Going from Madinah to Makkah for Umrah is a different trip from the reverse one, because it has a fixed religious stop in the middle: the miqat. This page explains how that stop fits into the day, so the journey from the Prophet's Mosque to the Haram runs the way the pilgrim intends.
Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) on the way
Pilgrims travelling from Madinah to Makkah for Umrah commonly enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah, also called Abyar Ali, a short drive out of Madinah on the road towards Makkah. Tell us when you book. We will plan to stop there and give you time to prepare, pray and set off again.
Questions about the rites themselves, or about whether you should enter ihram, are for your group leader or a qualified scholar. We provide the transport and the stop.
Preparing before you leave the hotel
Many pilgrims wash and put on ihram clothing at the hotel and only pray and make the intention at the miqat. Others do everything at the miqat, which has facilities. Either way, tell us your plan so we give you the right amount of time there.
After the miqat
Once in ihram, the rest of the drive is about 450 km. With the miqat stop the whole trip typically takes five and a half hours or more. You will want to stop for water and the toilet, so ask the driver, and plan on a longer day than the map shows.
Send your pickup, destination, date and passengers and we will confirm the vehicle and price.
Arriving in Makkah in ihram
Many pilgrims go straight to the Haram to perform Umrah on arrival. The roads and the vehicle access near the Masjid al-Haram change with crowd levels, so your drop-off may be a short walk from the hotel or the Haram. Tell us whether you want the hotel first (to leave bags) or the Haram first. Decide before you arrive where your bags will go.
Coming from Madinah Airport instead
If you land at Madinah Airport and go straight to Makkah, see Madinah Airport to Makkah. If you want to travel from Madinah to Jeddah and fly home, see Madinah to Jeddah.
Entering ihram on this journey
For travellers heading to Makkah for Umrah, the natural place to assume ihram is the Miqat at Dhul Hulayfah, known locally as Abyar Ali. It sits on the outskirts of Madinah, so it fits neatly into this journey. You can arrive already wearing ihram or change at the mosque there. Please check with your own scholar or tour operator about the rules that apply to you.
What we can do is make the stop easy: tell us you want to stop at the Miqat and we will adjust the pickup time. Facilities at the mosque there are busy at peak periods, so give the group extra time.
Do not arrive in Makkah without a plan for the last kilometre
After roughly 450 km, drivers and passengers alike are tired, and the last kilometre into Makkah is often the slowest. Have your hotel's name, location and phone number ready before the car reaches the city, and confirm with them whether early check-in is available. If it is not, plan to leave bags with reception and head for the Haram, rather than waiting in a car that cannot stop.
What the road is like
The highway between the two holy cities is long and mostly straight, passing desert, lava fields and small towns with fuel stations. It is well maintained, but fatigue is a real risk for any driver, and a second stop at the midpoint is sensible. If your plan includes an evening arrival in Makkah, leave in the morning so that the driver is not running on an empty tank of sleep.