Jeddah, being Saudi Arabia's second-largest city, is also known for being the main entry point, either by air or sea, for pilgrims performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, the two most sacred cities of Islam. Furthermore, the historic Jeddah has also been etched into UNESCO World Heritage list since 2014. Aside from that, tourists will find Jeddah a beautiful country with its shopping districts, restaurants and cafes.

Best time to fly from Butuan to Jeddah

Jeddah experiences an arid climate, or desert climate, with a tropical temperature range. Unlike other Saudi Arabian cities, Jeddah maintains its warm temperature during winter, which ranges from 15 degrees Celcius to 28 degrees Celcius. It is extremely hot during summer, often rises until the 43 degrees Celcius mark in the afternoon and drops to 30 degrees Celcius in the evening. Not only that, but summers are also quite steamy with dew points often exceeding 27 degrees Celcius particularly in September. In November and December, Jeddah experiences sparse rainfall in general while heavy thunderstorms are frequent during winter. The best time to visit Jeddah would be from late October to March as the weather is not extreme and temperatures are between 10 and 20 degrees. However, tourists should be alert for any warnings on dust storms which happen in summer and sometimes in winter.

Main airports available in Butuan and Jeddah

Bancasi Airport – Bancasi Airport is a domestic airport that serves the city of Butuan. This airport is located at Agusan del Norte, Philippines, serving flight routes to and from Cebu and Manila. The airlines operating in Bancasi Airport are limited to only Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airline’s PAL Express. The flights from Butuan to Manila take around an hour while flights to Cebu take 45 minutes. Since the Philippines' two major international airports are located in those cities respectively, tourists can either travel to other countries or fly domestically to other islands in the Philippines. Bancasi Aiport offers facilities such as eateries and shops to buy souvenirs.

King Abdulaziz International Airport – Named after King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the airport is an international airport serving Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is located 19km to the north of Jeddah. The airport is Saudi Arabia’s busiest airport and the third-largest airport in the kingdom. Some of the airlines that operate in the airport include Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, Air Cairo, AirAsia, Afriqiyah Airways and many more. The airport features Hajj Terminal, which was specially built for Muslim pilgrims going to Mecca annually to perform Hajj. The airport’s design has also earned it the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for its tent-like roof structure. Furthermore, the airport offers facilities such as airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options and nearby hotels.

Climate pattern in Butuan and Jeddah

The climate in Jeddah is typically dry and hot throughout the year, fitting its arid climate or also known as a desert climate. The summers are long, scorching, dry and partly cloudy while the winters are short, warm, windy yet mostly clear. The average maximum temperature in Jeddah is about 34 degrees Celcius while the average minimum temperature is about 23 degrees Celcius. Tourists are advised to check the weather alerts to avoid harsh dust storms.

Highlights attractions in Jeddah

• King Fahd’s Fountain – Towering at 1,024 feet for more than thirty years now is this iconic structure, that is also known as Jeddah Fountain. This structure is located on the coast and has been known as one of Jeddah's main landmarks. This fountain is also the tallest fountain in the world. At night, over 500 high-density spotlights are used to illuminate the fountain. Hence, it’ll provide a pretty view for visitors to see.
• Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque (Floating Mosque) – Millions of visitors flock this place every year, particularly during high tides. The mesmerizing white mosque is constructed on pillars that are rooted underwater, giving off the impression of the building floating on the sea. Despite it being one of Jeddah’s top attractions, the mosque is still fully functional as many Muslims use it for prayers. However, it is also open for tourists to take photographs or look around.
• Al-Shallal Theme Park – Al-Shalal is more of a resort than a theme park and it attracts hundreds of visitors, both locals and tourists, every day. Located by the Red Sea, this park features man-made lakes and waterfall dotting the grounds with roller coasters and other fun rides spread out between them. Due to the fact that the park is situated very close to the sea, the highest point of any rides provides beautiful views for visitors. If the heat is starting to get to you, you can always freshen up and recharge at one of the several restaurants available there or the two-storey mall which amazingly includes a bowling alley and an ice skating rink!