towards Makkah with different shops.
Of course, I want to add my hometown of Taif as a must-see destination as well. We have the Rose Festival every year and it’s a city full of Islamic history and natural landmarks too.”
For Khalid, he believes that tourism is a very promising sector in Saudi Arabia, especially with Vision 2030 in mind. He hopes that tourists will see how generous, humble, kind, and unique Saudi people are. “Saudi Arabia is an amazing country. We have a lot to show the world. From our cold mountain cities covered with wild juniper trees, to the outstanding deserts, to the marine life in the Red Sea – we have a diverse landscape. Our culture, folkloric activities, and cuisine are all ready to be discovered. Most of all, I want tourists to experience the Saudi hospitality that they will never forget.”
Khalid Alsherbi
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