Spiritual Pilgrimage Journey

Day 1: Jeddah-Makkah (75 miles)
Arrival at Jeddah International airport, after formalities, our staff will meet you for a transfer to the Holy city of Makkah that you will reach after 1h30. Check-in & overnight in Makkah, the Holiest City.

Day 2: Makkah (The experience)
We will start the day with an early wake up to catch the “Fajr” prayer at the holy Mosque, then we head back to the hotel. Breakfast at your hotel. Then we will start an orientation tour of Makkah. Makkah is the birthplace of the Prophet and it’s the fountainhead and cradle of Islam. Visiting Makkah is an obligation upon all able Muslims, and we will complete this experience of a lifetime, focusing on the regular prayers and Ibadah on a special and holy place. According to the tradition, a prayer in the masjid is equal to 100,000 prayers in any other masjid around the world. Apart of the spiritual significance, Makkah is also a modern city, the third most populated city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and includes modern landmarks as Abraj Al Bait skyscrapers complex and Makkah Gate. After the tour of the city, we will assist to the “Zuhr” prayer, After the city tour, we assist to the “Zuhr” prayer followed by lunch at leisure. The afternoon will be devoted to rest, and attend the payers of “Aassir”; “Maghreb” & “Ishaa”. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Makkah. [B]

Day 3: Makkah (Ziyarat)
After “Fajr” prayer at Masjid al-Haram, breakfast at your hotel. This morning we will do a “Ziyarat” tour in order to perform a pilgrimage to sites associated with Muhammad, his family members and descendants, his companions and other venerated figures. During the tour we will visit: Mina (the City of Tents where are accommodated thousands of pilgrims and where is performed the Stoning of the Devil), Muzdalifah (The Sacred Grove) and Mount Arafat (the place where the Prophet stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to his Companions). During the tour we will attend the “Zuhr” prayer. Lunch in the city on your own. The afternoon will be devoted to the holy prayers and to profit of Makkah and its spirituality. Collecting the ZAMZAM water as a souvenir is a must to not forget during the procession. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Makkah. [B]

Day 4: Makkah - Madinah
After Fajr prayer at Masjid al-Haram, breakfast at your hotel and transfer to the train station to board the Haramain high-speed train to Madinah. The train was built in 2018 to connect Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah. After approximately 1.5-hour, arrival to Madinah. Madinah is the second-holiest city and also cradle of Islamic culture and civilization. Madinah is the fourth most populated city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is home to Masjid al-Haram. It is the duty of each Muslim in the world to visit at least once in his life this city and feel its spirituality. Transfer to your hotel on arrival, and If time allows us, we will rush to the ZUHR prayer. Lunch at leisure in one of the numerous restaurants of the city. The afternoon will be devoted for the prayers at the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. It has been built by Muhammad himself in 622 (the Hegira year 1). Islamic scriptures emphasize the sacredness of Madinah. Madinah is mentioned several times in the Quran, two examples are Surah At-Tawbah. verse 101 and Al-Hashr. verse 8. Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is the burial site for Muhammad and his companions, the caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar. It is the second largest mosque in the world and the only one with 10 minarets. The Green Dome is built to cover the holy tombs. After that long day. Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Madinah. [B]

Day 5: Madinah, Jeddah , USA
This last day is also dedicated for prayers, but after the Fajr prayer and the breakfast, we will visit the city of Madinah. We will start with the visit of Quba Mosque (the oldest mosque in the world, dated to the lifetime of the Prophet, its first stones were positioned by him as soon as he arrived on his emigration from Makkah to Madinah), Masjid al-Qiblatayn (where Muhammad received the command to change the Qibla from Al Quds to Makkah), Masjid al-Fath (one of the Seven attached mosques) and Jannat Al-Baqi' (cemetery which contains the graves of some of the Prophet's family and companions. Then lunch in the city on your own. Transfer to the train station to catch the train in the afternoon to Jeddah that will take in less than 2 hours to Jeddah the capital of the Red Sea. Depending on your flight schedule, you will check in at Jeddah International airport for your return journey or continue another journey in SAUDI ARABIA now that the religious duties are performed! [B]

[B] = Breakfast

USEFUL INFORMATION

Food & Drinks
Local food is often strongly flavored and spicy. The most common meats are lamb and chicken, beef is rare and pork is forbidden under Islamic law. The main meat meal of the day is lunch. Foreign cooking is on offer in larger towns and the whole range of international cuisine, including fast food, is available in the oil-producing Eastern Province and in Jeddah. All water from the tap should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Bottled water is cheap and safe. Fresh milk is pasteurized but powdered or boxed milk is also available as an alternative. Avoid dairy products, which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be washed and fruit peeled.

Tipping
The practice of tipping is becoming much more common and waiters should be given 10%

Weather
Saudi Arabia has a desert climate. In seaside Jeddah, it is warm for most of the year, though winter is probably the most pleasant time for a visit. Riyadh, which is inland, is hotter in summer and colder in winter when occasional heavy rainstorms occur. Early spring and late autumn are lovely times to visit this desert capital. The Rub al Khali, or "Empty Quarter," seldom receives rain, making Saudi Arabia one of the driest countries in the world.

Clothing
Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and light trousers, sun hats, and sturdy shoes. Travelers should check the weather forecast when preparing for their vacation to Saudi Arabia. The weather gets pretty hot in the summer, so wearing clothes made from natural fabrics like cotton and linen can help ease your discomfort.
Women travelers are not required to wear an Abaya and head covering, but they should cover as much flesh as possible and wear opaque clothing to avoid drawing unwelcome attention. Foreign women can also walk out in public without a scarf, save at religious locations such as mosques.

Internet
The Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephones provide internet facilities in most cities. But email can also be accessed from many hotels and internet cafes.

Electricity and Plug Standards
Electrical sockets in Saudi Arabia are Type G (BS-1363). If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug-adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types. Electrical sockets in Saudi Arabia usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC/ 60 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230-volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.