Most pilgrims come to Makkah and Madinah knowing the names of these places and very little else about how to reach them. They are spread across two cities, several are outside the built-up area, and the ones worth the most time are rarely the ones nearest the hotel.
A Ziyarat trip is a half day with a car and driver who knows the route. You visit the sites in a sensible order, and the vehicle waits at every stop — which sounds like a small thing until you are standing at Jabal Uhud in forty degrees trying to find a taxi back with three children.
The two trips
MAKKAH
Makkah Ziyarat
Half day · around 3 to 4 hours
- Jabal al-Nour — the mountain of the Cave of Hira
- Jabal Thawr — the mountain of the Cave of Thawr
- Mina and the Jamarat — the tent city, empty outside Hajj
- Arafat and Jabal al-Rahmah
- Muzdalifah
- Masjid Aisha at Taneem
- Jannat al-Mu'alla
MADINAH
Madinah Ziyarat
Half day · around 3 to 4 hours
- Masjid Quba — the first mosque built in Islam
- Masjid al-Qiblatain
- The Seven Mosques area
- Jabal Uhud and the martyrs' cemetery
- Jannat al-Baqi
- Masjid Dhul Hulayfah at Abyar Ali — the meeqat
- A date farm, if you want one
Adding Wadi-e-Jinn
The Madinah trip can be extended to include Wadi-e-Jinn, around 40 km out of the city, where cars appear to roll uphill. It adds well over an hour and it is a different fare, so tell us when you book rather than asking the driver on the day.
How the trip runs
- Collection from your hotel At a time you choose. Early morning and after Asr are the two sensible windows — the middle of the day is uncomfortably hot at the outdoor sites for most of the year.
- The sites in a sensible order The route is planned so you are not crossing the city twice. If you only have time for some of the stops, say so at the start and the driver will prioritise.
- The driver waits at every stop This is the part that matters. You are not released at each site to find your own way onward — the same vehicle and the same driver are there when you come back.
- Back to your hotel Or on to the Haram if you would rather go straight to prayer. Either is fine, and neither changes the fare.
What to know before you go
Ziyarat is not part of Umrah. None of these visits are a requirement of Umrah or Hajj, and your pilgrimage is complete without them. Pilgrims visit because these places carry the history of the early community, not because a rite depends on it.
Several sites are viewed rather than entered. Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah are open plains outside the Hajj days. Jabal al-Nour and Jabal Thawr are mountains with long, steep climbs — the great majority of pilgrims view them from the base, and on a half-day trip there is not time to climb either.
Access at the cemeteries varies. Visiting hours and who may enter at Jannat al-Mu'alla and Jannat al-Baqi are set by the authorities and change from time to time. Your driver will tell you the position on the day.
Dress for outdoors. Most of the trip is spent outside the vehicle in open ground. Water, sun cover and shoes you can walk in make a large difference.
Choosing your vehicle
The fare is for the whole vehicle, not per person, so families travelling together pay once. Groups often book a Hiace or a Coaster and split the fare among themselves, which works out considerably cheaper than separate cars.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 4 | A couple or a small family |
| Hyundai Staria | 7 | A family travelling together |
| GMC Yukon XL | 7 | A family wanting more comfort |
| Toyota Hiace | 11 | Extended family or a small group |
| Toyota Coaster | 19 | A group travelling as one |
| Coach | 44 | A full tour group |
What the fare covers
Included
- The whole vehicle, however many of you travel
- Collection from and return to your hotel
- Waiting time at every stop
- A driver who knows the route and the sites
- Fuel and tolls
Not included
- A guide. The driver takes you to each site and can point things out, but he is not a religious scholar and will not be giving a lecture at each stop.
- Meals, refreshments or anything bought at the sites
- Wadi-e-Jinn, which is a different fare
- Stops beyond the trip — tell us beforehand and we will quote
Booking a Ziyarat trip
Message us with the city, the date, roughly what time you would like to start, and how many are travelling. Say if you want Wadi-e-Jinn added. We reply with a fixed fare, usually within minutes.
Most pilgrims book this for a day when they have no other travel — it sits naturally between arriving and moving on. If your schedule is tight, tell us how long you have and we will say honestly whether it fits.
Planning your Ziyarat?
Tell us the city and the date. We will confirm a fixed fare, with the driver waiting at every stop.
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September 22, 2026