Taif to Makkah is a descent from the highlands to the Haram, and for a pilgrim it also crosses a miqat. This page is about that: the stop at Qarn al-Manazil, the mountain road down, and how to plan an Umrah trip that begins in Taif.
Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl al-Kabir)
Travellers coming down from Taif commonly pass Qarn al-Manazil, also known as As-Sayl al-Kabir, the miqat for people on this road. Tell us when you book if you need to stop there to enter ihram. The road we take is chosen so that it passes the miqat, and we leave time for you to prepare and pray.
For any question about the rites, consult your group leader or a qualified scholar. We arrange the journey and the stop.
Send your pickup, destination, date and passengers and we will confirm the vehicle and price.
Going down the mountain
The 90 km road descends from the highlands through steep and winding sections to the plain around Makkah. It takes about an hour and a half. If anyone in the group is unwell on bends or nervous on mountain roads, tell us, and we will take it more slowly and stop if needed.
Leaving Taif
Resorts and hotels in Taif can be some way up side roads. Give us the name and a location pin, and be ready at the agreed time, since mountain roads leave less room for waiting. If you are travelling for Umrah, tell us the time you want to reach Makkah, and we will work back from it.
Planning Umrah from Taif
People staying in Taif often go to Makkah for one day and return. Decide whether you want a driver who waits or a return pickup at a set time. Umrah can take several hours, longer at busy times. If you are moving to a Makkah hotel instead, agree the check-in time so you do not arrive before the room is ready.
Arriving in Makkah
Vehicle access around the Masjid al-Haram changes with crowd levels, so we confirm the nearest practical drop-off for your hotel. Send us the hotel name beforehand. If you are arriving by air at Taif, see Taif Airport to Makkah.
Heading down at the end of a Taif stay
The descent from Taif to Makkah is the reverse of the climb, and it brings its own planning issues. Many visitors leave in the afternoon, so the road down fills with weekend traffic, and they arrive in Makkah around evening prayers when the central area is busy. If you have a hotel booking, check the check-in policy so that you are not left waiting with luggage.
Pilgrims who have been to Taif for a break and are returning to Makkah to complete or begin Umrah may pass the Miqat of Qarn al-Manazil, also called As-Sail al-Kabir. Tell us if you want to stop there.
Dressing for the change in climate
The temperature rises as the road drops, and a jacket that was welcome in Taif can be uncomfortable in the car after an hour. Keep it where you can reach it, and carry water in the cabin. If you are in ihram for Umrah, plan accordingly, since fewer layers are permitted.
A pickup from the hills
Taif hotels and guesthouses are spread across hillsides and quiet neighbourhoods, and some sit on streets too narrow or steep for a large vehicle. If yours is one of them, the driver may ask you to meet at the nearest main road, so ask your host where a car can wait. A map pin is more reliable than an address, because street names in Taif are not always signposted clearly.
If you are staying in a rented villa or farm stay, give us the owner's phone number as well as your own, in case the gate is locked or the lane is unmarked.
Making Umrah the same day
Residents of Taif sometimes drive down in the morning, perform Umrah and return in the evening. The road takes about an hour and a half each way, so the day is long. If you plan this, leave early, agree a pickup time for the return in advance and keep in mind that the Haram is busiest around prayers. Elderly passengers may prefer an overnight stay in Makkah so that Umrah is not rushed.