Hajj Tours and Packages - A Guide
Every year thousands of muslims undertake the holy journey to the holy place called Mecca and Madina. This is for their most important rather mandatory pilgrimage of their life time, Hajj. Every muslim aspires to go on hajj atleast once in their lifetime as it is considered mandatory for any muslim who is physically, mentally and financially fit. As hajj is a long tour, there are a many a preparations to be managed. Preparation time usually has to start three to 4 months in advance.
There are many a preparations to be done if you are travelling on your own. This includes your visa, residential and commuting arrangements. Though, it is always advisable that as this trip is a long trip and involves a lot of expenditure, one goes with hajj tours and packages provided by many a travel companies. There are a variety of packages available and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Most of the Hajj tours and travels are reliable ones but its always better that one reconfirms the fact. The reason being, in the past there have been a few fraudulent companies that had been there. The Saudi Government is very strict though and has banned most of the travel companies which were providing facilities below the Saudi Standards. One of the important points to be kept in mind and enquired from a travel agency you choose is at Mecca and Madina, the stay has to be near by only so that commuting becomes easier. Also, there people mostly speak Arabic, so an interpreter has to be along all the time for hassle free routines. Also, know the mode of transport between Mecca and Madina because many of us are not aware about that fact that if the tour agency is providing a bus drive from Mecca to Madina it would be highly hectic. As the distance between Mecca and Madina is only 400 kms but a bus takes around 20 to 30 hrs while a car would take only 4 hrs for the same. So, you could take your own taxi from Mecca to Madina and let the travel agency know that.
Again, even when travelling by air there are coupons that you get, which you can redeem at the Jeddah airport while on your way back. Also, check up the meals that would be provided on a daily basis there. As the stay is long and if there is no variety in the food then it would really add up to loss in your appetite. Also, there are a few rituals like sacrifice which have to be done in Zul Hijjah. Some of the agents help you with the same also and perform the sacrifice on your behalf. So, enquiring about the same is also necessary. One more important point with respect to your health is that you need to know the vaccinations you have to take before visiting Saudi Arabia, because the World Health organization does issue annual guidelines with regard to these vaccinations. The same has to be enquired from the Saudi Government also. The information regarding it would be readily available with the travel agents or the Saudi Hajj Website. These are just a few of the important activities to be managed while going for Hajj. If you plan well, you will end up in a successful Hajj trip so plan.
There are many a preparations to be done if you are travelling on your own. This includes your visa, residential and commuting arrangements. Though, it is always advisable that as this trip is a long trip and involves a lot of expenditure, one goes with hajj tours and packages provided by many a travel companies. There are a variety of packages available and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Most of the Hajj tours and travels are reliable ones but its always better that one reconfirms the fact. The reason being, in the past there have been a few fraudulent companies that had been there. The Saudi Government is very strict though and has banned most of the travel companies which were providing facilities below the Saudi Standards. One of the important points to be kept in mind and enquired from a travel agency you choose is at Mecca and Madina, the stay has to be near by only so that commuting becomes easier. Also, there people mostly speak Arabic, so an interpreter has to be along all the time for hassle free routines. Also, know the mode of transport between Mecca and Madina because many of us are not aware about that fact that if the tour agency is providing a bus drive from Mecca to Madina it would be highly hectic. As the distance between Mecca and Madina is only 400 kms but a bus takes around 20 to 30 hrs while a car would take only 4 hrs for the same. So, you could take your own taxi from Mecca to Madina and let the travel agency know that.
Again, even when travelling by air there are coupons that you get, which you can redeem at the Jeddah airport while on your way back. Also, check up the meals that would be provided on a daily basis there. As the stay is long and if there is no variety in the food then it would really add up to loss in your appetite. Also, there are a few rituals like sacrifice which have to be done in Zul Hijjah. Some of the agents help you with the same also and perform the sacrifice on your behalf. So, enquiring about the same is also necessary. One more important point with respect to your health is that you need to know the vaccinations you have to take before visiting Saudi Arabia, because the World Health organization does issue annual guidelines with regard to these vaccinations. The same has to be enquired from the Saudi Government also. The information regarding it would be readily available with the travel agents or the Saudi Hajj Website. These are just a few of the important activities to be managed while going for Hajj. If you plan well, you will end up in a successful Hajj trip so plan.
