In a series of Lonely Planet blog posts that promises to be fascinating, LP writer Frances Linzee Gordon is publishing her experiences traveling as a single woman traveling in Saudi Arabia for an upcoming guide on the Arabian peninsula. Gordon was the first person ever granted a visa to travel independently – something readers may have a hard time duplicating, as the government insists on guides to accompany travelers, and Gordon had to call in a favor from some anonymous (but apparently high-ranking) source in order to get clearance. Other things that tourists aren’t allowed to do in Saudi Arabia: bring in alcohol, pork, and any of a long list of books, movies and music that might have objectionable content, openly practice or profess any religion other than Islam, or have evidence of visiting Israel in their passport. Women must wear an abeya (full-body cloak) at all times, and preferably a head scarf. Non-Muslims can be deported for entering Mecca or Medina; even Hajjis making their once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca aren’t allowed to travel freely through the kingdom. Definitely not your typical guidebook assignment. There’s one post up so far, and seven more to follow.

– Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
– Saudi Arabia Travel Guide (Wikitravel)