The four cities are close enough to link in one trip and far enough apart that the journey between them needs a plan. Jeddah to Makkah is an hour, Makkah to Madinah is about five, and Taif is a climb into the mountains. This page helps you choose how to travel, what each journey involves, and where the stops are.
The journeys people book most
Each route has its own page covering the details.
Between the Holy Cities
Makkah to Madinah is the longest and the most common after Umrah. Madinah to Makkah has a miqat stop at Dhul Hulayfah for pilgrims.
To and from Jeddah
Jeddah to Makkah and Makkah to Jeddah are short. Jeddah to Madinah and Madinah to Jeddah are long and often end at a flight.
To and from Taif
Makkah to Taif, Jeddah to Taif and the way back climb or descend a mountain road, and the Makkah return passes the miqat at Qarn al-Manazil.
Send your pickup, destination, date and passengers and we will confirm the vehicle and price.
Car or train
The Haramain high-speed railway connects Makkah, Jeddah (with a station at the airport) and Madinah. A private car makes sense when you do not want to change at stations, when you are carrying a lot of luggage, when there are children or older passengers, or when you want to choose your own departure time and stop on the way. Many travellers compare both, and some use the train for one leg and a car for another.
Stops
On a long journey, plan for prayer, a meal and a rest. Tell us when you book and we will fit them in. Pilgrims who need to enter ihram on the way should say so: from Madinah the miqat is commonly Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali), and on the Taif road it is Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl al-Kabir). We arrange the stop, and questions about the rites are for your group leader or a qualified scholar.
Timing and vehicle
Tell us when you want to arrive as well as when you want to leave. Allow for prayer times and for Fridays, and for the heat of the day on long drives. Then choose the vehicle by passengers and bags: a Premium SUV takes five passengers and four bags, and a Luxury Van takes eight passengers and six bags. See the fleet.
What changes between a short intercity ride and a long one
Jeddah to Makkah is an hour on a busy road. Makkah to Madinah is a different kind of trip, with several hours of desert and a service stop in the middle. Comfort and stops matter more as the distance grows, and so does the choice of vehicle. If you are comparing the two, think about who is in the car: a family with three children needs a different plan for a five-hour road than for a one-hour road.
Our route pages give time estimates for each journey so you can decide before you book.
Sleeping on the road
Long intercity journeys are a chance for the group to rest, particularly after an overnight flight. A calm driver, a cool cabin and a seat that reclines can matter more than anything else. Tell us if anyone needs to sleep, and we will keep the pace smooth and the stops short. Keep a light blanket or shawl within reach, since the air conditioning can feel cold after an hour.
Splitting a long trip into two days
A group that has just landed after a long flight may do better with two shorter days than one very long one. Travel to Makkah on the first day, rest and perform Umrah, then continue to Madinah on the next. We can plan both legs together so that the second car and driver are ready when the group is, and so that checkout and check-in times do not clash.