Ain Zubaidah stands as a testament to ancient engineering, a water system commissioned over 1,200 years ago by Zubaidah, wife of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Moved by the plight of pilgrims, she ordered the creation of a complex network to channel water from the Al-Kar mountains to the holy sites of Makkah. This 35-kilometre feat of engineering combined underground channels, surface aqueducts, and deep reservoirs, some reaching 40 metres underground, to traverse the arid landscape. Though time has left much of the original structure in fragments, sections have been restored, including a major renovation in the 1920s. The system's scale remains awe-inspiring, with its gentle gradients, 132 inspection chambers, and strategic storage tanks. Today, visitors can explore remnants of the conduits in the foothills around Makkah, a tangible link to a visionary project that sustained generations of pilgrims.

A trip to Charleston must include a sail ride on The Schooner Pride. The pleasant and relaxing sailing boat offers a variety of events, both private and corporate, which are followed by a range of activities, from Afternoon Dolphin Sail to Moonlight Sail. The professional and courteous crew contribute to the great experience by narrating compelling stories about the area.

11th-century Moorish walls enclose a mosque converted into a stunning chapel. Here you can find Arab baths with star-shaped skylights, lush gardens, and a Renaissance-style palace with a camera obscura for amazing city views.