Can we perform any rites at Arafat outside Hajj?

No rite of Hajj or Umrah is performed at Arafat outside the Hajj days. You can pray and make du'a anywhere, but the standing at Arafat takes place only on the Day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, as part of Hajj.

How long does the full Makkah Ziyarat take?

Adding Jabal al-Nour and Jabal Thawr, seen from the base, makes a tour of about 3 to 4 hours. Add time if anyone wants to climb to a cave.

Is a group bus tour cheaper?

Per person, usually yes. A group bus follows a fixed route and timing; a private car lets you start when you like and stay as long as you want at each site.

We are a group of 15. What should we book?

A group bus or coaster seats 12 to 50 passengers, from SAR 350 per hour. For up to 11 people, a family van is enough.

Visiting Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat outside Hajj

Outside the Hajj season you can see Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat in one trip by car: Mina is about 7 km from the Haram and Arafat about 20 km, and the three sites take about 3 hours with stops. A private car with driver costs SAR 240 for 3 hours in an economy sedan, or SAR 450 in a family van for up to 11 people.

Updated 29 October 2026 · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services

Why visit the Hajj sites outside Hajj?

An Arafat Ziyarat lets you see the places where the main rites of Hajj take place, at a time of year when the roads are open and the sites are quiet. Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat lie east of the Haram, one after the other, so a car with a driver can link them in a single morning.

For pilgrims who hope to perform Hajj one day, seeing the tents of Mina, the open ground of Muzdalifah and the plain of Arafat helps make sense of the rites. For those who have performed Hajj, it is a chance to remember. The visit is optional and is not part of Umrah.

Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat at a glance

Distances are approximate road distances from the Haram. Times are for the stop itself, not the drive.

Site	Distance from the Haram	Time to allow	What you see
Mina	About 7 km	45 min	The valley of white tents, the Jamarat bridge and Masjid al-Khayf
Muzdalifah	About 12 km	30 min	The open ground between Mina and Arafat and Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram
Arafat and Jabal al-Rahmah	About 20 km	1 h	The plain of Arafat, the Mount of Mercy and Masjid Namirah

Mina: the tent city and the Jamarat

Mina is the valley where pilgrims stay during the days of Hajj and stone the Jamarat. Outside Hajj the tents stand empty and you see the area from the car or on short stops. Your driver can point out the Jamarat bridge and Masjid al-Khayf, the large mosque where pilgrims pray during the days of Tashreeq.

Masjid al-Khayf may be closed outside the Hajj season, so treat it as a view rather than a planned prayer stop.

Muzdalifah: a short stop between Mina and Arafat

Muzdalifah is where pilgrims spend the night under the open sky after the Day of Arafah and collect pebbles for the Jamarat. Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram stands here. It is a short stop of about 30 minutes on the road between Mina and Arafat.

Arafat and Jabal al-Rahmah

Arafat is the plain where pilgrims stand on the Day of Arafah, the heart of Hajj. Jabal al-Rahmah, the Mount of Mercy, rises in its centre, and Masjid Namirah, where the Hajj sermon is given, stands at the western edge. Whether Masjid Namirah is open outside Hajj varies.

The plain is large, so a car is the practical way to see it. Climbing Jabal al-Rahmah is not part of the rites of Hajj or Umrah; if you go up, take water and avoid the midday heat. In summer, plan Arafat for the morning or late afternoon.

When can you visit, and when is access closed?

Outside the Hajj season, a private car can drive the route and stop at each site. In the weeks around Hajj, access to Makkah and the holy sites is limited to people and vehicles with Hajj permits, and private taxis, including ours, cannot run the circuit on the Hajj days.

Hajj 1448 is expected around mid-to-late May 2027, subject to moon sighting, and Islamic dates move about 11 days earlier each year. The restricted period is announced each season, so check the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Nusuk app, and ask us which dates we can run the tour. Our article on Makkah entry permit rules explains the season.

The Mashaer train links the holy sites for pilgrims during Hajj; it is not a way to tour them the rest of the year. Our Mashaer train guide has the details.

A suggested route and what it costs

A private car is booked by the hour: SAR 240 for 3 hours in an economy sedan, SAR 360 in a Comfort MPV and SAR 450 in a family van. Each extra hour costs SAR 80 in a sedan. The driver waits at every stop and explains the sites in English, Urdu or Arabic.

Leave your hotel after Fajr or in the late afternoon, the cooler hours.
Mina, about 7 km from the Haram: the Jamarat bridge and the tents, about 45 min.
Muzdalifah: Masjid al-Mash'ar al-Haram, about 30 min.
Arafat: the plain, Jabal al-Rahmah and Masjid Namirah, about 1 h.
Back to your hotel, or on to Jabal al-Nour to see the mountain of the Cave of Hira.

Tips for the day

Carry water and sun protection, in every season.
Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to climb Jabal al-Rahmah.
Respect closed areas and follow the signs on site.
Elderly parents can see most of the route from the car, with short stops.
Add Jabal al-Nour and Jabal Thawr, seen from the base, for the full Makkah Ziyarat.
Book a day ahead; cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.