Across No.1 TRAVEL / HIS travel agency

Daily schedule for prayer day

Umrah

Compared to the Hajj, it is possible to travel in a shorter period of time, there is no need to sleep in a tent, and you can stay in a comfortable hotel with your family, making it easier for a wider range of people to participate in terms of time commitment and physical strain, so for those who cannot take long holidays, those with children, and the elderly, we recommend that you first participate in Umrah. The Umrah ceremony takes place at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and takes about three hours.

Hajj

The Hajj ritual is a sign of absolute and total submission to the will of Allah, and was ordained by Allah. The Hajj ritual takes place from December 8th to 13th of the Islamic calendar, and the pilgrimage month of December is called Dhul Hijjah. During this period, participants will stay overnight in tents (except for the 9th of Dhul Hijjah), and will stay in large tents separated by gender. All three meals will be provided by catering from Saudi Arabia.

Hajj

Dhul Hijjah 8th

Pilgrims travel from Mecca to the Minar tent villages where they stay overnight.

Dhul Hijjah 9th

This is the most important day of the Hajj period. Pilgrims move from Mina Tent Village to Arafah area during the day. Then, at night, they move from Arafah area to Muzdalifah and stay there until the next morning (no tents/waiting outside).

Dhul Hijjah 10th

Pilgrims return to the Minar Tent Village to throw stones. After throwing stones, they head to the Mecca Grand Mosque and perform the Tawafifada. After that, they return to the Minar Tent Village and stay overnight.

Dhul Hijjah 11th

First day of stoning

Dhul Hijjah 12th

Day 2 of stoning

Dhul Hijjah 13th

Last day of stoning Pilgrims return to their accommodation in Mecca.

Tourist Information

Mecca

Mecca is the holiest site in Islam, visited by approximately 2 million pilgrims from around the world every year, and is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has been proactive in attracting foreign tourists, but Mecca is still off-limits to non-Muslims. Contrary to the sound of the word "holy land," it is a modern city with impressive skyscrapers surrounding the mosque.

Medina

Located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, it is the second holiest place in Islam after Mecca. It means "the city of the prophet" in Arabic, and the Prophet's Mosque in the center of the city is famous as the mausoleum of the prophet Muhammad. It is easily accessible from Jeddah and Mecca, and like Jeddah, it is a gateway for pilgrims with many international flights arriving and departing.

Jeddah

Located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, it is the second most populous coastal city in the country (after Riyadh). As the gateway to the holy city of Mecca, it has many international flights and is popular as a resort overlooking the Red Sea. As a tourist destination, it is also attractive for its photogenic scenery created by Islamic architecture houses with distinctive decorative windows, such as the Al Balad district (old town), which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taif

Located in the western part of Saudi Arabia, Taif is the sixth most populous city in the country. Taif, located at an altitude of 1,879m, is famous as a summer resort and a flower-producing region, and is called the "City of Roses" in the spring and the "Summer Capital" in the summer. Many tourists from both within and outside of Saudi Arabia visit the city to see the Rose Festival in April, when the Damask roses are in full bloom.

AlUla

A desert oasis located in northwestern Saudi Arabia. In ancient times, it flourished as a trading post on the "Spice Route" connecting India, the Levant (the eastern Mediterranean coastal region) and Europe, and later developed as a post town for pilgrims. In modern times, it is famous as a tourist base for the ancient city ruins of "Madain Saleh," which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is served by both domestic and international flights.

Riyadh

The modern capital of Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid growth. Riyadh means "garden" in Arabic, and is said to have originated from the fact that the city once had fertile soil. Numerous projects are currently underway, including the construction of the world's largest urban park, and further development is expected in the future. However, alongside this development, many cultural landscapes remain within the city, including forts and palaces.

Food in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, in addition to traditional local tribal cuisine such as rice topped with meat, dishes from neighboring countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey are also commonly eaten. There are also many Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Filipino restaurants, and food and drinks from global chain restaurants (McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, etc.) are also popular.

Capsa

This is the national dish of Saudi Arabia, which consists of rice cooked in stewed lamb soup topped with stewed lamb. The dish with steamed lamb on top of rice, instead of stewed lamb, is called "mandi" and is also very popular.

Saudi Arabia souvenirs

Dates

Date palm fruits. Chocolate-coated dates are a popular souvenir.

perfume

A classic souvenir. Products containing Zamzam oil are popular with both men and women.

Subha

Muslim prayer beads used during prayer.

necklace

A gold necklace in the shape of the Kaaba is popular.

Zamzam Water

Holy water from the Zamzam Well in the Masjid al-Haram. A classic Mecca souvenir.

Miswak

A traditional Arab toothbrush, often used before prayer.

Prayer Mat

Those purchased in Mecca and Medina are popular as they are said to bring good fortune.

Model of Mecca Clock Tower

A miniature model of a high-rise hotel in Mecca, boasting a height of 601m. The clock installed at the top of the tower is the largest in the world and serves as the standard of time in the Muslim world.

List of things to prepare in advance

Umrah/Visa Application Requirements

☆For all nationalities (except Syria and Yemen) and all types of participation (couples, solo travelers, etc.)
Please prepare the following image data :
Passport photo page
・front and back of residence card
・ID photo

Hajj/Visa Application Requirements

☆For Japanese nationals
・passport photo page
・ID photo
・influenza vaccination certificate
・ meningitis vaccination certificate

☆If you are a Japanese national and are participating with a foreign spouse
In addition to the above, the following two additional documents are required (only one copy per person is required).
・Residence card (front and back)
・Family register with official seal (original only / no copies) *
・English translation of family register (please prepare it yourself or ask an agency to do it)
※For details on applying for official seal verification on family register issued by local government, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

☆For people of other nationality
・participants alone In addition to the necessary items for Japanese nationals, a copy of the front and back of the residence card is required.
・For people participating with a spouse of a non-Japanese national In addition to the necessary items for Japanese nationals, please prepare the following two items.
① Copy of the front and back of the residence card
② Marriage book (marriage certificate) issued by your country's embassy in Japan or your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Common for Umrah and Hajj

☆People with only one name (no surname) Since
a Hajj/Umrah visa application requires at least two names, such as a surname and a first name, if you only have one name, you will need to have the embassy add a name to your passport (such as your father's name). For details such as how long the process will take, please contact your embassy.

※In addition to the above, you will be asked to fill out a visa application form that we will give you .
※The visa guidelines for Hajj and Umrah change so frequently that it is no exaggeration to say that they change every time. The latest information is only available to customers who have booked a tour, so please consider the above as reference information.
※We do not answer questions about visa guidelines from customers who have not booked a tour. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Important points to note during your stay & clothing guidelines for women

＜Things that cannot be brought into Saudi Arabia＞
・Alcohol: Chocolate containing mirin or liqueur, as well as Japanese soy sauce, cannot be brought in because they contain mirin.
・Drugs such as marijuana and cocaine: If found to be brought in, even a small amount will be punished with immediate death.
・Photo-related: Publications and photographs showing women naked, in swimsuits, or in underwear cannot be brought in.
・Pork products: Cup ramen and other products may contain pork in the soup, so it is safer not to bring them in.

・Do not take photos of mosques, airport facilities, military facilities, oil refineries, various factories, royal palaces, or unknown women or children. If a violation is found, you will likely be arrested by the police, detained, or deported, so please be very careful.
・Do not wear clothes that expose a lot of skin, such as shorts, except in sports facilities. Even for men, it is strictly prohibited to be topless. Women must wear an abaya (a black garment that covers the entire body) when going out. Foreigners are also required to wear one.

What is included in the tour?

Umrah

・Ihram (men only) ・5 litres of Zamzam water

Hajj

・Zamzam water 5 liters

basic information

Country

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

area

2.15 million km2 (approximately 5.7 times the size of Japan)

population

32.18 million people (2022)

capital

Riyadh

language

The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken.

time difference

The time difference with Japan is -6 hours, with Saudi Arabia being behind.

Voltage

127/230V, 50Hz

Plug Shape

Since there are many different plug types, such as A/B/BF/C, a conversion plug is required.

currency

Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR)

religion

Islam

climate

Most of the country has a desert climate, so rainfall is extremely scarce and occurs mainly in winter and spring. The climate differs by region, but it is characterized by four seasons, with temperatures dropping below 20°C in January and experiencing scorching heat in August.

Travel requirements

■UMRAH & HAJJ Visa: Visa application procedures and visa fees are included in the tour price, but you will need to prepare all the documents required for the visa application yourself.

■ Passport validity period: At least 6 months upon entry into Saudi Arabia

■ Unused visa section of passport: 2 or more pages

vaccination

When entering the country with a UMRAH & HAJJ visa, you will need to prepare vaccination certificates for meningitis and influenza vaccines. However, there are cases where children are exempt from the meningitis vaccine, so if you do not want your child to be vaccinated, please consult with the reservation staff. *Whether or not you can obtain a visa without vaccination is at the discretion of the consulate. Please note that there are cases where vaccination is required even if you do not request it.

others

■Tipping: There is a tipping culture. Tipping is not compulsory, but it is customary to give tips to local guides, local drivers, porters, etc.

■ Currency exchange: It is possible to exchange Japanese yen, but please note that there are some exchange offices that do not handle it or have extremely poor exchange rates, so please also use US dollars. Your guide will inform you of opportunities to exchange money after you arrive at the destination.

UMRAH＆HAJJ Package | Across No.1 TRAVEL

UMRAH＆HAJJ Package

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Best season

Daily schedule for prayer day

Tourist Information

Food in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia souvenirs

List of things to prepare in advance

What is included in the tour?

basic information

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